Non GamStop Casinos UK: No Deposit Offer Conditions Explained
Updated: 28th of September 2026Non GamStop casinos operate under overseas licences rather than the UK Gambling Commission, so the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme does not apply to them. This guide reviews ten casinos not on GamStop, explains what "no deposit" offers really cost in wagering terms, and sets out who should steer clear entirely.
Best Non GamStop Casinos UK — Ranked
Individual reviews of the top non GamStop casinos
Each casino below was assessed on its licensing position, the real cost of its welcome offer once wagering is applied, its supported payment methods and its game range. Bonus figures are the operator's own advertised headline; the conditions attached to them matter more than the percentage.
Betmica
Betmica leads this list with a large percentage-based welcome package spread across multiple deposits, paired with a free spins allocation on slots. As with most non gamstop casino welcome offers of this size, the wagering requirement and maximum bet cap during play will decide whether the full bonus is realistically withdrawable. We have not verified independent payout data for this operator, so treat processing times as a target rather than a tested figure.
| Year Launched | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 3,500+ |
| Payout Time | 24–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 40x |
| Minimum Deposit | £20 |
| Top Game Providers | Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, Play'n GO |
Pros
- Large headline welcome package spread over several deposits
- Wide slots library from established studios
- Curaçao licence in place
Cons
- High wagering multiple reduces the realistic bonus value
- No independently verified withdrawal speed data
- Currency conversion may apply for GBP depositors
Kikibet
Kikibet's offer combines a percentage match with a fixed free spins count, aimed at slots players rather than table game customers. The site presents itself as one of the newer casinos not on gamstop, which means its operating history is shorter than longer-established brands on this list — a relevant factor when judging consistency of service over time.
| Year Launched | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 2,800+ |
| Payout Time | 24–48 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 35x |
| Minimum Deposit | £15 |
| Top Game Providers | NetEnt, Microgaming, Big Time Gaming |
Pros
- Competitive minimum deposit for a large welcome match
- Free spins allocation on top-rated slot titles
- Modern site with mobile-optimised games
Cons
- Short operating history limits track record assessment
- Wagering applies across deposit plus bonus, not bonus alone
- Live dealer range appears smaller than more established rivals
Betninja
Betninja offers a fixed cash bonus alongside 100 free spins, a simpler structure than percentage-based offers, which can make the real value easier to calculate upfront. This is one of the more straightforward welcome bonuses among casinos not on gamstop reviewed here, since the bonus amount doesn't scale with deposit size beyond the qualifying minimum.
| Year Launched | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 4,200+ |
| Payout Time | 24–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 30x |
| Minimum Deposit | £10 |
| Top Game Providers | Pragmatic Play, Playtech, Novomatic |
Pros
- Fixed bonus amount simplifies value calculation
- Lower wagering requirement than several rivals on this list
- Broad game catalogue across slots and table games
Cons
- Free spins may be restricted to specific slot titles
- Cashout cap details require checking full terms
- Live chat availability outside UK hours is unconfirmed
WinnerIsland
WinnerIsland's welcome bonus is denominated in euros, which is a signal worth noting for UK players expecting GBP accounts — currency conversion at deposit or withdrawal could apply. The 100 free spins addition is modest compared with other entries here, but the wagering terms attached may still be comparable or lower.
| Year Launched | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 3,100+ |
| Payout Time | 48–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 35x |
| Minimum Deposit | £20 |
| Top Game Providers | Evolution Gaming, Play'n GO, Red Tiger |
Pros
- Clear, moderate bonus structure without excessive headline inflation
- Live dealer studio games included
- Reasonable minimum deposit threshold
Cons
- EUR-denominated bonus may require currency conversion for GBP depositors
- Free spins allocation smaller than several competitors
- Limited published information on withdrawal dispute handling
Zombillion
Zombillion pairs a 250% match with 200 free spins, positioning it toward slots-focused players wanting a larger spins allocation than some rivals. As a newer entrant among gambling sites not on gamstop, its longer-term reliability is harder to assess than operators with several years of trading history.
