21-07-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Betmaster Casino Enters the UK: Behind the Scenes of the License Process
Have you ever wondered what it takes to get an online casino launched in the UK? It's a significant undertaking, with many steps that involve large financial commitments along the way. With Betmaster Casino recently launching as one the newest online gambling operators to hit British shores, studying how it has gone about getting up and running is an informative look behind the scenes of the UK gambling sector for both players and operators.
Most fans of online gambling only see the end product. The flashy games, the lists of jackpot winners and the smooth user experience of a well designed online casino. But the reality is, getting it to that point is a whole lot of work from dozens or even hundreds of people.
Who Are Betmaster and What Do They Offer?
Betmaster Sportsbook and Online Casino is a Malta-based gambling operator that is newly-licenced to offer services in the UK. They offer all the bells and whistles you could want from a modern casino. That includes:
A user-friendly mobile site built from the ground up
A large selection of popular games from globally recognised developers
Fast and secure payments
Innovative rewards and bonuses
Plus, a UK gambling license means they are duty bound to provide certain features for you the players. Responsible gambling tools, age verification and certified fair and secure games and banking options are all clear and present at Betmaster from launch.
Which is not to say offshore gambling operators – of which there are many – can't and don't offer those features. But with a license to operate in Scotland, England and Wales, you're guaranteed by law to find safeguards that ensure everything is above board.
Interestingly, Betmaster is a cryptocurrency-friendly casino in international markets. But under UK law, that isn't allowed. So, the operator has dropped crypto payment options for UK customers. Operators and crypto fans are busy campaigning against strict crypto regulations however, so who knows how that might change in the future.
The Gatekeeper: The UK Gambling Commission
All of the above regulation is overseen by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, or UKGC. This Government body is widely recognised as one of the world's strongest gambling regulators, although operators have criticized them for being overly strict and increasing regulation in recent years.
The list of documentation required for a UKGC license is lengthy, so any organization wishing to acquire one will no doubt have several people working on the process. The whole process takes about 16 weeks to complete.
There are three types of gambling licenses in the UK:
Remote – for online services not based in the country
Non-remote – for operators offering gambling from physical locations in the UK, or providing services to them
Ancillary – everything else including bingo, phone and email betting
In the case of Betmaster, they would have applied and been granted a remote license suitable for online gambling operators.
The list of requirements is long, and at each step of the way there are costs.
Some of the requirements, such as enforced Know Your Customer (KYC) checks or enforced slot betting limits may not be popular with gamblers who want their winnings and deposits moved as quickly as possible. However, the UKGC is adamant these checks are required to prevent fraud, money laundering and underage gambling.
Operators also have to pay a relatively hefty fee for a license, as well as a 21% yearly tax. The fees start at £5000 a year for operators under £500,000 in annual revenue and go up to £800,000 a year for companies with more than £1 billion in revenue.
Betmaster and the Booming UK Market
Despite the significant financial and time cost, Betmaster clearly considers the juice to be worth the squeeze when it comes to the UK market.
In 2024, Britains spent some £3.6 billion on online gambling – more than most other European nations. That number was also up some £250 million compared to 2023, showing it is a growing market that has not yet saturated. Multibillion dollar gambling operator FanDuel was actually founded in Edinburgh in 2009, although they no longer operate in the UK.
Meanwhile the market from all gambling sources combined was worth £16 billion in 2024, resulting in some £3 billion in taxes for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
Licensing is Good for Businesses and Players
So, there is clearly a demand for new online casinos like Betmaster in the UK.
The UKGC license, although strict, is a gold standard and will also look good for Betmaster when attracting customers to its separate international online casino business.
Although it limits player deposits, blocks crypto transactions and requires stringent ID checks – the UK market is just too big to miss out on for online casinos based in Europe.
Which is all good for players in the long run. More competition also means casinos bringing out bigger and better bonuses, promotions and rewards to stand out in a crowded market. All from fully regulated, safe and certified fair operators providing a service Brits clearly want.
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