Regulatory

Each month, 25 million UK adults try their luck with online gambling 🤯

Online gambling is a popular form of entertainment, but players need to understand their rights to stay safe. Providers must clearly state that gambling is not a means of generating income and that returns are never guaranteed.

Knowing your rights helps you set expectations and take action if rules aren't followed. Let's take a close look.

What are your rights as a gambler?

Whether you're betting on sports or spinning slots, you’ve got rights. They’re there to keep you safe and make sure gambling stays responsible.

Withdrawals

Firstly, players have the right to withdraw their balance at any time, including when bonuses are pending.

Trusted sites keep your deposit and bonus separate, so you know exactly what’s yours. If a site lumps it all together or blocks withdrawals, it’s not playing by UK regulations.

Providers can charge a fee for small withdrawals, but they have to be upfront about it. You should also be aware of the payout processing time and how long it takes to receive your money before signing up.

Licensed providers don’t set minimum withdrawals higher than the minimum deposit. Requiring players to deposit more just to access their own money is against UK regulations.

Identity and information

When opening an account, providers should request key details, such as your name, date of birth, and address. They might also request documents, such as a bill or passport, to verify your identity.

These are known as KYC or ID checks, and providers must conduct them to ensure that players are of legal gambling age. They may also review your finances to confirm your betting money is from a legitimate source.

Providers may even request bank statements or additional documents related to income patterns. It’s all about making sure you’re of age, not spending beyond your means or money laundering.

👉 Pro Tip: Always check a site’s credibility on the Gambling Commission’s public register before entering any card or bank details.

Players have the right to know why their information is requested and how it will be used and stored, which is usually explained in the provider’s terms and conditions.

Free bets & account restrictions

Free bets are a great promotion that allows players to gamble without risking any of their actual money. However, they often come with conditions surrounding minimum deposits.

Any conditions should be outlined before a player uses an offer. Regarding the player’s rights, they are entitled to receive the promotion advertised without any additional terms being added after signing up.

Bonus abuse, in which players look to gain more than one bonus by setting up additional accounts, is a growing problem within the gambling industry. Between 2022 and 2023, gambling fraud saw an 80% growth in incidents. Therefore, if a provider has suspicions about an account, they can quickly restrict it.

Although companies are entitled to restrict an account, the reasons why should be made clear. Players are entitled to know why their account has been restricted and make a complaint if they feel it is unfair.

⚖️ Several court cases have shown that players had their accounts unfairly restricted for playing high-stakes games or consistently winning.

Players may face limits on stake size or frequency but still end up playing games with odds stacked against them. Accounts shouldn’t be restricted without a valid reason, and if players feel they have been unfairly treated, they can reach out to customer support.

If unjust treatment continues, players can contact the Gambling Commission.

Transparency

Players should only use sites that are clear about odds and terms. If you can’t see these, it’s time to move on.

It’s also important that players never rely on online gambling to supplement their income and must understand that returns are never guaranteed. Providers need to communicate this clearly.

Any site that overpromises or guarantees returns isn’t trustworthy and should be avoided.

Know that a reputable provider will not attempt to deceive or confuse players with complicated terms.

If a bonus round requires a minimum deposit, this must be clearly stated in all marketing materials. If players encounter any issues, the provider’s official complaint procedure should be easily accessible on their website.

Placing a bet through a provider is entering into a legally enforceable contract that entitles players to receive the treatment they are entitled to. As a result, the 2005 Gambling Act allows players to bring any complaints to court.

Responsible gambling

Responsible gambling information should be easily accessible for users, not hidden or missing completely.

On a reputable site, players will find plenty of information about safe gambling, including how to spot at-risk behaviour and where to get help. Responsible gambling messages should also be clearly shown in ads and across the site.

Common responsible gambling tools include:

• Stake and time limits
• Reality checks
• Self-exclusions
• Links to reputable help organisations

Players have the right to set limits on their stake and the time they spend with a provider. Sites should also offer tools to limit gambling ads and block access to gambling sites.

⏰ Reputable providers include a ‘reality check’, a pop-up that asks players if they want to continue. If a game hides the clock on mobile or desktop, the site should display one showing total playtime.

When a player self-excludes by blocking their account, bets should be voided and deposits returned. If a self-excluded player can still play, deposit, withdraw, or receive marketing, they should file a complaint through the provider’s official process.

Unlicensed providers

Lastly, always ensure the gambling operators used are properly licensed to operate in the UK.

It can sometimes be hard to tell if a casino is legitimate at first glance. But if you’re unsure, check the provider’s website for licensing information.

If no licence is mentioned, look at affiliate or comparison sites to see if the provider is listed as blacklisted. Blacklisted sites do not follow regulations and should be avoided.

If a site appears unsafe after you’ve already spent money or given financial details, players should contact their bank. Those who have deposited money with an unlicensed provider may be eligible for a chargeback by contacting their bank.

It’s important to include proof of interaction with the provider, such as screenshots of withdrawal attempts or account closure requests.

Why is it important to know your rights?

Players need to know their rights when gambling to stay clear of unsafe sites. Getting familiar with the rules in this article will help players spot which casinos to avoid.

For example, if a site won’t let you withdraw your deposit or blocks self-exclusion and other responsible gambling tools, it’s a red flag.

Gambling can be fun, but staying safe means understanding what you’re entitled to.

About the author

Giuseppe Faraone is an expert on everything casino and online gambling related.

Using his over five years of experience, Giuseppe writes articles and books to help players understand the ins and outs of online gambling.

Keeping up with the latest developments in the industry means he gives valuable insights through his content.

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