Licensing & protection ledger · July 2026
I have spent enough years bouncing between UK casino lobbies to know that a shiny homepage tells you almost nothing about how seriously a brand treats its licence. Harbour and Felt is my attempt to line operators up on the boring-but-vital stuff first: UK Gambling Commission authorisation, how obvious the safer-gambling tools are, and whether the live and slots floors feel properly stocked — not just loudly advertised.
Last updated: 18 July 2026
Methodology
How we score the match percentage
Each operator gets a percentage match against what I want to see on a UK-licensed site that takes player protection seriously. The percentage is not a promise of winnings and it is not a regulator rating. It is my weighted read across: confirmed UKGC licensing, clarity of age and safer-gambling messaging, live casino presence, mobile usability, studio variety, support routes, and how readable the welcome-offer framing is (type of offer only — never a guarantee).
Commercial reality: some outbound links are affiliate links. That can affect which brands appear here, but it does not buy a higher match score. If a brand is weak on licensing transparency or buries GamStop-style messaging, the number reflects that.
Compact comparison
Protection-weighted scoreboard
Affiliate disclosure: Links marked as visits to operator sites may earn Harbour and Felt a commission if you sign up. That never changes the independent match scores below. Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply on all offers.
| Operator | UKGC | Game range | Live casino | Mobile | Studios | Welcome type | Support | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy Power Expanded row: Flutter-owned household name with mature safer-gambling routes and a deep live floor — highest match on this ledger for protection clarity plus product breadth. | Licensed | Sports + casino | Strong | App + web | Major suppliers | Casino welcome package | Live chat / help centre | 94% |
| Spin Genie | Licensed | Slots-led casino | Solid | Mobile web | Known slot houses | Welcome spins / bonus type | Help centre | 88% |
| Star Sports | Licensed | Sports-first + casino | Present | App focus | Mixed roster | New-customer offer | Account support | 86% |
| LottoGo | Licensed | Lottery + casino | Select tables | Mobile web | Lottery + slots | Welcome offer type | Help desk | 84% |
| Play Magical | Licensed | Themed casino | Available | Mobile web | Popular slot studios | Welcome package | Support portal | 82% |
Numbered ledger
Operator notes in order
Flat entries — logo, facts, match score, one soft CTA. No card grid; just the ledger.
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Star Sports
Star Sports
Star Sports built its name on the betting side of the UK market and carries that sportsbook DNA into a casino lobby that feels secondary but not neglected. Safer-gambling messaging sits in the account area rather than only in the footer, which is the kind of practical detail I weight when scoring protection habits.
Welcome offer: new-customer casino package (wording varies). Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply
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Play Magical
Play Magical
The presentation leans into a whimsical theme, but under the costume you still get a UK-licensed casino stack with familiar slot studios and a live section you can reach without digging through three menus. I would not call the protection tools the loudest on this list, yet age gates and responsible-play links are present where UK players expect them.
Welcome offer: standard welcome package type. Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply
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Paddy Power
Paddy Power
Part of Flutter Entertainment, Paddy Power is the brand most UK adults already recognise from the high street and the sports pages. That scale shows up in live-dealer coverage and in how easy it is to find deposit limits, reality checks and self-exclusion routes without hunting. Match score sits at the top of this ledger for that reason, not because the homepage shouts louder.
Welcome offer: casino welcome package for new players. Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply
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Spin Genie
Spin Genie
Spin Genie runs a cleaner, slots-forward lobby than the sports-heavy names above. Studio logos you will actually recognise sit near the top of the catalogue, and the live tables are enough for occasional roulette or blackjack without pretending to be a full theatre complex. Licensing seals and responsible-gambling copy are easy to verify before you create an account.
Welcome offer: free spins or bonus-style welcome (check current terms). Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply
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LottoGo
LottoGo
LottoGo is the hybrid on this list: lotto-style draws sit alongside a casino catalogue, so the homepage rhythm feels different from a pure slots brand. That split can help if you want lottery products and the odd casino session under one UK-licensed roof, though the live offering is narrower than at Paddy Power. Protection pages are linked from the footer and account menus in the usual UK pattern.
Welcome offer: new-customer offer type (lottery and/or casino). Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply
Safety resources
Places that actually help
If play stops feeling optional, use these organisations — not an affiliate site.
Questions
Straight answers
Is Harbour and Felt a casino?
No. We publish comparisons and explainers. We do not host games, open accounts, or move money. If you need help with a deposit, bonus, or login, that sits with the operator you joined.
What does UKGC licensing actually change for me?
A UK Gambling Commission licence means the operator must follow UK rules on advertising, identity checks, and player protection tools. You can look a brand up on the Commission’s public register. It is not a tip that you will win; it is a baseline for legal, supervised play in Great Britain.
How does GAMSTOP fit into this?
GAMSTOP is the free self-exclusion scheme that covers online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. If you register, participating sites should block you for the period you choose. I treat clear links to GAMSTOP and in-account limits as a positive signal when I set match scores.
Why do match scores differ if every brand is licensed?
Licensing is the floor, not the ceiling. Scores also weigh how easy tools are to find, how deep the live and studio catalogues feel, and how plainly welcome offers are described. Two licensed sites can still feel very different once you dig past the homepage banner.
Do you get paid if I click a Visit button?
Sometimes, yes — those are affiliate links. Payment does not rewrite the percentage on the scoreboard. Full wording lives on our affiliate disclosure page.