| Year Launched | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 2,600+ |
| Payout Time | 24–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 40x |
| Minimum Deposit | £20 |
| Top Game Providers | Pragmatic Play, Novomatic, NetEnt |
Pros
- Large free spins count relative to deposit size
- Slots-heavy catalogue suited to spins-focused players
- Straightforward account registration process
Cons
- Newer brand with limited independent track record
- Higher wagering multiple than several competitors
- Table game and live dealer range not independently confirmed
Smash Casino
Smash Casino's 600% package up to €10,000 is among the largest headline figures on this list, but percentages this size almost always come with tiered deposit stages and correspondingly high wagering requirements. Read the full terms before assuming the entire figure is achievable from a single deposit.
| Year Launched | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 3,800+ |
| Payout Time | 24–48 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 45x |
| Minimum Deposit | €20 |
| Top Game Providers | Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, Microgaming |
Pros
- Very large headline bonus ceiling across multiple deposits
- Broad slots and live casino selection
- Cashback element noted separately from the welcome match
Cons
- High wagering multiple typical of large percentage offers
- EUR account denomination for a UK audience
- Multi-stage deposit structure adds complexity to claiming the full amount
Nightluck
Nightluck's combined offer — cash bonus, free spins and an 805% match rate — is one of the more complex structures reviewed here. Complex multi-part bonuses require careful reading of qualifying deposits and per-stage wagering, since each component may carry separate conditions.
| Year Launched | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 3,300+ |
| Payout Time | 24–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 40x |
| Minimum Deposit | £20 |
| Top Game Providers | Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO |
Pros
- Multi-part bonus structure offers value across several deposits
- Sizeable free spins allocation included
- Wide slots range from recognised studios
Cons
- Complex bonus terms require close reading before claiming
- High headline percentage typically pairs with steep wagering
- Independent payout verification is not available
CoinPoker
CoinPoker's 150% match up to $2,000 is smaller than most other headline offers on this list but is dollar-denominated, reflecting its cryptocurrency-first positioning. This is relevant for readers specifically looking for crypto deposit and withdrawal support rather than card or bank transfer routes.
| Year Launched | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 1,200+ |
| Payout Time | Under 24 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 25x |
| Minimum Deposit | $20 |
| Top Game Providers | Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, in-house poker platform |
Pros
- Lower wagering requirement than most competitors on this list
- Cryptocurrency-focused payments suit crypto-holding players
- Longer operating history than several newer entrants
Cons
- Smaller slots catalogue than dedicated casino-first brands
- USD denomination requires conversion for GBP-based bankrolls
- Card and bank transfer support is more limited than at generalist casinos
Rivo
Rivo's slots welcome package reaches 1000% up to €10,000 with an added 25% cashback element, making it a two-part offer rather than a single bonus. The inclusion of cashback separate from the deposit match is worth noting, as cashback terms typically differ from deposit bonus wagering rules.
| Year Launched | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 4,000+ |
| Payout Time | 24–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 35x |
| Minimum Deposit | €20 |
| Top Game Providers | NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming |
Pros
- Cashback element adds value beyond the standard deposit match
- Large slots-focused game library
- Moderate wagering requirement relative to bonus size
Cons
- Two-part bonus structure needs separate terms checked for each
- EUR account denomination for UK players
- Sportsbook availability, if any, is not confirmed
Daytonaspin
Daytonaspin closes this list with a 255% match up to £4,500 and 255 free spins, denominated in sterling, which removes one layer of currency conversion uncertainty for UK depositors compared with several other entries reviewed here.
| Year Launched | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Amount of Games | 2,900+ |
| Payout Time | 24–72 hours |
| Bonus Wagering Requirement | 40x |
| Minimum Deposit | £20 |
| Top Game Providers | Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO, Novomatic |
Pros
- GBP-denominated bonus removes conversion uncertainty for UK players
- Sizeable free spins count matched to bonus percentage
- Slots catalogue from well-known studios
Cons
- Newer brand with a shorter operating history
- Wagering requirement sits at the higher end of this list
- Live dealer and table game depth not independently confirmed
What are casinos not on GamStop?
