Casino with an online casino gambling license is by far the safest, but keep in mind that all licenses are not the same. In addition, it is important to remember that the legislation surrounding online gambling focuses more on the supervision of the operators than on the individuals who use the gambling sites. The laws differ from country to country and it is always a good idea to know exactly what the rules are.
There are very few countries where online gambling is completely illegal. You will hardly find any casinos without a license anymore. In order to obtain their casino license, casinos must meet strict requirements and criteria set by the licensing authority of their jurisdiction or country. Online casinos will extensively mention their license in advertisements and on their site to help reassure (potential) customers with regard to security and reliability. It provides a certain legitimacy to their operation.
Different Online Casino Gambling Licenses
The most common gambling authorities at European online casinos are: the Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Gaming Commission and Curaçao E-Gaming. For UK territory the main gambling authority is UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). It is seen as one of the most difficult licenses to obtain and despite the fact that the UKGC license is not valid outside the UK, it can say something about the reliability of a provider. An operator can have multiple licenses. So if an online casino has both an MGA and a UKGC license, that is certainly a sign that they have their affairs in order.
Casinos With Two or More Online Gambling Licenses
- Jackpot CityUP TO €1600 For new depositing players. Full terms are on the casino website
- NetBet€200 + 10 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- All British CasinoUP TO £100 + 10% CASHBACK New customers only. Min deposit £20. Wagering 35x. Max bet £5 with bonus funds. 100% up to £100. Eligibility is restricted for abuse. No max cashout on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C’s apply. UK T&C: https://www.allbritishcasino.com/en/bonus
- MansionUP TO €5.000 For new players. Bonus wagering 20x for regular players and 15x for High-Rollers. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Slots Heaven€100 + 200 FREE SPINS For new players. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
The legitimacy of licensing authorities varies considerably. The requirements of one are much stricter than the other. A license from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), for example, is much more respected in Europe than a license from Curaçao. With this in mind, we put together this comprehensive guide for you. This way you know what it actually means when a site says it has a casino license. You can then use this information to find a safe and reliable gambling site.
Malta Gaming Authority Online Casino License
Malta is the largest and most respected gambling jurisdiction in the European Union. In order to obtain an MGA license, a provider must have an office here and therefore pay gambling tax in Malta. Online casinos generally receive a so-called class-1 license that is valid for 10 years. The minimum required share capital for such a casino license is €100.000. The application process is quite lengthy as operators have to go through five stages, including several compliance audits. They must provide personal and financial information and business plan, with a detailed overview of marketing strategies and growth objectives.
Online Casinos With Malta Gaming Authority License
- Jackpot CityUP TO €1600 For new depositing players. Full terms are on the casino website
- NetBet€200 + 10 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Boo€500 + 50 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- All British CasinoUP TO £100 + 10% CASHBACK New customers only. Min deposit £20. Wagering 35x. Max bet £5 with bonus funds. 100% up to £100. Eligibility is restricted for abuse. No max cashout on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C’s apply. UK T&C: https://www.allbritishcasino.com/en/bonus
Curaçao Online Casino License
Curaçao is the fastest and cheapest solution to open an online casino but, as mentioned, Curaçao is a bit of the black sheep of the igaming industry. Obtaining a gambling license in Curaçao only takes 6 weeks. Operators can apply for a master license for all game modes, software providers and product operators, but most go for a sublicense to operate under the master license. The application fee is only about $2.000 and the monthly license support fee is $1.500. The gambling company does not necessarily have to be located in Curaçao, a provider can also obtain a so-called Ezone license with which they also benefit from a low corporate tax rate and low to no gambling tax at all.
Online Casinos With Curaçao Casino License
- Horus€1.000 + 125 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. NO WAGERING REQUIREMENTS. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- 1xBet€1.500 + 150 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 35x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Vegaz€1.000 + 150 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. NO BONUS WAGERING. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Wolfy€1.000 Welcome bonus. NO BONUS WAGERING. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Winz300 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. NO BONUS WAGERING. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Kryptosino100% UP TO $500 For new players. Full T&C are on casino website
- 1xBit7 BTC Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- bitStarz€500 or 5 BTC + 180 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Fastpay€100 + 100 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 50x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Haz€1000 + 125 SPINS For new players. Full bonus T&C are on casino website
- mBit1 BTC + 75 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Oshi€300 + 250 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 35x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- 7Bit€500 + 100 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Woo€200 + 200 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
UKGC Online Casino Gambling License
Officially, the UKGC online casino gambling license is not an EU license. Due to Brexit, but also due to the fact that this permit is only valid within the borders of the United Kingdom. The UKGC was established in 2005 under the UK Gambling Act and serves the same purpose as Gaming Authority, which is to regulate the nationwide gambling industry, both land-based and online.
The UK authorities offer different types of licenses for each type of activity. The UKGC’s casino licenses have no expiry date but may be revoked or suspended if the UKGC sees reason to do so. Heavy fines are also handed out for breaking the rules.
