Casino app checklist before you sign up

The casino app checklist at a glance

Signing up takes five minutes, but leaving an app you regret can take weeks if money is stuck in it. A short pre-sign-up check saves that hassle. Print or screenshot the table below and tick each line as you go.

The rest of this page explains each check. For a broader view of what separates good apps from average ones, read what makes a good casino app, and browse the full casino app guides for anything else.

Check 1: is the casino app licensed in the UK?

Every app that takes bets from people in Great Britain needs a Gambling Commission licence. The Commission’s guide to opening accounts (opens in a new tab) says the footer should name the business and state that it is licensed and regulated in Great Britain under a given account number.

1. Find the account number in the app’s footer, About section or terms.
2. Open the Commission’s public register and search by that number, the business name or the website domain.
3. Confirm the status reads Active and that remote casino is among the licensed activities.
4. Check that the brand or domain you’re using appears in the trading names or domains list.
5. Scroll to any regulatory actions and read what happened and when.

For example, Coral and Ladbrokes both sit under LC International Limited’s register entry (opens in a new tab), account 54743, and PlayOJO is run by Skill On Net Limited, account 39326. The Commission notes that trading and domain names are supplied by businesses, and an entry may not list every past settlement, so read its news pages too. Our explainer on how to know a casino app is licensed walks through edge cases, and how to spot an unlicensed casino app lists the warning signs.

Checks 2–4: the App Store or Google Play listing

The store listing tells you more than the casino’s homepage does. Apple’s rules say real-money gambling apps must be licensed where they’re used, geo-restricted to those places and free to download. Apple also expects gambling apps to be submitted by a legal entity that provides the service, not an individual developer, so the seller name should tie back to the operator group.

Three things to take from that table. First, an iPhone stuck on an older iOS version can’t install the Coral or Ladbrokes app, while PlayOJO and Casumo reach further back; see which iOS version casino apps need. Second, sizes range from about 25 MB to over 110 MB, which matters on a full phone. Third, some brands put casino and sports in one app, which our standalone casino apps list explains.

On Android, Google Play requires gambling apps to carry an adults-only rating, show a responsible gambling statement and an 18+ notice, and avoid install incentives in the listing. Google Play doesn’t show a minimum Android version on the web listing any more, so check compatibility on your phone.

Check 5: read the privacy label

Apple’s privacy label splits data into what’s used to track you across other companies’ apps, what’s linked to your identity, and what isn’t. The differences between casino apps are bigger than most people expect.

• Coral’s iPhone app lists user content and usage data as used to track you, and coarse location as linked to you.
• Ladbrokes’ iPhone app shows no tracking category, and lists precise location as not linked to you.
• PlayOJO’s iPhone app lists identifiers as used to track you, and its listing says it may use your location even when the app isn’t open.

None of these is a reason to avoid an app on its own, but you should know what you’re agreeing to. Our guide to reading a casino app privacy label decodes each category, and do casino apps track your location explains why location comes up.

Check 6: how your balance is protected

UK operators must say in their terms whether customer money is not protected, has medium protection or has high protection if the business fails. With no protection, your balance counts as a company asset in an insolvency. High protection means a separate account run by an independent trustee and checked by an auditor.

You’ll be asked to acknowledge this before your first deposit is used. It’s one reason not to leave large balances sitting in any app. The customer funds protection page explains each level.

Check 7: the welcome offer terms, in pounds

Read the headline, then the small print, then do the sum. Since 19 January 2026 wagering in Great Britain can’t exceed 10 times the bonus, and offers can’t mix casino with betting. An offer asking for more than that shouldn’t be coming from a UK-licensed app.

Convert spins into pounds by multiplying the number of spins by the spin value. Coral’s 100 spins at 10p are £10 of spins for a £10 slot stake; Ladbrokes’ maximum 500 spins at 10p are up to £50 of spins, but only if you claim every day for ten days; PlayOJO’s 80 spins at 10p are £8 of spins for a £10 deposit. Each is for adults 18+ with terms. Our guide to reading casino app bonus terms shows how to spot expiry dates, game limits and maximum bet rules.

Checks 8–9: payment methods, withdrawal times and fees

Make sure the method you want to use is accepted and, if you want the welcome offer, not excluded from it. Then find the published withdrawal times and fees. An app that publishes nothing on payouts should make you more cautious.

For deeper detail, see how long casino app withdrawals take and withdrawal fees in casino apps. If you’re ready to pay in, our walkthrough of a first deposit in a casino app is the next step.

Check 10: can you reach a person?

Live chat is now standard, but hours and access vary. PlayOJO says live chat is available after you log in, depending on your country, with email as the backup. Coral publishes an email address, help@coral.co.uk, but no phone line. Ladbrokes offers a phone line as well as chat and email, according to independent reviews.

Before you sign up, open the help section and see whether a chat window is reachable without an account. Our Ladbrokes app customer support page and live chat in casino apps guide compare the options.

Check 11: safer gambling tools you can find quickly

Good apps put limits within two or three taps of the home screen. PlayOJO’s store listing names Safe Mate, Take A Break and Deposit Limits, and its help page says deposit limit increases wait 24 hours while decreases are immediate. 10bet’s listing mentions deposit limits, breaks and self-exclusion in account settings.

Look for deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion, plus a link to GAMSTOP. Our roundup of safer gambling tools in casino apps explains each one, and casino apps with the best safer gambling tools compares them.

Check 12: what happens if something goes wrong

Every licensed operator must publish a complaints procedure. It has eight weeks to resolve your complaint, and if it can’t, it must offer to refer you to a free, independent alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider such as IBAS. The Commission doesn’t settle individual disputes itself.

The Commission’s list of checks you can do to stay safe (opens in a new tab) includes reading the complaints policy before you start. Our complaints and ADR rules page covers the timings in full.

Personal checks: your location, other accounts and GAMSTOP

Some checks are about you rather than the app. The Gambling Act 2005 covers Great Britain only, so apps and offers may treat Northern Ireland differently; PlayOJO’s welcome offer, for instance, excludes it. Coral and Ladbrokes share an operator, so one person may not be able to hold new accounts at both; see why you can’t open accounts at Coral and Ladbrokes.

If you’ve registered with GAMSTOP, every GB-licensed app should refuse you until the exclusion ends. That’s the scheme working as intended. And if you’re signing up to chase back money lost elsewhere, stop and call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, which is free and open 24/7.

Three casino apps that pass the checklist

Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO all hold UK licences, publish their app details in the stores, and list safer gambling tools. Their welcome offers are for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply.

• Coral app review: bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each. Accept within 48 hours, valid 7 days, no wagering on spin winnings; Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid and certain debit cards don’t qualify. Ends 1 February 2027.
• Ladbrokes app review: play £10 on slots to get 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500) at 10p each. Claim before 23:59 daily, valid 7 days, no wagering; prepaid, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits excluded.
• PlayOJO app review: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each with a £10 first deposit, no wagering, cash winnings. Not in Northern Ireland, not combinable, via the designated offer link only.

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.