GAMSTOP is the UK's free self-exclusion scheme. Every casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission must connect to it, so once a player registers, all UKGC-licensed sites block that account for the chosen period. A non gamstop casino sits outside this system because it holds a licence from a different regulator — commonly Curaçao, Malta, Anjouan or another overseas authority — so GAMSTOP has no technical or legal reach into it.
This is a licensing distinction, not a guarantee of any particular quality or risk level. "Offshore casino" and "non GamStop casino" are often used interchangeably, but the terms describe the same underlying fact: the operator is not authorised by the UK regulator. Claims of "no-KYC" or "instant, unverified withdrawals" appear in marketing for some gambling sites not on gamstop, but identity verification requirements still commonly apply once a customer requests a withdrawal, particularly above a certain threshold. The label "not on GamStop" tells you about self-exclusion coverage; it does not by itself tell you about licence quality, financial protection, or whether the operator is trustworthy for UK customers.
How non GamStop casinos differ from UKGC-licensed sites
The regulatory gap between a UKGC-licensed casino and casinos not on gamstop shows up in several practical areas.
| Area | UKGC-licensed casino | Non GamStop casino |
|---|---|---|
| Self-exclusion | Connected to GAMSTOP network-wide | Own account-level tools only, not linked to GAMSTOP |
| Dispute route | Independent ADR body required | Varies by licence; often no independent UK-facing ADR |
| Advertising standards | UK ASA and UKGC rules apply | Overseas advertising rules, if any, may differ |
| Bonus disclosure | Must meet UK fairness requirements | Terms set by operator's home licence, verify carefully |
| Currency handling | GBP accounts standard | EUR or USD accounts common, conversion may apply |
None of this means every non gamstop casino is poorly run, but it does mean the safety net a UK player is used to — GAMSTOP coverage, UK-recognised complaint escalation, and UKGC oversight of bonus fairness — is generally absent or replaced by a different, often less UK-specific, framework. Game features and payment options can be broadly similar between the two categories, but account controls and recourse if something goes wrong are where the practical differences matter most.
How we reviewed these non GamStop casinos
Assessment for this page focused on published operator information rather than first-hand account testing: licence documentation displayed on each site, clarity of bonus terms, minimum deposit and wagering figures as stated by the operator, and the game providers listed. We checked whether ownership and licensing entity details were disclosed, since a mismatch between the domain shown to players and the licensed legal entity is a known industry issue worth flagging.
Clear terms matter more than headline size. A casino that states its wagering requirement, game contribution and maximum cashout limit plainly is easier to assess fairly than one that buries these in a long terms document. We also considered whether customer support channels were listed and whether account control options — deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion — were visible without needing to contact support first.
New non GamStop casinos: what limited history means
Several operators reviewed here, including Kikibet, Zombillion and Daytonaspin, launched relatively recently. A new non gamstop casino is not automatically less trustworthy than an older one, but a shorter operating history means fewer opportunities to observe how it handles withdrawal disputes, bonus term changes or periods of high demand. This is distinct from a "new online casino company" that may be a rebrand of, or share ownership with, a longer-established operator — casino ownership structures in this space are not always disclosed clearly on the front-facing site, which is a limitation of the available evidence rather than a confirmed red flag against any specific brand listed here.
Red flags worth checking directly with any new casino not on gamstop include: no visible licence number, licence numbers that do not match the regulator's own register, unusually vague bonus terms, and the absence of any published complaints or support contact route beyond live chat.
Common licences held by casinos not on GamStop
Online casino authorisation for non gamstop casinos typically comes from one of several overseas regulators, each with different requirements and consumer protections.
Curaçao is the most common licence among Curaçao casinos not on gamstop reviewed across the industry. Since 2023 Curaçao has moved toward a single regulator structure replacing the old master/sub-licence system, though implementation has been gradual and some operators still reference older sub-licence numbers. Curaçao licensing involves lighter capital and disclosure requirements than the UKGC, and dispute resolution has historically been criticised as slow or inconsistent.
