Reading a casino's footer
A casino footer tells you who runs the site, which Gambling Commission licence it trades under and where to go with a complaint or for support. Reading a casino's footer takes a minute: note the operator and account number, check the register, then open the terms, funds-protection and safer gambling links.
By the Latest Casinos team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Operator and account number.
- Gambling Commission statement.
- Dispute resolution service.
- Safer gambling links.
What to find
| Item | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Operator name | Who is legally responsible |
| Account number | What to search on the register |
| Registered address | Where the company is based |
| Dispute service | Where complaints go after eight weeks |
| GAMSTOP and support links | That self-exclusion applies |
| 18+ | That age checks apply |
Five footers
| Casino | Operator | Account |
|---|---|---|
| Coral | LC International Limited | 54743 |
| Ladbrokes | LC International Limited | 54743 |
| PlayOJO | Skill On Net Limited | 39326 |
| Casumo | Recro Limited | 61549 |
| 10bet | Blue Star Planet Limited | 43173 |
If something is missing
No operator or licence number is the clearest warning a site can give.
Elsewhere on the site: Latest casino bonus rules, Latest welcome offers UK, Coral Casino: the latest and How to check a casino licence.
What must be there
The operator's legal name, its Gambling Commission account number with a link to the register, the 18+ notice and safer gambling links.
What it tells you
Who you are really dealing with. Two brands with the same operator share a licence, a complaints process and a regulatory record.
How to read a casino footer, line by line
Footers are dense and often in small type. Work through them in this order and you'll have everything you need for the register check and any later complaint.
- Scroll to the bottom of the casino's homepage, or open the legal or about section in its app.
- Find the sentence naming the company that operates the site. Copy the full legal name, including “Limited” or “Ltd”.
- Find the Gambling Commission account number next to it and copy that too.
- Note the registered address and any other regulators listed, such as Gibraltar or Malta.
- Open the terms and conditions link and check the same company name appears there.
- Look for links to safer gambling tools, GAMSTOP and support services, plus the 18+ notice.
- Search the account number on the Gambling Commission register and confirm the domain you're on is listed.
Save the operator name and number somewhere with the date. If you ever need to complain or check a sister brand, you'll have them ready. Our licence check guide walks through the register stage in detail.
Casino footer wording decoded
Footer text follows a few standard patterns. The examples below use a fictional company to show what each phrase means in practice.
| Typical wording | What it means |
|---|---|
| “Example Gaming Limited is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 00000” | The company holds a GB licence; search the number on the register |
| “Registered office: Europort, Gibraltar” | Where the company is incorporated; not a sign of an unlicensed site by itself |
| “Licensed in Malta by the MGA” | A separate licence for other markets; British players rely on the GB licence |
| “Customer funds are held in accordance with [rating]” | The level of protection your balance has if the company fails |
| “Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly. 18+” | Required age notice and a pointer to safer gambling tools |
| “Disputes may be referred to [ADR provider]” | The independent service for complaints the casino doesn't resolve within 8 weeks |
If wording names a company but no account number, or a number with no regulator, search the company name on the register anyway; some footers are simply badly laid out. Our glossary entries on the licence holder and operator explain the terms.
Why a UK casino footer mentions Gibraltar, Malta or the Isle of Man
Many casinos licensed in Great Britain are run by companies registered elsewhere. The Gambling Commission doesn't require a licensee to be incorporated in the UK; it requires a licence for anyone offering remote gambling to people in Britain, plus a UK address for service. So a footer naming a Gibraltar or Malta company can be perfectly normal.
Our five partner casinos illustrate it. Coral and Ladbrokes are run by LC International Limited, whose footer address is in Gibraltar; Casumo by Recro Limited and 10bet by Blue Star Planet Limited, both in Malta; and PlayOJO by Skill On Net Limited, whose register head office is in Limassol, Cyprus, and which also holds a Malta Gaming Authority licence. All five hold Commission licences.
Why base a company offshore? Groups choose locations for tax, staffing and the other markets they serve, and Gibraltar and Malta both have long-established gambling regulators. For you, the practical effect is small: the GB licence means British rules apply to your account wherever the company sits, from the 10x wagering cap to GAMSTOP. The one difference worth knowing is that legal paperwork, such as the terms' governing-law clause, may refer to another jurisdiction, so read the complaints section rather than assuming a UK court is the first step.
