UKGC Approved Test Houses: GLI Standards and What Remote Technical Standards Actually Require

Remote gambling software suppliers entering the UK market face two distinct but related compliance obligations: satisfying the Gambling Commission’s Remote Technical Standards (RTS) under Licence Condition 2.3.1, and doing so through a test house the Commission has formally approved. GLI certification against GLI-19 (Standards for Interactive Gaming Systems v3.0) provides substantial coverage across the RTS framework, but it does not map one-to-one onto UK requirements. Understanding where the overlap ends, and where UK-specific obligations begin, is essential for any supplier or operator managing a certification programme for the Great Britain market.

The Statutory Foundation: Where the RTS Obligation Comes From

The Gambling Commission issues the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards under sections 89 and 97 of the Gambling Act 2005. The RTS was published in its current form on 2 February 2021 and was last substantively updated on 31 October 2025. Licence Condition 2.3.1 compels both remote gambling operators and gambling software licence holders to comply with the RTS and with the Commission’s requirements on the timing and procedures for testing. Gambling software licence holders, in particular, bear direct responsibility for ensuring that the products they supply to operators are compliant before those products go live in the Great Britain market.

The RTS is deliberately outcome-focused rather than prescriptive. Each standard states an aim, a requirement, and implementation guidance. The implementation guidance is not exhaustive, which gives suppliers flexibility to demonstrate compliance through different technical approaches, provided they can evidence that the aim is met. That flexibility requires suppliers to engage a test house with the capability to evaluate compliance outcomes, not just tick through a prescriptive checklist.

Which Test Houses the Commission Approves

The Commission publishes a rolling list of approved test houses. As of 2 March 2026, twelve entities appear on that list, and each is approved against specific categories of testing. Not every test house is cleared for every scope. A test house approved only for Remote Technical Standards may not be approved for gaming machine technical standards categories, bingo and casino equipment requirements, or both. Selecting a test house without verifying its specific approval scope against the gambling facilities being provided is a breach risk, and the obligation to verify rests with the licensee.

The twelve approved test houses, their RTS approval status, and their gaming machine and bingo/casino approval scope as of 2 March 2026 are set out below.

Test House (Trading Name)	Remote Technical Standards	Gaming Machines (Categories)	Bingo &amp, Casino Equipment
BMM Testlabs (South Africa)	Yes	All except cat B3a and compensated versions	No
BMM Spain Testlabs SL	Yes	All categories	Yes
eCOGRA Limited	Yes	None	No
Gaming Associates Europe Ltd	Yes	None	No
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), LLC	Yes	All categories	Yes
GLI Europe BV	Yes	All categories	Yes
GLI Africa (Pty) Limited	Yes	All categories	Yes
Gaming Laboratories International, India PVT Ltd	Yes	None	Yes
GLI UK Gaming Limited	Yes	All categories	Yes
GLI Gaming Laboratories Ltd	Yes	All categories	Yes
Global Lab Limited	Yes	None	No
Nick Farley &amp, Associates (Eclipse Compliance Testing)	Yes	All	Yes
Quinel Ltd	Yes	None	No
RiskCherry	Yes	None	No

Every entity on this list is approved for Remote Technical Standards. For suppliers whose UK product portfolio is purely remote gambling software, any of the twelve are eligible. For a supplier also producing land-based gaming machine software, the narrower-scope houses such as eCOGRA, Global Lab Limited, Quinel, RiskCherry, and Gaming Associates Europe would not be appropriate. The accreditation requirement for approval is BS EN ISO/IEC 17025 in full, together with selected requirements from ISO/IEC 17065 and ISO/IEC 27002.

Does a GLI-Approved Test House Automatically Satisfy UKGC Requirements?

No. The UKGC maintains its own approval list independently of any GLI accreditation status. A test house that is GLI-accredited or recognised by another regulator is not automatically approved by the Commission. Licensees must appoint a test house from the Commission’s published list, and must confirm that the specific entity’s approval scope covers the gambling facilities in question. The Commission’s approved list is updated periodically, the current version, dated 2 March 2026, is the controlling reference.

GLI’s Position in the UKGC Framework

GLI operates five entities on the Commission’s approved list: Gaming Laboratories International LLC (the US parent entity), GLI Europe BV, GLI Africa (Pty) Limited, GLI UK Gaming Limited, and GLI Gaming Laboratories Ltd. All five carry the full scope of approvals covering Remote Technical Standards, all gaming machine categories, and bingo and casino equipment. This breadth of scope makes GLI entities the most versatile choice for suppliers with mixed product portfolios. The GLI group’s acquisition of iTech Labs in 2023 further consolidated its testing capacity, though iTech Labs does not appear as a separately listed entity on the UKGC’s approved test houses page.

The relationship between GLI and the UKGC is not purely contractual. GLI-19 v3.0 explicitly acknowledges the UK Gambling Commission as one of the regulatory bodies whose documents were reviewed during the standard’s development. That acknowledgment reflects a degree of substantive alignment between GLI-19’s technical requirements and the regulatory intent behind the UKGC’s RTS framework, particularly on RNG integrity, game fairness, and return-to-player determination.

For the full licensing context within which these technical obligations sit, the UKGC Remote Technical Standards explorer maps every RTS requirement against product type and provides the current rulebook in searchable form.

Where GLI-19 Aligns with the RTS

GLI-19 v3.0 covers the full interactive gaming system stack: RNG requirements, game outcome determination, account management, transaction integrity, and responsible gambling controls embedded at system level. The overlap with the UKGC’s RTS is substantial across several key standards.

On random outcome generation, GLI-19 Chapter 3 requires source code review of all core randomness algorithms, statistical independence testing across at least 10,000 game outcomes for physical randomness devices, and documented seed management procedures. These requirements closely parallel RTS 7 (Generation of Random Outcomes), which requires that random events used in determining game outcomes must be generated using an approved RNG, that number sequences must not be discarded through adaptive behaviour, and that any outcome outside the expected range must generate an error log. Both frameworks share the underlying objective of ensuring outcome unpredictability and resistance to manipulation.

On game rules and return-to-player disclosure, GLI-19 sections 4.7.1 and 4.7.2 require each house-banked game to achieve a minimum theoretical payout of 75% over the expected lifetime of the game (unless the regulatory body specifies otherwise), and permit the regulatory body to require RTP display in artwork. RTS 3 requires that game rules be clearly accessible and that the average theoretical return to player percentage be disclosed before the customer commits to gamble. The disclosure obligation under RTS 3C is a direct requirement, GLI-19’s RTP display provisions are permissive at the regulator’s discretion. Suppliers must treat RTS 3C as mandatory, not as an option to be elected.

On player software integrity, GLI-19 section 2.6 requires that downloaded player software cannot transfer data between players beyond permitted channels, must not disable virus scanners or open firewall ports unnecessarily, and must not store sensitive information. These provisions align with the Commission’s security requirements, which are based on Annex A of ISO/IEC 27001:2022, updated from the 2013 version following the Commission’s October 2025 RTS amendments. Both frameworks treat client-side software integrity as a prerequisite for fair play.

UK-Specific Requirements That GLI-19 Does Not Cover

The more consequential question for certification strategy is not where GLI-19 and the RTS converge, but where they diverge. Several UKGC requirements have no equivalent in GLI-19 and represent areas where GLI certification alone is insufficient for UK market access.

The Autoplay Prohibition (RTS 8A)

RTS 8A requires that the gambling system must require a customer to commit to each game cycle individually. This prohibition on autoplay for online gaming is absolute for slots and, following the October 2025 RTS updates, extends to all online casino products including roulette and blackjack. The only exception is the auto-posting of blinds in peer-to-peer poker. GLI-19 does not impose an autoplay prohibition, it treats autoplay as a configurable feature. Suppliers offering products with any automated game-progression functionality for the UK market must disable or remove that feature, and must have test evidence from an approved test house confirming RTS 8A compliance.

The 2.5-Second Minimum Slot Cycle Interval (RTS 14D)

RTS 14D requires a minimum interval of 2.5 seconds from the initiation of one game cycle to the point at which the next can begin for slot games. The intent of the standard, confirmed by the Commission in its consultation response materials, is to reduce the intensity and pace of slot play as a harm-reduction measure. GLI-19 has no equivalent minimum game speed requirement.

The practical enforcement of RTS 14D is not theoretical. In June 2026, the Gambling Commission reached a regulatory settlement with Stakelogic BV, requiring payment of £122,835 after an investigation found that multiple slot games ran faster than the 2.5-second minimum. The case originated when Stakelogic self-reported that Tiger Temple 88 operated with a 1.97-second cycle time. Subsequent portfolio-wide retesting identified 15 additional non-compliant titles, with shortfalls ranging from 0.001 seconds to 0.675 seconds below the threshold. The Commission identified aggravating factors including delayed suspension of affected games and delayed portfolio review. The root cause was reliance on manual stopwatch testing rather than automated measurement systems. Suppliers that rely on manual QA processes to verify game speed compliance carry material regulatory risk in the UK.