Malta (MGA) sits at the stricter end of offshore options, with requirements closer to EU standards, player fund segregation rules and a formal complaints process, though it is still not a UK licence and GAMSTOP does not cover MGA-licensed sites either.
Anjouan (Comoros) has become a more visible licensor in recent years, offering a faster and cheaper licensing route than Curaçao's newer framework, but with a shorter regulatory track record and less established international recognition.
Panama, Kahnawake (issued by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake in Canada) and Tobique are less commonly seen among mainstream non gamstop casino brands but do appear in the wider offshore market, each with its own licensing fee structure and oversight level. Estonia issues licences under a stricter EU-adjacent framework, though Estonian-licensed sites have in recent years restricted access for several EU markets, which affects their relevance to UK players.
For any licence, two checks matter more than the badge on the footer: whether the exact domain you are using is named on the regulator's public register, and whether the legal entity operating the site matches the one holding the licence. Some casino sites operate multiple domains or "skins" under one licence, and not all of them are always listed. A licence number alone, without a domain match, does not establish that the specific site is authorised.
Casino bonuses: welcome packages, spins, cashback and loyalty rewards
Bonus type affects both value and risk. Understanding the differences helps when comparing offers across gambling sites not on gamstop.
Welcome bonuses and deposit bonuses
A deposit bonus matches a percentage of the player's deposit, up to a stated cap — several offers reviewed above range from 150% to 1000%. The critical figure is not the percentage but the wagering requirement attached. Worked example: a £20 deposit matched at 250% gives a £50 bonus. At 40x wagering applied to bonus only, the player must stake £2,000 in qualifying game play before withdrawing winnings. At 40x applied to deposit plus bonus, the requirement rises to £2,800. That difference is rarely stated prominently in marketing but changes the practical achievability substantially.
Free spins
Free spins are usually tied to a specific slot title or a short list of titles, with a fixed value per spin (commonly 10p or 20p). Winnings from free spins often carry their own separate wagering requirement before conversion to withdrawable funds, and maximum win caps from spins-only bonuses are common — for example, a cap of £100 regardless of how much a spin session generates.
No-deposit bonuses
A no-deposit bonus grants a small amount of free credit or spins purely for registering, without requiring a deposit first. These are typically the smallest bonuses (a few pounds' worth) and carry the highest wagering multiples proportionally, plus low maximum cashout limits, often £50–£100. They are useful for testing a site's interface, not for meaningful bankroll building.
Cashback bonuses
Cashback returns a percentage of net losses over a set period, as seen in Rivo's 25% cashback element. Cashback usually carries a lower or no wagering requirement compared with deposit bonuses, since it is returning the player's own lost funds rather than "free" bonus money, but it may still have a maximum payout cap.
Loyalty rewards
Loyalty programmes accumulate points from real-money play, redeemable for bonus funds, cashback or free spins at higher tiers. These reward long-term play rather than the initial deposit and generally carry separate terms from welcome bonuses.
Across all bonus types, check the expiry date (commonly 7–30 days), the maximum bet allowed per spin while wagering is active (exceeding this can void the entire bonus), and whether table games or live dealer games contribute fully, partially or not at all to wagering — contribution rates below 100% for table games are standard practice across this sector.
Payment methods at non GamStop casinos
Deposit availability and withdrawal availability are not the same thing — a method accepted for deposits is not automatically available for cashing out, and operators frequently route withdrawals back to the original deposit method only.
| Method | Deposits | Withdrawals | Typical speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | Widely accepted | Often supported | 1–5 working days |
| Bank transfer | Accepted | Common for larger sums | 1–5 working days |
| E-wallets | Widely accepted | Usually fastest | Same day to 24 hours |
| Paysafecard | Accepted for deposits only | Not usable for withdrawals | Not applicable |
| Cryptocurrency | Growing support | Often supported | Under 24 hours typically |
Debit card payments
Visa and Mastercard debit cards remain widely accepted for deposits at non gamstop casino sites. UK card issuers can decline gambling transactions depending on the cardholder's own bank settings, which is unrelated to the casino's processing.
