Is Your Online Casino Legitimate?
Your casino's operating license tells you a lot about its standards of integrity and fair play.
Topics Addressed
- Licensing laws
- Reputable licensing jurisdictions
- How to check your casino’s license
Casino Licensing Laws
All trustworthy jurisdictions legally require a valid gaming license from the internet casinos they host.
Many of casinos now operate from small, legally independent territories (such as reserves in North America or islands in Europe or the Caribbean) because their taxation regulations are more attractive than those on the mainland.
The relocation of casinos to these jurisdictions has triggered a relaxation of gaming restrictions there. Some apply stricter criteria than others to casino license applicants.
Jurisdictions
Below are three licensing authorities (although there are others) which we know to be legitimate. All the casinos listed in OCR's top ten hold a license from one of these jurisdictions.
Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta
The LGA is a government-established public body that has been vetting online casinos since 2001. Its objectives are to protect players' rights, promote responsible gambling, ensure the integrity of online casino games, and to keep criminal activity out of internet gambling.
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
The GRA was established by Gibraltar's government in 2000. GRA licenses are "generally difficult to obtain," and go only to casinos with a proven record in online gaming, a good reputation in the industry, and realistic business plans (so you know they won't go bust just after you make your first deposit). The GRA insists on casino software testing.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Based in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in the Quebec region of Canada, KGC has been awarding online casino licenses to respectable operators for over 10 years. The commission insists that games are fair to players and that winnings are paid out honestly.
Finding a Casino's License
It shouldn't be difficult to find a legitimate casino's license. Casinos are usually proud to display details of a good license, either as text or as a logo. Some casinos do this on their homepages; others do it in their "About Us" or "FAQs" section. Failing this, you should call or email the casino to inquire. If you get a vague response, or the casino can't give you proof of its license, play somewhere else.
Tips
Online gamblers hand over their information, credit card details and cash to online casinos on a daily basis; which makes the integrity of these casinos a major concern. A number of factors go into making a legitimate and trustworthy online gambling venue. Safe and fair casino software is one; as is a decent operating license from a reputable licensing jurisdiction.