The 2.5-second minimum spin interval was introduced in 2021 as part of regulatory measures. The Gambling Commission emphasised that RTS 14D specifically targets risks linked with the intensity of gameplay and cited research showing faster game speeds increase consumer vulnerability., UK Gambling Commission, Stakelogic BV public statement, June 2026.

The Non-Slot 5-Second Minimum (RTS 14G)

RTS 14G, introduced as part of the October 2025 RTS updates, extends a minimum game speed requirement to non-slot online casino products. The minimum is 5 seconds for these products, targeting rapid-fire versions of roulette, blackjack, and similar games. GLI-19 has no equivalent provision. Suppliers marketing existing RGS content to UK operators must verify that all non-slot titles meet this threshold.

Responsible Product Design Prohibitions (RTS 14E and 14F)

RTS 14E prohibits the gambling system from permitting a customer to reduce the time until the result is presented, explicitly prohibiting turbo, quick spin, and slam-stop features on all remote games regardless of game cycle speed. RTS 14F prohibits the use of auditory or visual effects associated with a win for returns that are less than or equal to the total stake wagered. These two requirements address specific harm-reduction objectives that GLI-19 does not address. A game that has passed GLI-19 certification but includes a turbo-spin button or a near-miss celebration audio track is non-compliant with the UKGC’s RTS and cannot be offered to Great Britain players in that configuration.

Multiple Simultaneous Games Prohibition (RTS 14C)

RTS 14C prohibits operator-led functionality that enables customers to play multiple simultaneous casino products. This applies to casino products broadly, excluding bingo, virtual betting, and peer-to-peer poker. GLI-19 v3.0 addresses multi-game platform architecture in the context of certification scope, but imposes no restriction on simultaneous play. Operators and suppliers must ensure that front-end and back-end systems do not permit, facilitate, or encourage concurrent active sessions across casino game types for UK-facing products.

Financial Limits: RTS 12 and What It Demands Technically

RTS 12 is the Commission’s mandatory deposit-limit framework, substantially updated from October 2025 onwards. The gambling system must, as a minimum, offer gross deposit limits, defined as limiting the total amount a customer deposits over a defined period. Phase one implementation required all licensees from 31 October 2025 to prompt new customers to set deposit limits and to offer bi-annual prompts for existing customers to review transaction history. Phase two, which clarifies definitions for gross deposit limits, stake-based net limits, and net deposit limits, was originally due to take effect on 30 June 2026, the Commission extended this deadline to 30 September 2026 in May 2026.

GLI-19 does not include deposit limit requirements. The responsible gambling controls in GLI-19 are system-level provisions relating to session account management and player account information, not prescriptive financial control obligations mandated by the regulatory body. Suppliers whose certification work was conducted against GLI-19 with no UK-specific RTS 12 scope must commission separate testing against the updated RTS 12 requirements before the 30 September 2026 deadline.

Which RTS Standards Apply to Which Products?

The RTS applies differently across product types. Understanding which standards attach to each product category is a prerequisite for scoping a test programme. The Commission’s RTS annex table sets out the applicability matrix. The key breakpoints for remote gambling software suppliers are as follows.

RTS Standard	Slots / Online Casino	Remote Betting	Peer-to-Peer	Bingo	Lotteries
RTS 3 (Rules &amp, Game Descriptions)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RTS 7 (Random Outcomes / RNG)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RTS 8 (Game Cycles / Autoplay)	Yes	Yes	Yes (autoplay exception for poker blinds)	Yes	No
RTS 12 (Financial Limits)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RTS 14D (2.5s slot minimum)	Slots only	No	No	No	No
RTS 14G (5s non-slot minimum)	Non-slot casino	No	No (peer-to-peer poker excluded)	No	No
RTS 15 (In-Play Betting)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Security Requirements (ISO 27001:2022)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Suppliers providing remote gambling software under a gambling software licence must submit annual games testing audits to the Commission. The testing strategy document governs the timing and procedures for that audit cycle. Changes to certified software that affect any RTS-relevant parameter, whether a game mechanic, a payout table, an RNG configuration, or a responsible gambling control, must be resubmitted to an approved test house before going live.

