Fees & Accreditation

Clear, proportionate pricing for serious operators

OCSA accreditation is designed to be:

  • meaningful

  • credible

  • proportionate to operator scale

  • and significantly lower than the cost of statutory gambling regulation

All fees are 100% tax-deductible business expenses.

Why OCSA Charges Fees

OCSA is an independent, industry-backed standards body.

Accreditation fees fund:

  • compliance reviews and audits

  • complaints handling and mediation

  • draw and prize verification

  • sector risk intelligence and reporting

  • ongoing oversight and operator support

We do not sell advertising, run affiliate schemes, or accept sponsorship from operators.

Accreditation is earned — not sold.

One-Off Application Fee

£150 (non-refundable)

Covers:

  • application review

  • verification checks

  • onboarding assessment

  • certification setup

  • badge preparation

This fee applies once per certification cycle.

Accreditation Levels

OCSA offers three levels of accreditation, aligned with the size, risk profile and maturity of your operation.

1. Certified Operator (Entry Tier)

£75 per month

Entry-level accreditation for smaller and emerging operators.

Includes:

  • OCSA Certified badge

  • Annual compliance review

  • Basic documentation templates (T&Cs, complaints process, transparency guidance)

  • 1 mediated complaint per year

  • Access to OCSA guidance and support

Certified status demonstrates a professional baseline and commitment to responsible operation.

2. Silver Accredited Operator (Mid Tier)

£275 per month

For established operators seeking stronger oversight and visible trust signals.

Includes everything in Certified, plus:

  • OCSA Silver badge

  • Up to 3 complaint mediations per year

  • Annual marketing compliance review

  • Draw Verification (Lite)

  • Full documentation suite (GDPR, AML checklist, influencer guidance, updated T&Cs)

  • Access to training materials

  • Priority support

Silver accreditation is the most common choice for reputable, established operators.

3. Gold Accredited Operator (Top Tier)

£1,275 per month

For high-turnover and high-profile operators who require the highest level of independent oversight, dispute protection and reputational assurance.

Includes everything in Silver, plus:

  • OCSA Gold badge (highest standard)

  • Unlimited complaint filtering and triage

  • Priority complaint mediation

  • Annual deep compliance audit

  • Prize verification audit

  • Certified Draw Verification (up to 6 draws per year)

  • Anti-fraud behaviour reporting

  • Staff certification (up to 3 staff included)

  • Direct operator support

  • Guidance during disputes, PR issues or regulator enquiries

Gold accreditation is designed for operators running large-value prizes and significant advertising spend.

VAT

All prices are shown exclusive of VAT.
OCSA is VAT registered. VAT will be charged at the prevailing rate where applicable.

Ongoing Oversight & Reviews

OCSA accreditation is subject to continuous oversight.

  • All accredited operators are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure they continue to meet the standards of their accreditation tier.

  • This includes review of complaints, disputes, verification outcomes and risk indicators throughout the year.

In addition:

  • Certified operators undergo a formal annual compliance review.

  • Silver operators undergo an enhanced annual compliance review, including marketing and draw checks.

  • Gold operators undergo a deep annual compliance audit, reflecting their scale and risk profile.

Accreditation may be suspended, downgraded or withdrawn if standards are no longer met.

Tax Deductibility

All OCSA accreditation fees are 100% tax-deductible business expenses, like other professional compliance and regulatory costs.

This typically reduces the real cost by up to 20–25%, depending on your corporation tax position.

Cost Context

For comparison only:

  • Full Gambling Commission regulation commonly costs £100,000–£350,000+ per year for large operators

  • OCSA Gold costs £15,300 per year

OCSA delivers trust, oversight and protection without the six-figure financial and administrative footprint of statutory gambling regulation.

Additional Services (Optional)

For operators requiring deeper or bespoke support, OCSA can also provide:

  • Site-visit audits

  • Additional draw or prize verification

  • Mystery shopper testing

  • Chargeback defence support

  • Enhanced marketing compliance reviews

  • Executive risk briefings

  • Additional staff certification

These services are quoted separately based on scope and risk profile.

Which Level Is Right for You?

If you are unsure which accreditation level is appropriate:

  • smaller or newer operators typically begin at Certified

  • established operators usually choose Silver

  • large, brand-name operators typically operate at Gold

We are happy to discuss this before you apply.

Apply or Enquire

To apply for accreditation or discuss your options, contact:

membership@ocsa.org.uk