Footers can change depending on where you view them from. A site visited from outside Britain may show only its Gibraltar or Malta licence. That's why the register, not the footer, is the record to rely on.
What matters is that a GB licence is there. A footer that lists only an overseas regulator, with no Gambling Commission number, tells you the site isn't licensed for Britain. See offshore casinos explained and is online gambling legal in the UK.
Footer links worth opening: terms, privacy and customer funds protection
The links in a footer lead to the documents that govern your account. Three are worth reading before your first deposit.
- Terms and conditions. The contract between you and the operator. Check the company name matches the footer and find the complaints section, which should name the ADR provider.
- Privacy notice. How your data is used, including for identity and financial checks. Our guide to casino data privacy explains your rights.
- Customer funds protection. Licensed casinos must state how well your balance is protected if the company goes bust, and you must acknowledge it before your first deposit is used.
| Rating | What it means if the casino fails |
|---|---|
| Not protected | Your balance counts as a company asset; since 31 October 2025 these casinos must remind you every 6 months, stating your balance |
| Medium protection | Safeguards such as insurance are in place, but repayment isn't certain |
| High protection | Money is held in a separate account controlled by an independent trustee and checked by an external auditor |
The Commission's guide to what happens to your money if a gambling business goes bust (opens in a new tab) explains each level, and our player funds protection page puts it in context. We haven't checked which rating each partner uses, so read it in their terms.
When two casino footers name the same company
Spotting the same operator in two footers tells you the brands are siblings. They share one licence, one complaints framework and one regulatory record, and often one set of account rules.
Coral and Ladbrokes are the clearest example among our five: both footers name LC International Limited, account 54743, part of Entain. The register's trading names list for LC International (opens in a new tab) shows every brand the company has declared. Because they're the same operator, one person may not be able to hold new accounts at both, so read the terms before joining a second brand. Our Coral vs Ladbrokes comparison covers the practical differences.
Shared operators matter for regulation too. When the Commission fined Gamesys Operations £6m in January 2024, the failures it found affected brands including Bally Casino, Jackpotjoy and Double Bubble Bingo. Our casino sister sites page and the brands A–Z show which brands share an operator.
Safer gambling links in a casino footer in 2026
Most licensed casino footers carry a strip of safer gambling links and logos, but some haven't kept up with recent changes. GambleAware closed on 31 March 2026, after the statutory levy that began on 6 April 2025 replaced the old voluntary funding model, so a footer that presents it as a place to get help is out of date.
| Service | What it offers |
|---|---|
| National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare) | Free, 24/7 advice on 0808 8020 133, plus live chat |
| GAMSTOP | Free self-exclusion from all GB-licensed gambling websites and apps for 6 months to 5 years |
| NHS gambling clinics | Specialist treatment; self-referral in England |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings |
| The casino's own tools | Deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion |
Look for direct links to GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) and GamCare (opens in a new tab), and for a link to the casino's own limits page. Since 31 October 2025 casinos must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit, so the limits page should be easy to reach. Our safer gambling tools compared guide explains each tool.
Payment logos and testing seals in a footer: what they prove
Footers often end with a row of payment and certification logos. They're useful hints, but they're not commitments.
- Payment logos show methods the brand works with somewhere, not necessarily for deposits, withdrawals or bonuses in your country. Coral's footer, for example, has shown Neteller and paysafecard logos, while its help centre doesn't list Neteller as a method, and its welcome offer excludes Neteller and Paysafe deposits. The cashier and the offer terms are what count.
- Testing lab seals indicate that games or systems have been tested by an independent lab. A seal is only meaningful if it links to a certificate on the lab's own site. See our guide to casino testing labs.
- Award badges and “trusted” icons are marketing. They don't replace a licence check.
Credit card logos deserve one more glance: credit card gambling has been banned in Britain since 14 April 2020, so a card logo means debit cards only. Our guide to casino payment rules lists what's allowed.
A worked example: reading one casino footer from top to bottom
Here's how the checks come together on a fictional footer. Imagine the bottom of a site called Example Spins reads: “examplespins.co.uk is operated by Example Gaming Limited, Malta, licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account 00000. Disputes: IBAS. 18+. GAMSTOP. GamCare.”
- Operator and number found. Both are present, so the register check is possible.
- Register search. The account number returns Example Gaming Limited with an Active remote casino licence. Good.
- Domain check. The domain list shows examplespins.co.uk as Active. Good. If it showed a different address, you'd ask the operator before going further.
- Sister brands. The trading names list shows three other brands. Useful to know: one account history, one complaints process and possibly one set of rules on holding accounts at more than one brand.
- Terms. The terms name the same company and the same ADR provider, and state a medium funds-protection rating, which you acknowledge before the first deposit is used.
- Support. GAMSTOP and GamCare are linked; there's no out-of-date charity logo.
Six quick checks, and you know who you're dealing with, what protects your balance and where a complaint would go. If any step had failed, the first deposit checklist explains what to do next.
Casino footer red flags: missing or wrong details
| Red flag | What it may mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No operator name | You can't tell who is responsible | Don't deposit |
| Account number returns a different company | Copied or invented licence details | Don't deposit; consider reporting the site |
| Only an overseas licence | Not licensed for Great Britain | Use a GB-licensed site instead |
| Domain missing from the register entry | Possible clone site, or an undeclared domain | Ask the operator; use the address listed on the register |
| Terms name a different company from the footer | Brand transfer or error | Check the register for both companies |
| No GAMSTOP or support links | Site may not participate in self-exclusion | Treat as unlicensed until proven otherwise |
| “Not on GAMSTOP” wording | Unlicensed for Britain | Leave the site |
One footer problem on its own is usually a reason to look closer rather than to walk away; a licensed casino with a stale logo or a clumsy layout is still licensed. Two or more together, especially a missing operator plus a number that doesn't match the register, are a reason to leave. More warning signs are listed in our guides to how to spot a fake casino and how to judge a new casino.
Match it to the register
A footer is a claim. Copy the account number into the public register and confirm the domain appears there.
Go further: Latest Casumo offer, Casinos not on GAMSTOP and The mixed-product promotions ban.
Keep reading: Latest £10 deposit offers UK, Before and after the 10x cap, How to judge a new casino and How to spot an outdated offer.
Everything here is dated. Offers and facts were last checked on 5 October 2026; this is not a live feed. Casino details come from each casino's published terms and help pages and the Gambling Commission's public register. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What must a casino footer show?
A licensed casino's footer should show the operator's legal name and its Gambling Commission account number, ideally linking to the register entry. You'll also usually find the registered address, any other licences, an 18+ notice, safer gambling and support links, and links to the terms, privacy notice and complaints policy. The account number is the key detail because you can search it on the register to confirm the licence and the domain. If the footer is incomplete, the terms and conditions must still identify who you're contracting with. See our what does UKGC licensed mean page.
Where is the licence number?
In the footer, normally in the sentence saying the company is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission, followed by “account number” and five or so digits. In an app, look in the menu under About, Legal or Responsible Gambling. The same number appears in the casino's terms and conditions. Search it on the Commission's public register to confirm the licence is active and covers the website you're on. Our page what is a casino licence number explains why the number matters more than the brand name.
What is a dispute service?
A dispute service, formally an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider, is an independent body that rules on complaints a casino hasn't resolved. Every licensed casino must name one, often in its footer or complaints policy. You can use it once you've had the casino's final response, or after 8 weeks without one, and it's free. IBAS is the provider most often named by UK casinos; others on the Commission's approved list include eCOGRA and Pegasus ADR. Our how to complain about a casino guide explains the full route.
What if there is no operator?
Leave the site without registering or depositing. A casino that doesn't say which company runs it gives you no way to check its licence, no clear party to complain to and no assurance that UK rules apply. Look once more in the terms and conditions, because some sites only name the operator there; if it's missing in both places, treat the site as unlicensed. Licensed alternatives are easy to find on the Commission's register. Our unlicensed casino risks page explains what you would give up by playing anyway.
