Geolocation is the process an app uses to work out where your device is. Real-money casino apps need it because Apple and Google both require gambling apps to be limited to the places where the operator holds a licence, which for a Gambling Commission licence means Great Britain.
Geolocation lets a casino app confirm you are somewhere its licence covers.
Apple and Google both require real-money gambling apps to be geo-restricted.
Neither store says the check must use GPS; an IP address check can also do the job.
Partner privacy labels show different location use, from coarse to precise.
Using a VPN to hide your location can breach an operator's terms.
What it is
Working out a device's location
Required by
Apple guideline 5.3.4 and Google Play policy
Common methods
GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile network, IP address
UK licence covers
Great Britain
Permission
Location access asked for by the app
What geolocation means
In plain terms, geolocation means finding out where a phone or tablet is. Maps, weather and delivery apps use it all the time. In a gambling app the purpose is narrower: it answers the question of whether you are allowed to play from where you are standing.
A casino app usually doesn't need to know your street. It needs to know your country, or whether you're inside Great Britain. That's why some apps ask only for an approximate (coarse) location while others ask for a precise one. You'll find this term next to others such as app permissions and privacy label in our casino app glossary.
Why UK casino apps use geolocation
The rule comes from the app stores as much as from the regulator. Apple's App Review Guidelines (opens in a new tab) say, under 5.3.4, that real-money gaming apps must hold the necessary licensing where the app is used and must be geo-restricted to those locations. Google's real-money gambling policy (opens in a new tab) says an app must stop access from countries or areas the developer's licence doesn't cover.
Phones can estimate location in several ways, and an app can combine them. Neither Apple nor Google says the gambling check has to use GPS, so an operator might rely on your IP address, your device's location services, or both. Most operators don't publish which method they use.
Common geolocation methods and what they reveal
Method
How it works
Typical precision
Needs your permission?
GPS
Satellite signals received by the phone
Precise
Yes, through location services
Wi-Fi and mobile network
Nearby networks and masts used to estimate position
Approximate to fairly precise
Yes, through location services
IP address
The internet address your connection comes from
Usually country or region
No device permission needed
This is why you can sometimes be asked for location access and sometimes not. An IP check runs in the background on the operator's side, while a GPS or Wi-Fi check goes through your phone's location settings and shows a permission prompt first.
What partner app listings say about location
Store listings give the clearest public picture of geolocation in practice. Apple's privacy label shows whether location is collected and whether it's linked to you, and Google Play's data safety section does a similar job on Android.
Location data in partner app listings
App
Store
What the listing says
Coral Casino
App Store
Coarse location, linked to you
Ladbrokes Casino
App Store
Precise location, not linked to you
PlayOJO
App Store
The app may use your location even when it isn't open, which can reduce battery life
Casumo
Google Play
May share location data
10bet
Google Play
May collect location
None of these operators' help pages that were checked spells out exactly how location is used for gambling checks, so treat the labels as the published record. If background location matters to you, our guide to whether casino apps track your location explains how to review and limit it, and battery life in casino apps covers the drain side.
When a geolocation check blocks you
A failed location check usually shows as a message saying the service isn't available where you are. Common causes are being abroad, a VPN or private relay changing your apparent address, or location services being switched off. Our answer on why an app says you're in the wrong location goes through each one.
Travelling: a British licence covers Great Britain, so an app may refuse play elsewhere. See using a casino app abroad.
Northern Ireland: the Gambling Act 2005 and Commission rules cover Great Britain only, and PlayOJO's welcome offer excludes Northern Ireland. Read more on Northern Ireland and casino apps.
VPNs: hiding your location can breach an operator's terms and put your account at risk. We don't recommend it; see casino apps and VPNs.
Related geolocation terms
Geolocation sits alongside a few other app terms. Gambling Commission explains who issues British licences, and age verification covers the other check every licensed app must complete before you can deposit or play.
Licensed casino apps that apply UK geolocation rules
Every app we promote is licensed by the Gambling Commission and listed on the App Store and Google Play, so each must keep play within its licensed area. Offers are for new customers, 18+, and terms apply.
Coral: bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games, 10p each, accepted within 48 hours and valid for 7 days, with no wagering on spin winnings; certain deposit types, including PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe and prepaid cards, don't count. Ladbrokes: deposit and spend £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day over 10 days (up to 500), 10p each, claimed by 23:59 daily and valid for 7 days, no wagering; PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and prepaid card deposits are excluded. PlayOJO: a first deposit of £10 or more gives 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with winnings paid in cash and no wagering; Northern Ireland is excluded.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Do casino apps need my location?
Many do, because Apple and Google require real-money gambling apps to be limited to the places their licence covers. Some apps confirm this through your IP address and never ask for device location; others ask for location access through your phone's settings. If an app asks, it is usually for this licence check, though privacy labels can show other uses too. Our answer to why a casino app needs your location explains the reasons in more detail.
Can a casino app see exactly where I am?
Only if you give it precise location access, or if it can estimate your position another way such as through your IP address. On an iPhone, the privacy label shows whether an app collects coarse or precise location; Coral's label lists coarse location and Ladbrokes' lists precise location. You can change location access for each app in your phone's settings. See can casino apps see my location for how to check and change it.
Why does my casino app say I'm in the wrong location?
Usually because the location check thinks you're outside Great Britain. That can happen abroad, on a VPN or private relay, or when location services are off for the app. Turning location back on and using your normal connection fixes many cases at home. If it keeps happening, contact the operator's support and see our wrong location troubleshooting answer for further steps.
Can I use a UK casino app on holiday?
Often not, because a Gambling Commission licence is for customers in Great Britain and the app stores require gambling apps to be geo-restricted. Whether an operator lets you log in, deposit or play from another country depends on its own terms and the law where you are. Check the operator's terms before you travel, and read our guide to using a casino app abroad for what to expect.
Is it allowed to use a VPN with a casino app?
It isn't a good idea, and it can breach an operator's terms. A VPN changes your apparent location, which is exactly what the licence check is there to confirm. Operators can close accounts or withhold winnings when terms are broken. If a VPN is on for privacy reasons, switch it off before opening a casino app. Our guide to casino apps and VPNs covers the risks.
Does geolocation drain my phone's battery?
It can, particularly when an app uses location in the background. PlayOJO's App Store listing, for example, says the app may use your location even when it isn't open, which can reduce battery life. You can usually limit location access to while the app is in use through your phone's settings. Our guide to casino apps and battery life has more ways to cut the drain.
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