One of the first things I check for before registering with an online casino is that it has a valid gambling license. But why is a license important and how can you check if an online casino has one? I discuss these important pointers below and show you how to stay safe and protected while gambling online.
Why is a license important for online casinos?
I first want you to understand why gambling licenses are important and why you should avoid unlicensed casinos at all costs. Online casinos operating with a gambling license offer the following benefits and safeguards:
- It means the online casino is regulated and audited.
- The casino must comply with gambling laws and regulations.
- The games they provide are tested for fairness.
- You have additional means of support if you encounter issues.
Essentially, a license protects you from harm and scams. To obtain a license from a licensing body such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority, an online casino must meet pre-determined criteria, which typically involves proving the fairness of their games and showing that they provide a credible service to their customers.
Casinos that aren’t licensed simply don’t have to do any of the above. They can use games with rigged RNG systems or ridiculously low return to player (RTP) percentages that don’t give you a fair chance of winning. They can also easily withhold your winnings and fail to follow through with bonuses and promotions.
A quick look at the reviews on platforms like Trustpilot of unlicensed online casinos will reveal the common issues they have, such as customers not receiving their winnings or accounts randomly being closed while the customer still has funds available.
A casino license should protect you from all these issues and make sure that you can have a fun, fair and enjoyable gaming experience.
How to check if an online casino is license
Luckily, it’s really easy to find licensing information and I outline some simple tips and tricks below. In most instances, if the online casino is credible and has nothing to hide, they should make the licensing information easy to find.
Step 1 – Check the footer of the online casino’s website
Licensing information is frequently found in the website footer of an online casino. A footer is the bottom section of a website — typically, it is a separate bar that uses a different color compared to the rest of the website design. Footers usually contain important links, company information, and in the case of online casinos, licensing information.
First, open the website in a browser and scroll to the bottom. You are looking for either a logo representing one of the licensing bodies, or a line of text that reads something like “XYZ online casino is licensed by the ABC licensing authority under gambling license 123”.
This text is usually part of the company information paragraph. The licensing authority will vary depending on the location of the online casino and its audience. Examples of well-known licensing authorities include the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Step 1a – Click the licensing link if found
Now, simply stating that they have a license isn’t enough. You need to be prudent and actually verify the licensing information! Oftentimes, the online casino will provide a direct link to their gambling license on the license issuer’s website.
Click the link if it’s available and open it in a new tab. This should take you to the specific license page. Here you are checking the information to make sure that it aligns with the online casino. Make sure that you look for the validity dates too as some online casinos might try and pass off an expired license as a valid one!
If everything checks out, then you are good to go!
Step 1b – Copy the license reference and perform a search on the provider’s website
Sometimes there isn’t a link available, and the online casino simply provides a license reference. In these instances, you need to do a little manual checking. Highlight the license reference and copy it. Next, find the licensing body’s website.
Most licensing bodies have a search function so you can paste your license reference. Once you have completed the search, hopefully the licensing information appears for the online casino, and you can simply verify the info in the same way as the previous step.
Step 2 – Contact customer support if the info isn’t visible
If no information is given in the footer that doesn’t automatically mean the casino isn’t licensed. It’s a little fishy for sure, but before you discount the casino, contact customer support. Hopefully they have a live chat feature so you can just ask the customer support rep for licensing information and if it is available, they should provide it freely without any issues. If they are reluctant or try to dodge the question, you can probably assume that the casino is unlicensed!
Never play at an unlicensed offshore online casino
I hope you have found this guide on the licensing of online casinos enlightening. I want to reiterate that you should never spend money at an unlicensed offshore casino. As I outlined above, casinos operating without a gambling license are not bound by any laws or regulations.
This essentially means they have carte blanche to do what they want and there is no guarantee that they won’t try and scam you. Common issues with unlicensed online casinos include withholding of withdrawals, unresponsive customer support and even rigged games with unfair RTPs.
Be prudent, be vigilant and check that the online casino you want to play at has a valid gambling license using the methods I described above!