Annual Audits and Change Management

Passing initial certification does not discharge the RTS obligation permanently. Licence Condition 2.3.1 encompasses the Commission’s testing strategy as well as the technical standards themselves. Gambling software licensees responsible for procuring game testing must submit an annual games testing audit. The GLI Change Management Program Guide v1.0, which GLI itself developed referencing the UKGC’s Testing Strategy for Compliance with Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (November 2018) among other jurisdictions, sets out the minimum criteria for change management programmes at an organisational level. While that guide is a GLI document rather than a UKGC document, it illustrates the operational implication: any change to a certified product that touches RTS-relevant functionality restarts the test obligation for that component.

The Stakelogic enforcement case provides a direct object lesson in why post-certification change management matters for RTS 14D compliance. The timing breaches in that case were not the result of deliberate product changes, they arose from inadequate measurement methodology during ongoing QA. Suppliers should implement automated cycle-time monitoring as part of their standard release pipeline, rather than relying on manual verification at discrete audit points.

Stakelogic acknowledged that their internal processes “fell short of the standards reasonably expected of licensees” and committed to significant changes to quality assurance testing, incident management, and broader compliance framework., UK Gambling Commission, Stakelogic BV public statement, June 2026.

Practical Implications for Certification Strategy

For suppliers entering the UK market with an existing GLI-19 certification from another jurisdiction, the appropriate strategy is a gap analysis against the UKGC’s RTS before commissioning UK-specific testing. The RTS areas where GLI-19 provides no coverage, and where UK-specific test work is required, are: RTS 8A (autoplay prohibition), RTS 12 (deposit limits), RTS 14C (simultaneous games), RTS 14D (2.5-second slot interval), RTS 14E (game speed reduction features), RTS 14F (sub-stake win celebrations), RTS 14G (5-second non-slot minimum), and the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 security audit for the relevant licence categories. Suppliers should engage their chosen approved test house to scope which of these require fresh testing and which can be evidenced through existing technical documentation.

The choice of test house entity also has operational implications beyond the legal minimum. GLI UK Gaming Limited and GLI Europe BV, being UK-based and EU-based respectively, may offer faster turnaround times and more direct regulatory dialogue for UK-facing programmes than entities headquartered outside Europe. eCOGRA, while approved for RTS, carries no gaming machine category approvals, making it suitable only for pure remote gambling software programmes without any land-based component.

The Gambling Commission’s RTS is the controlling document for Great Britain market access. Operators sourcing content from suppliers who cannot produce a valid test house report against the RTS for the product in question must not make that content available to UK customers. Licence Condition 2.3.1 places the obligation on the licensee, not merely the software supplier. Both parties carry compliance exposure if the product is non-compliant.

Operators and suppliers with questions about the specific application of the RTS to their product architecture or about the scope of an approved test house’s authorisation should seek qualified legal and technical advice, given that the Commission’s RTS is regularly updated and the testing strategy document carries equivalent binding force to the standards themselves.

For a broader view of how the UKGC licensing regime compares with the Malta Gaming Authority across fees, technical obligations, and responsible gambling requirements, see the UKGC vs MGA licence comparison. For the technical distinctions between GLI-19 and GLI-33 certification paths, including how they apply across different product types, see GLI-19 vs GLI-33: Choosing the Right Standard for Your Certification Path. The GLI Certification hub provides a reference index for GLI standards, jurisdiction acceptance, and the certification process across regulated markets.

Key Resources

UK Gambling Commission, Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (RTS)
gamblingcommission.gov.uk/standards/remote-gambling-and-software-technical-standards
Published 2 February 2021, last updated 31 October 2025. The primary source for all RTS obligations.

UK Gambling Commission, Approved Test Houses (updated 2 March 2026)
gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/page/approved-test-houses
The definitive Commission list, check this page before appointing any test house.

UK Gambling Commission, Test Houses Guidance (Licence Condition 2.3.1)
gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/test-houses
Sets out the accreditation standard (BS EN ISO/IEC 17025) and approved testing categories.

GLI-19: Standards for Interactive Gaming Systems v3.0 (July 2020)
gaminglabs.com
The primary GLI standard for interactive gaming certification, acknowledges UKGC as a source reviewed in development.

UK Gambling Commission, Stakelogic BV Regulatory Settlement, June 2026
gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/stakelogic-bv-penalty-slot-game-timing-breaches
Enforcement precedent for RTS 14D (2.5-second minimum game cycle).