Bank transfers
Direct bank transfers suit larger deposits and withdrawals but are typically the slowest method, taking one to five working days to clear on the receiving end, in addition to any casino-side approval time.
E-wallets
Skrill and Neteller are the e-wallets most commonly supported across this sector; both usually process withdrawals faster than cards or bank transfers once casino approval is granted.
PayPal availability
PayPal availability is limited among non gamstop casinos. PayPal's own merchant policies are more restrictive for offshore-licensed gambling operators than for UKGC-licensed sites, so its presence should not be assumed; check each casino's payment page directly rather than relying on general expectations.
Paysafe casinos not on GamStop
Paysafecard is a prepaid voucher method sometimes supported for deposits at paysafe casinos not on gamstop, offering a way to fund an account without a bank card. It cannot be used for withdrawals, since it is not a wallet with a return path, so a separate withdrawal method must be set up regardless.
Cryptocurrency payments
Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies are increasingly supported, notably at crypto-focused operators like CoinPoker. Crypto transactions can settle quickly once approved, but the value received depends on exchange rate movement between deposit and withdrawal, an added variable not present with fiat currency methods.
GBP accounts and currency conversion
A genuine GBP account holds and displays balances in sterling with no conversion needed. Several operators reviewed above run EUR or USD-denominated accounts instead, meaning a UK player's card charge and any withdrawal will involve a currency conversion, usually at a rate set by the card issuer or payment processor rather than the casino, and this can include a small additional fee.
Payment fees
Casino-side fees on deposits are uncommon, but withdrawal fees do appear at some operators, particularly for bank transfers or amounts below a stated threshold. Currency conversion fees from the card issuer are separate from any casino-imposed fee and apply regardless of which casino is used.
Withdrawals, KYC and account restrictions
Casino approval time and payment settlement time are two different clocks. A casino's internal review — checking the withdrawal against bonus terms and account activity — might take minutes to 72 hours. Once approved, the payment method's own processing time then applies separately: an e-wallet may land within hours, while a card or bank transfer can take several additional working days.
Non-GamStop does not mean no verification. KYC (Know Your Customer) identity checks — typically a passport or driving licence plus a proof of address — are standard before a first withdrawal at any licensed casino, GamStop-connected or not. Source-of-funds checks, where a casino asks for evidence of where deposited money came from, tend to apply once withdrawal amounts pass a higher threshold, commonly in the low thousands of pounds, and can add several days to a payout.
Withdrawal limits are common: many non gamstop casinos cap payouts per transaction or per week, meaning a large win may be paid out in instalments over several weeks rather than as a single transfer. Bonus-related restrictions — an unmet wagering requirement, a maximum bet breach during play, or use of a bonus on an excluded game — are the most frequent reasons a withdrawal is delayed or reduced rather than denied outright.
If a withdrawal dispute arises, the first step is the casino's own written complaints process; ask for it in writing rather than relying only on live chat. Because most non gamstop casinos are not UKGC-licensed, access to a UK-recognised independent alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service is often unavailable, and the relevant escalation route depends on the specific overseas licence held. This is a meaningful limitation compared with UKGC-licensed casino sites, where an independent ADR body is a licence condition.
Games not on GamStop
Slots not on GamStop
Slots dominate the catalogues of casinos not on gamstop, sourced from studios such as Pragmatic Play, NetEnt and Novomatic based on the provider lists published by the operators reviewed above. Progressive jackpot slots, where a portion of every stake feeds a shared prize pool, appear across several of these catalogues, though specific jackpot totals fluctuate constantly and were not independently verified for this page. RTP (return to player) and volatility are version-specific: the same slot title can carry a different RTP percentage depending on which build a casino has licensed, so a stated RTP on a review site elsewhere does not guarantee the figure at every operator. Volatility describes how often and how large wins tend to be — high-volatility slots pay less often but with larger potential wins, while low-volatility titles pay more frequently in smaller amounts. Mobile casino games are near-universal at this point; nearly all major slot titles from the providers listed are built to run in-browser on mobile without a separate app.
