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Kerry Dinsdale

Gambling scams and regulation writer

Kerry Dinsdale

Kerry Dinsdale, from Darlington, writes BonusOut's guides on gambling scams and the rules that protect players in Great Britain. She worked for many years in a local council's Trading Standards team, logging reports of scams and unfair trading, and later handled disputed card payments at a payment services firm. In her final years at the council, more and more reports came from people whose winnings had not been paid by casinos advertised on social media, often sites that billed themselves as “not on Gamstop”. Since 2021 she has written about unlicensed gambling, how to check a licence and where to complain. She also checks the licensing sections of BonusOut's reviews. Her guides give general information and are not legal advice.

Email
info@bonusout-uk.com
Topics
how to check whether a gambling business is licensed · sites that advertise they are not on Gamstop · unlicensed and scam gambling sites · complaints and Alternative Dispute Resolution · Gamstop and self-exclusion · gambling harm and where to get help

Casinos not on Gamstop: what they are and what you lose

Casinos not on Gamstop are sites that advertise being outside the scheme every licensed online operator must join. This guide explains what the label tells you, who it targets, which protections you lose without a licence and where to find help.

How to check if a casino is licensed by the Gambling Commission

How to check if a casino is licensed in the UK: search the Gambling Commission’s register by domain, confirm the status is ‘Active’, then match the name and web address. The guide also covers what the register leaves out and where to report an unlicensed site.

How long does Gamstop last, and what happens when it ends?

How long does Gamstop last? It runs for the period chosen at registration, cannot be cancelled during it and does not end on its own afterwards. This guide explains the rules, the limits of the scheme and the support available, with sources dated 9 October 2026.

Signs of gambling harm, and where to get free help today

Common signs of gambling addiction in yourself and in someone close to you, a nine-question NHS self-check and the routes to help: the National Gambling Helpline, NHS clinics in England, GamFam and Gordon Moody.

Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in the UK?

Players do not pay tax on gambling winnings in the UK, and National Lottery prizes are covered too. This guide sets out the legal basis, the limits for professional gamblers, what happens to interest and gifts, and who pays the 40% remote gaming duty.

The 10 times wagering cap: how bonus rules changed in January 2026

The UK wagering requirements cap limits licensed operators to 10 times the bonus from 19 January 2026, and the same rules ban mixed product offers. This guide shows what changed, how to read bonus terms and conditions step by step, and where to complain when a term does not look right.

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