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UK considers further increase in gambling license fees
During a consultation that began on January 27, 2026, the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced plans to increase operator license fees by 30% in an effort to fund the UKGC’s enforcement activities.
The consultation will extend until March 30, 2026, during which operators, consumer groups, authorities, and industry trade organizations will have the chance to submit their views.
Three main options that suggested some level of fee increase were included in the consultation, which the UKGC said are required to cover the gaps in funding. The first option suggested a 30% increase, the second a 20% increase, and the last option was for a 30% increase, which would be divided into 20% for the UKGC and 10% for other regulatory activities.
The consultation document stated:
“Since operating license fees were last reviewed in 2021, the commission has increased its investment in areas including disrupting the illegal gambling market, implementing reforms from the Gambling Act Review White Paper, and developing its data capabilities. As a result of this investment and additional pressures such as inflation, the commission has operated with successive annual budget deficits and has eroded its financial reserves.”
Currently, license fees depend on license type, vertical, and scale of business, and are calculated using turnover-based fee bands. Any additional payment would be applied on top of each operator’s existing fee.
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