Live dealer and table games
Live dealer games — blackjack, roulette and baccarat streamed from a studio with a real dealer — are commonly supplied by Evolution Gaming across several operators reviewed here. Standard digital versions of blackjack, roulette and baccarat also appear in most catalogues, typically from providers such as Playtech or Pragmatic Play Live. Game counts and provider logos displayed on a casino's homepage indicate breadth, not quality; the same provider can supply dozens of near-identical roulette variants, so a high total game count is not by itself evidence of a well-curated selection. Regional availability of specific tables also varies, since some live studios restrict certain tables by player location or licence.
Game providers to look for
Provider names offer a useful, if partial, quality signal. Pragmatic Play and Play'n GO are prolific slot studios appearing across nearly every operator reviewed above. Evolution Gaming is the dominant name in live dealer content, supplying blackjack, roulette and baccarat tables to multiple brands here. NetEnt and Microgaming are longer-established studios known for classic slot franchises and, in Microgaming's case, historic progressive jackpot networks. Playtech supplies both slots and live casino content, often under its own branded live studio. Novomatic is common in slots with a European land-based casino heritage. Big Time Gaming is known for originating the "Megaways" mechanic now licensed across many other studios' titles. A casino listing several of these providers suggests a licensing relationship with recognised studios, but it does not confirm which specific titles, RTP versions or table limits are actually live for UK-based players — that requires checking the casino's own lobby directly.
Sports betting at non GamStop casinos
Not every casino not on gamstop offers sports betting, and availability was not independently confirmed for each brand reviewed above beyond what each operator publishes about its own product range. Where a combined casino and sportsbook account exists, it typically uses a shared wallet — one balance funding both casino play and sports stakes — rather than separate balances requiring individual transfers.
Where sportsbook products are present across this sector generally, they typically cover pre-match and in-play betting on football and other major sports, sometimes extending to esports betting on titles like CS2 or Dota 2. Bet builders, which let a customer combine multiple selections from a single match into one bet, and accumulators, combining selections across multiple events, are common features at sportsbooks in this space. Cash-out, allowing a bet to be settled early for a reduced return before the event finishes, is another frequently offered feature, though availability depends on the specific market and how close to settlement the event is.
Sports free bets differ from casino bonuses in structure: a free bet typically requires a minimum qualifying odds threshold (commonly 1.50 or higher in decimal odds), applies only to specified markets, expires within a set window, and returns only the winnings, not the original free bet stake, if the bet wins. This is distinct from a casino deposit bonus, which adds bonus funds directly to a wagering-restricted balance rather than being tied to a single qualifying bet.
Self-exclusion and account controls at casinos not on GamStop
Non gamstop casinos are not connected to the UK's GAMSTOP network, so a UK GAMSTOP registration will not block access to them. This is precisely why some readers seek them out during a self-imposed exclusion period — and precisely why doing so undermines the purpose of that exclusion. If you have self-excluded through GAMSTOP, that decision was made for a reason, and opening an account elsewhere works against it.
Most non gamstop casino operators provide their own account-level controls: deposit limits, loss limits, session time-outs and self-exclusion requests. These controls are typically brand-specific rather than network-wide, meaning a self-exclusion at one casino does not automatically cover a linked skin, sister brand, or that operator's sportsbook product if one exists. Always confirm directly with support whether an exclusion request covers associated products.
Independent support remains available regardless of which casino type is used. GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline (freephone, 24/7) and offers free, confidential advice, and gambling blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker can restrict access to gambling sites at the device level, including sites outside the GAMSTOP network. These tools are worth using proactively rather than relying solely on any single operator's internal controls.
Choosing between these non GamStop casinos
The best non gamstop casinos on this list distinguish themselves less by headline bonus size and more by how clearly they state wagering requirements, currency handling and payment routes. GBP-denominated offers remove one layer of uncertainty; lower wagering multiples make a bonus more realistically achievable; and a longer operating history gives more evidence to assess, though it is not a guarantee in itself. Several genuine unknowns remain across this sector, including independently verified payout speeds and consistent complaint-handling data, so treat any operator's own claims as a starting point for further checking rather than a settled fact.