Online Casinos With UK Gambling Commission License
- Jackpot CityUP TO €1600 For new depositing players. Full terms are on the casino website
- MansionUP TO €5.000 For new players. Bonus wagering 20x for regular players and 15x for High-Rollers. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- NetBet€200 + 10 FREE SPINS Welcome bonus. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- All British CasinoUP TO £100 + 10% CASHBACK New customers only. Min deposit £20. Wagering 35x. Max bet £5 with bonus funds. 100% up to £100. Eligibility is restricted for abuse. No max cashout on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C’s apply. UK T&C: https://www.allbritishcasino.com/en/bonus
- Slots Heaven€100 + 200 FREE SPINS For new players. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
Of all European licenses this is one of the most expensive, annual costs are calculated according to turnover and can be as much as £1.000.000 or more. It takes approximately 16 weeks to process an operating license application, provided all required information is provided at the time of application.
Gibraltar Online Casino License
Gibraltar is an attractive jurisdiction for a gambling companies. The cost of the license depends on the type of gambling and business structure – it can range from £30.000 to £100.000. The casino license is issued for 5 years. At first glance, this license seems much more expensive than that of Malta, but Gibraltar offers considerable tax benefits for operators, as the gambling tax is only 1% compared to 5% in Malta. The Gibraltar license is a less common choice for new or inexperienced operators; the Licensing Authority has traditionally only accepted applications from established operators with licenses in other territories, significant finances and a solid business plan. Applicants must also provide information on key personnel and verify that the company is controlled from Gibraltar.
Online Casinos With Gibraltar Casino License
- MansionUP TO €5.000 For new players. Bonus wagering 20x for regular players and 15x for High-Rollers. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
- Slots Heaven€100 + 200 FREE SPINS For new players. Bonus wagering 40x. Visit casino website for full welcome bonus Terms and Conditions.
Importance of Casino Gambling License
The purpose of a casino license is to protect you, the consumer. At online casino with a valid casino gambling license, you can rest assured that you will be treated fairly and not be exposed to unfair practices. Gambling at an online casino with a valid license may not seem so important at first glance, especially as long as everything is still going well. However, when things go wrong, it becomes a problem. For example, if you try to withdraw money and the casino doesn’t allow it due to a non-existent condition. At a casino without a valid license you can’t go anywhere in these cases and you will never see that money back.
You cannot actually start an online casino without a license. It is the first step in the process of opening a bank account, buying software from software providers and signing cooperation agreements with reliable payment processors. In addition, it is a way to increase trust with the public. Nobody is going to deposit their money in a dubious casino that is not licensed and thus does not guarantee the payout of the winnings.
Obtaining a Gambling License
A casino license is actually a kind of quality mark. This shows that online casinos meet certain rules and requirements. In the application process, they must provide all kinds of company information such as:
- Evidence of sufficient capital to be able to pay players
- Ownership of the company
- Evidence that owners have never been involved in criminal activity
- Evidence that the gaming platform and games are safe
- Evidence of measures to protect vulnerable players
- Evidence of customer verification systems
It is an extensive process that involves extensive background checks. If an online casino has been in business for some time, regular audits are carried out to ensure that everything still goes according to the rules. If it turns out that this is not the case, the casino will receive a warning and/or a fine. If things still don’t improve, a license will be revoked.
Differences Among Online Casino Gambling Licenses
The application process of the different European authorities differs. Process of obtaining, for example, a MGA license is very extensive and very expensive. It may therefore be desirable for many novice casino operators, but not always feasible. A license from Curaçao is much less expensive, but it does not have as good a reputation as the MGA permit. Just about anyone who is serious about starting a gambling site can afford the cost and pass the initial examination. As long as you have the money and a fair casino, you’re pretty much in.
Players know that the requirements for the Curacao casino license has a less good reputation compared to others. There have been several instances where players have been scammed by casinos that then suddenly disappeared. You do not have to rely on the Curaçao gambling authority in such a case, they are not available for resolving disputes. As a player, you are therefore less protected.
At the same time, we should not lump all online casinos with a license from Curaçao together. There are also plenty of respectable new casinos available with a Curaçao license, such as Wolfy and Winz online casinos. They only have to build their reputation from scratch in the ‘old-fashioned’ way and cannot piggyback on the good reputation of their permit.
Advantages of Online Gambling Casino License
You can see above how important it is to choose an online casino with a valid casino gambling license. In online gambling you are essentially entrusting your money to “faceless” third parties. Millions of people around the world deposit money on gambling sites, but very few of them really know much about the companies or people behind those sites. Narrowing this “gap” is ultimately the goal of industry regulation. People should be able to deposit their money with knowledge that they are dealing with reputable organizations.
This is No Legal Advice
This guide should not be regarded as legal advice. We are also humble casino enthusiasts and, although we have done extensive research to provide you with accurate information here, we are not qualified to provide legal advice. If you are concerned about the legality of online gambling or anything else, it is a good idea to contact someone who has been trained to do so, such as a lawyer or the licensing authority for your country or jurisdiction.