You don’t always need ID to play in a UK casino, but you do need to be a certain age. The legal gambling age in the UK is 18. If you’re over that age, then you have no problem accessing any of the country’s casinos and gambling at any of their tables or slot machines. However, if you’re under 18, there are some important things for you to know before visiting any of these casinos.
In almost all cases, you will need government-issued ID to verify your age and identity when trying to get into a UK casino. There are no official ID cards in the UK so this can be a driver’s license or a passport.
The reason for this is because public gaming establishments must operate with strict rules regarding who can enter and how they can verify those individuals meet certain criteria before they are permitted entry.
ID verification may be requested by some casinos prior to paying out winnings as well.
ID checks in UK casinos
Casinos operate with strict rules for the reason that they want to keep their patrons safe and stay within the law. They want to make sure underage individuals aren’t allowed entry, that folks don’t bring a lot of money in the casino and don’t gamble more money than they can afford to lose, and that the premises remain a safe and secure environment for all of its patrons.
To do this, they enforce certain rules and policies that allow them to keep their premises safe and secure while still making sure that everyone inside is playing legally and is of age. The first of these is the identification policy, or ID policy.
What other forms of ID can you use to enter brick and mortar casino?
The minimum age to gamble in the UK is 18 years old, so you must have your identification in order to enter any casino. All UK citizens and individuals with valid foreign passports are required to produce some form of valid ID in order to enter a casino. This can be a passport, driver’s license, or a passport card.
International travelers must carry with them a valid passport, and many casinos also accept visas for identification. If you are under the age of 18, there are some special rules regarding what you can use as ID to verify your age and identity. People under 18, must usually show two pieces of identification in order to gain entry to a casino.
Who can enter a UK casino without ID?
As we’ve discussed, if you’re over 18, you simply need to have a valid form of ID to get into any casino in the UK. If you’re under 18, there are different rules regarding what you must have to enter a casino (or if you can enter it at all). Here are some examples:
- Government employees and members of the armed forces – If you are in the armed forces or are a member of the government, you are exempt from having to show ID to enter a casino.
- Individuals under the age of 18 accompanied by a parent – If you are under the age of 18 and accompanied by a parent, you do not need to show any ID. Your parent simply needs to provide their own identification at the door.
- Individuals under the age of 18 accompanied by a legal guardian – If you are under the age of 18 and accompanied by a legal guardian, you must show the same two forms of ID as underage individuals who do not have a parent with them.
What happens if you don’t have ID?
If you are under 18 years old and do not have the required two pieces of identification, you will not be allowed entry into a casino. This is because casinos are legally required to keep out underage individuals.
But, if you are an underage individual who is being escorted by a parent or legal guardian, you will be allowed inside. However, you will also be required to meet with a representative of the casino’s management and sign an agreement not to gamble.
Conclusion
The UK gambling scene is one of the most popular in the world. With exciting casino games and sportsbooks, there are many reasons to visit a casino in the UK. Before you do, you should make sure you know the rules and regulations surrounding casinos in the UK.
If you’re over 18, you can simply walk into a casino and may not have to show any form of identification. People under 18 will need to present two forms of identification. Failure to do so may result in you being turned away from the casino.
