The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the regulator for all forms of real money gambling in Great Britain.
The best UKGC esports betting sites include some of the most well-known gambling sites in the world and feature wagering on many of the most popular professional video games.
Gambling Commission betting sites are accessible via both mobile and desktop computers and have outstanding free bet bonuses and promotions.
Top Gambling Commission esports betting sites
New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. T&Cs Apply
18+. Opt-in required. This offer is only available to new players who register a new account via sportsbook. Place a qualifying bet. Play Responsibly. Full terms
1XBet is a popular land-based betting company in Russia, with a growing reach in other parts of the world. Has a large range of markets for Kenyan punters.
Unibet is a global betting brand with many racing and sport markets and nice promos.
One of the most popular betting brands in the world. Known for early markets and big-priced advertising campaigns. #ad
GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. New customers only. #ad Full T's and C's.
The top esports betting sites in the United Kingdom include some of the most well-know esports betting sites, like bet365, Betway and Casumo.
These UKGC-approved betting sites generally have many different daily esports odds, including major titles like League of Legends, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Dota 2. Basically, if there is an esports game with a professional scene surrounding it, Gambling Commission bookmakers will offer markets surrounding it.
The best Gambling Commission betting sites will usually be built “mobile-first,” meaning they are geared primarily towards people on devices with smaller screens. This includes having esports betting apps for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The best UKGC betting sites will also have a fully functional mobile betting site.
Generally Gambling Commission betting sites have plenty of payment options to suit Stirling deposits. These include bookmaker deposit options like credit and debit cards, web wallets, and even payment processors that facilitate instant online bank transfers. You won’t, however, find cryptocurrency available as a payment option, with the Gambling Commission yet to sanction deposits with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other major alt coins.
What is the United Kingdom Gambling Commission?
The UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) is the body responsible for regulating all forms of real money wagering, including esports betting in the United Kingdom. The Commission was formed under the UK Gambling Act of 2005 and has its headquarters in Birmingham. The UKGC covers the entire UK, including Northern Ireland. The Commission also regulates the National Lottery to ensure its operations run fairly while at the same time maximising returns.
What does the UK Gambling Commission do?
The UK Gambling Commission’s mission is to ensure that gambling is fair and open, keep crime out of gambling, protect consumers, and prevent underage gambling. To accomplish these goals, the commission licences and regulates all gambling businesses in the UK, including online and offline bookmakers, lotteries, casinos, and bingo halls. In addition, the UKGC raises awareness of related gambling problems and supports the victims.
This UK Gambling Commission regulator guide will mainly focus on what the Commission says about online esports betting and whether it allows esports bonuses. This is much the same as other esports betting regulators, however most don’t hold the gravitas of the Gambling Commission.
What does Gambling Commission say on esports betting?
Electronic sports, or esports, are video games played in a highly organised competitive space. Esports games range from team-oriented multiplayer online betting arenas (MOBAs) to single-player first-person shooters to virtual reconstructions of physical sports.
The UK Gambling Commission treats gambling on esports no differently than gambling on any other live event. For this reason, if you wish to offer bets to UK consumers on esports events, you will need a betting licence. The licences issued will vary with the types of betting you wish to offer and how you will offer them.
The UK Gambling Commission is among the most stringent gambling regulators and, as such, did not hang around when the discussion about the inclusion of gaming into the sports betting category came up. The Commission has incorporated esports gambling under the same regulatory umbrella as regular sports betting. As a result, top UK sportsbooks such as William Hill Casino, Bet365, and 888 Sport have esports betting markets included.
The UKGC has outlined various approaches in their “Virtual Currencies, Social Casino Gaming Position Paper, and eSports” to distinguish between activities that do and do not need a licence. There has been increased focus on esports, with concerns about its appeal to children. Also, if you are in the UK and wish to bet on esports markets, look for a UKGC licence only.
New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. T&Cs Apply
18+. Opt-in required. This offer is only available to new players who register a new account via sportsbook. Place a qualifying bet. Play Responsibly. Full terms
1XBet is a popular land-based betting company in Russia, with a growing reach in other parts of the world. Has a large range of markets for Kenyan punters.
Unibet is a global betting brand with many racing and sport markets and nice promos.
One of the most popular betting brands in the world. Known for early markets and big-priced advertising campaigns. #ad
GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. New customers only. #ad Full T's and C's.
Does the Gambling Commission allow esports bonuses?
The UKGC allows esports betting bonuses at operators that are licenced. However, measures to restrict them are in place. Evidence revealed that while most people enjoy occasional bets every year without problems, some groups, such as those suffering from harm and addiction, are at greater risk of certain aggressive advertising practices.
Bonus offers like free bets can trigger punters to spend more than intended. The UKGC is taking a closer look at how esports bonus bets and freebets are constructed and targeted to prevent them from being used in harmful ways.
