Stay Safe: The Risks of Non Licensed UKGC Casinos
Online Casino scams are doing the rounds by targeting UK players! They are becoming more sophisticated, with fake bingo and casino sites imitating trusted brands to trick visitors. These cloned sites linking to non Gamstop Casinos appear genuine but are causing player harm in the UK industry.
Stay Safe Online: How to Recognise and Report Suspicious Casino Sites
Since 2007, when Glitzy Bingo™ was first established, our mission has been simple: to help players find trusted, safe, and regulated bingo sites. We’ve built our reputation by only featuring brands licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring players enjoy a secure environment with responsible gambling tools, fairness monitoring, and full accountability.
However, not every online casino plays by the rules. In recent months, we’ve seen a sharp rise in non-GAMSTOP, offshore, and unaccredited casinos, as well as cloned sites that copy the content and branding of trusted UK affiliates and operators. These rogue websites and scam artists work overtime to deceive players. Many look professional and legitimate but are actually phishing sites or non-UK licensed casinos that offer no player protection. The non-UK casinos themselves are not part of GAMSTOP, often hide who operates them, and still ask for personal and financial details without providing any guarantees in return.
The Growing Threat of Imitation and Cloned Websites
Some of these fraudsters have become more sophisticated, hijacking search results, social media ads, and even familiar brand identities to trick players into registering. Without close inspection, even savvy players can be misled.
A particularly dangerous tactic involves taking over expired domains of once-licensed casinos. Familiar names such as mFortune or Mr Spin may appear safe, but if they’ve lost their UK licence, the site you land on could now be in the hands of criminals who redirect you to unsafe, unlicensed casinos.
Our Own Experience: A Serious Warning
Recently, GlitzyBingo.co.uk itself was cloned by fraudsters pretending to be us. To be absolutely clear, we operate no other websites. If you see a page using our branding or layout, always check the address bar — if it isn’t GlitzyBingo.co.uk, it isn’t us.
The fake site linked players directly to unlicensed casinos, posing real risks to both data and funds. It’s a reminder that even trusted brands can be imitated, and player vigilance is essential.
Report Suspicious or Fake Casino Websites
To help protect our community, we’ve now launched a Suspicious Website Reporting Form.
If you come across any site pretending to be Glitzy Bingo™ — or any unlicensed bingo or casino site that looks suspicious — please report it to us directly.
(Your report helps us warn others, take down fake sites faster, and share verified updates with regulators.)
Why Casinos Without a UKGC Licence Are Risky
- No oversight from the UK Gambling Commission.
- No responsible gambling tools.
- Not connected to GAMSTOP — so self-exclusion doesn’t apply.
- Often hide ownership and still request ID and payment details.
Even if they appear “professional,” unlicensed sites pose higher risks of fraud, unfair play, and misuse of personal data.
Offshore Licences: Not UK Player Protection
Some claim to be licensed in places like Curaçao, but these licences don’t apply to UK players. That means:
- No ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution).
- No obligation to honour payouts fairly.
- No enforceable responsible gambling standards.
- No protection for self-excluded players.
While this might sound tempting to a casino player who has self-excluded, it’s a bit like drinking homemade alcohol - it might look fine, but it’s a very serious risk. Player reports often mention withheld withdrawals, unfair “final decisions,” and operators refusing to honour bonuses or payouts.
If you have self-excluded and are thinking about joining one of these sites, please stop and think carefully before doing so. These casinos are not part of GAMSTOP and do not provide the same safeguards or support that licensed UK sites do. If you ever feel tempted, reach out to GambleAware for confidential help and advice.
How to Protect Yourself
- Check the licence – UKGC sites always list a valid licence number.
- Check the URL – cloned domains may add letters, hyphens, or new endings.
- Stick to trusted brands – Glitzy Bingo™ only lists verified UK-licensed sites.
- Use GAMSTOP if you need a break or feel tempted to risk unsafe sites.
- Stay alert – if something feels off, close the tab and report it.
Our Promise to Players
Bingo Sites and Casinos operating without a UKGC licence damage player safety and trust in the UK gaming community. At Glitzy Bingo™, we will continue to highlight only safe, regulated, and fair operators — and we invite every player to help us by reporting suspicious activity through our new form.
Together, we can keep UK online gaming secure, fair, and transparent.
Help Everyone Stay Safe!
Staying safe online is everyone’s responsibility. If something doesn’t look right, whether it’s a cloned site, an unlicensed casino, or a page pretending to be Glitzy Bingo™.. trust your instincts and stay away. We rely on players like you to help keep our community safe.
Use our Suspicious Website Reporting Form to let us know about any sites you believe are fake, unlicensed, or misleading. Your report helps us alert others, contact regulators, and take quick action to shut down dangerous clones.
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GlitzyBingo.co.uk is an independent UK bingo information site. We publish news, explainers, and promos to help players understand what’s changing in the UK market.
Where a post mentions launches, partners, software, or licences, details can change. Always confirm the current terms, product availability, and licensing information on the operator’s official website before signing up or depositing.