Casino review
Admiral Shark Casino review: unlicensed and not on GAMSTOP
Admiral Shark takes pounds but has no Gambling Commission licence, and its own features table says GamStop is not available.
Our verdict
No GB licenceAdmiral Shark claims a Curacao licence without a number and holds no Gambling Commission licence, yet takes pounds and states it is outside GamStop.
Worth knowing
- No Gambling Commission licence or register entry
- States that GamStop is not available
- No company name or licence number
- No UK stake limits, wagering cap or ADR
Admiral Shark Casino is not licensed by the Gambling Commission. It describes itself as licensed by the Government of Curacao, without a company name or licence number, takes pounds as well as euros and dollars, and its own features table says GamStop is not available.
That last point settles it. Every online casino licensed in Great Britain must take part in GAMSTOP, so a site that is not on GAMSTOP and accepts British players is not licensed for Britain. This Admiral Shark review starts with readers who have self-excluded.
If you have self-excluded
If you registered with GAMSTOP and found your way here, your exclusion is still working at every licensed site. It cannot be switched off during the minimum period, and it stays in place after that until you contact GAMSTOP and a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours has passed.
Sites outside the scheme are the gap. Gamban blocks gambling sites on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, and callers to the National Gambling Helpline can get it free through the TalkBanStop partnership. The helpline is on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24/7 by phone, live chat or WhatsApp, and GamCare offers counselling and support for family members too.
Taking pounds is not a licence
A general claim of a Curacao licence, with no number and no company, cannot be checked against anything. The Gambling Commission register holds no match for Admiral Shark. Under the Gambling Act 2005, offering gambling to people in Great Britain without a Commission licence is an offence wherever the site is based.
GB rules that would not apply
- age and identity checks before any deposit or play;
- the £5 stake limit per spin on online slots, and £2 for 18 to 24 year olds;
- the 10x cap on bonus wagering;
- the credit card ban;
- free complaints to an approved ADR provider.
The Commission adds that unlicensed sites often target self-excluded and vulnerable people, and that payouts and personal data are at risk on them. Our page on casinos not on GamStop explains this in more depth.
Checking any casino
A licensed site shows a Gambling Commission account number you can search on the register. See how to check a casino's UK licence, how GAMSTOP works and the responsible gambling page. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over.
On the Gambling Commission register
No matching register entry was found for this brand.
Questions readers ask
Is Admiral Shark on GAMSTOP?
No. Its own features table says GamStop is not available, and only Gambling Commission licensees take part in the scheme.
Is Admiral Shark Casino legit in the UK?
No. It gives only a general Curacao licence claim and holds no Gambling Commission licence, so it is not licensed to serve Great Britain.
Admiral Shark takes pounds. Does that make it UK-licensed?
No. Accepting sterling says nothing about a licence. Only an Active Gambling Commission account on the register does, and Admiral Shark has none.
Can I end my GAMSTOP exclusion early?
No. An exclusion cannot be removed during its minimum period. Afterwards it stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it, with a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours.