In the 1960s, the UK finally legalized casino operations and today, gaming establishments can be accessed by anyone over the age of 18.
The first gaming houses and clubs emerged in the late 1700s and since then, they operated under different regulatory regimes.ĭifferent laws were passed, amended, and repelled over the following decades and centuries and although casinos were outlawed temporarily, they continued to gain popularity in the underground. The Unlawful Games Act 1541 outlawed practically all forms of gambling but it was never really enforced – just a few years later, lotteries were officially launched through a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I. Gambling first became subject to state regulation in the 1400s when authorities in the country restricted betting on horse races and sports to the nobility, while the poor could only play dice games.