Are there no deposit offers?
Not at the five casinos we track. Each of Coral, Ladbrokes, PlayOJO, Casumo and 10bet asks for a qualifying deposit before any welcome reward, and Coral and Ladbrokes also ask for a £10 stake on slots. Their offers are for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply. A footer won't tell you whether an offer exists, but it will tell you whether the site offering it is licensed, which matters because many “no deposit” claims online come from unlicensed sites. Our can I get free spins without a deposit page explains why.
Do you list newly launched casinos?
No. This site covers five established, UK-licensed casinos whose register entries we've checked, and it doesn't list new launches because their records can't yet be verified. If you're looking at a new site, its footer is the first place to start: find the operator and account number, then check the register. If the brand belongs to an established operator, it inherits that company's licence and record. Our new casino brands from big groups page explains how to tell.
What is GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling in Great Britain. Once you register, every GB-licensed gambling website and app must refuse you service for the period you choose, from 6 months to 5 years. Participation has been compulsory for licensed online operators since 31 March 2020, which is why a GAMSTOP link in the footer is a good sign and “not on GAMSTOP” wording is a bad one. The exclusion can't be cancelled early. Our GAMSTOP requirement page has the detail.
Where can I get help with gambling?
Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. It's run by GamCare, free and open 24 hours, and you can also use its live chat. In Wales the NHS Wales Helpline is on 0808 2819 265. You can self-exclude from all licensed sites through GAMSTOP, refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic in England, or find a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Your bank may also offer a gambling block on your card. The NHS gambling addiction page (opens in a new tab) and our responsible gambling page list each option.
Have you tested these casinos with real money?
No. We're a research-based site and don't open accounts, deposit or play. The footer and licence details on this page come from the Gambling Commission's public register and the casinos' own published pages and terms, with offer facts last checked on 5 October 2026. Where we couldn't confirm something, such as each partner's customer funds protection rating, the page says so and tells you where to look. You can read how we work on our how we rate page.
Why does a UK casino footer mention Gibraltar or Malta?
Because the company that runs it is registered there. The Gambling Commission doesn't require licensees to be UK companies; it requires a GB licence for anyone offering remote gambling to people in Britain and a UK address for service. Coral and Ladbrokes, for example, are run by LC International Limited in Gibraltar, and Casumo and 10bet by companies in Malta, all with Commission licences. An overseas address is fine as long as a Gambling Commission account number is there too. See how casinos get a UK licence.
Does a casino footer prove the site is licensed?
No, a footer is a claim, not proof. Anyone can copy a licence statement and account number onto a website. The proof is the Gambling Commission's public register: search the number, check the licence is Active and covers remote casino, and confirm the domain you're on is listed. The register warns that businesses supply their own domain and trading name lists, so a missing domain is a reason to ask questions. A footer with details that match the register is the strongest combination you can get.
What does “customer funds protection” mean in a casino footer?
It describes what happens to your balance if the casino becomes insolvent. Licensed casinos must state one of three ratings in their terms: not protected, medium protection or high protection, and you must acknowledge it before your first deposit is used. High protection means your money sits in a separate account under an independent trustee. Since 31 October 2025, casinos rated not protected must remind you every 6 months, showing your balance. The Commission's customer funds guide (opens in a new tab) explains each rating.
Should a casino footer still show a GambleAware logo?
No longer as a current source of help. GambleAware closed on 31 March 2026, after the statutory gambling levy replaced the voluntary funding system it relied on. A footer still linking to it simply hasn't been updated. Current support comes from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare, from GAMSTOP for self-exclusion, from NHS gambling clinics and from Gamblers Anonymous. An outdated logo isn't a reason to distrust a licensed casino by itself, but it's a sign the footer needs attention. See our gambling levy page.
Related pages
Sources
- LC International Limited – trading names (opens in a new tab)
- What happens to your money if a gambling business goes bust (opens in a new tab)
- Information on customer funds (your money) (opens in a new tab)
- Do I need a licence? (opens in a new tab)
- Control your gambling | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- GamCare - Founder of the National Gambling Helpline (opens in a new tab)
- Help for problems with gambling (opens in a new tab)