Guide updated on 19 September 2026. First published: 29 April 2024.
Before choosing an online casino, its licence deserves as much attention as its bonus or its catalogue. It allows you to identify the company responsible for the site and the authority that supervises it. The correct instinct is to check what this authorisation actually covers: which operator, which activity, and which domain. With this information, you can compare establishments on concrete elements and more easily spot a licence simply displayed as a marketing argument.
This guide presents the main regulatory authorities, the differences between operators and game providers, and then a five-step verification method. You will find access to the official registers throughout the sections, as well as the points to examine for withdrawals and complaints.
What is an online casino licence for?
A gaming licence is an authorisation issued to a company for defined activities. It can concern the operation of a casino, betting, or the provision of software. Its scope depends on the applicable framework: holding a licence in Malta, for example, does not constitute a universal passport. To choose, look for the authorisation of the company that operates the site you are visiting, along with its current status and the activities covered.
The examination of an application and supervision can cover directors, the origin of funds, gaming systems, identity checks, or the handling of complaints. Rules vary by authority and type of licence. The AGCC of Alderney details in particular the control of systems, internal procedures, and player protection. An authorisation is thus accompanied by obligations to be respected during operation, beyond the simple submission of a file. The controls presented by the AGCC.
It is also necessary to distinguish the casino from its providers. A B2C licence concerns an activity offered to players; a B2B licence or a provider authorisation relates to services provided to professionals. An approved studio can provide games to several sites. Its name in a catalogue therefore does not replace the verification of the operator to whom you entrust your account.
To relate this information to the bonuses, payments, and catalogue of an establishment, also consult our opinion on AmunRa. The review sheet and the official register answer two complementary questions: what the casino offers and who operates it.
How to compare the reliability of licences?
The name of the regulator is a starting point. To compare two casinos, look especially at whether the authority publishes a searchable register, whether the operator appears in it with the correct activity, and whether the control and complaint procedures are accessible. The MGA, the UKGC, and several other authorities offer public tools to perform these verifications. The withdrawal conditions and the quality of service then remain to be examined on each site.
The price paid by a company for its licence does not measure the quality of your experience. Similarly, the protection of funds deserves a precise reading: the UKGC points out that funds held by an operator do not benefit from the same protection as a bank account, and that their separation does not guarantee their return in the event of insolvency. Consult the casino's terms and conditions to find out the announced arrangement. Read the UKGC's explanations on player funds.
The main licences and their official registers
Each section below indicates the competent authority and the most useful verification for the player. Look for the legal name of the operator, which is sometimes different from the casino brand. When the register distinguishes several types of holders, choose the category corresponding to the activity offered on the site.
Curaçao — CGA: the Curaçao Gaming Authority supervises the sector under the LOK, which entered into force on 24 December 2024. Its portal distinguishes online gaming licences from provider licences. To examine a casino, start with its operating company and the current reference of its authorisation; an old mention or an isolated logo is not enough to establish its status today. The official portal presents the framework and categories of licences. Consult the CGA portal.
To discover an example of a brand and its positioning, find our presentation of Stake. When making your choice, always verify the entity and the conditions of the domain on which you are viewing the offer.
Malta — MGA: the Malta Gaming Authority distinguishes in particular B2C gaming service licences. Casino, live games, roulette, or Blackjack fall under Type 1 in this classification. Its register of holders and its URL verification tool allow you to match a company with a site. Use them together: the name of a well-known group is not enough to identify the domain concerned. Access the MGA register and URL checker.
Great Britain — UKGC: the Gambling Commission provides registers of authorised companies and regulatory actions. The search for an operator can be complemented by consulting the regulator's public decisions and statements. This comparison helps to assess its status and supervision history. Remember then to read the rules specific to the casino, especially those concerning your funds and complaints. Open the UKGC public registers.
New Jersey — DGE: the Division of Gaming Enforcement publishes information on permit holders and authorised online gaming sites in its jurisdiction. Verify the exact address of the site in the official list, rather than relying solely on a brand. The DGE also indicates the procedure to follow for disputes after taking steps with the operator. This section concerns New Jersey and does not describe a common licence for all US states. Consult the official DGE information.
Antigua and Barbuda — Division of Gaming: this division of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission supervises the relevant gaming activities. The FSRC publishes a list of active holders and also flags entities claiming to be authorised without holding the corresponding licence. For your verification, match the legal name displayed by the casino with this list and the type of activity indicated. An old reference to Antigua must be compared with the current status. Consult the holders published by the FSRC.
Kahnawake — KGC: the Kahnawake Gaming Commission distinguishes in particular Client Provider Authorisations, intended for operators, from Casino Software Provider Authorisations, which concern software providers. Its directory allows you to consult holders and site addresses. This distinction is essential: the approval of a provider present in the catalogue is not the authorisation of the company that manages your balance and your withdrawals. Open the KGC directory of authorisations.
Alderney — AGCC: the Alderney Gambling Control Commission publishes eGambling licence holders and different categories of certificates. The correct verification consists of identifying the holder and the applicable category, then consulting the information intended for players. The authority presents its controls and its complaint procedure. It also specifies the limits of fund protection in the event of insolvency: this point must be read in the operator's terms and conditions. Consult the AGCC eGambling holders.
Once the operator is identified, compare the experience offered: slots, tables, live games, and operating rules. Our guide to all casino games helps you distinguish these families before choosing a catalogue.
Gibraltar — Gambling Division: the official website of the Gambling Division presents the register of holders, with B2C or B2B activities and links to approved brands. For a casino aimed at players, search for the company and its operating activity, then check the associated brand. This reading avoids confusing a technical services licence with that of the casino. The same site publishes warnings and information on complaints. Consult the Gibraltar register.
Isle of Man — GSC: the Gambling Supervision Commission publishes a register of online gaming licence holders, with their status, licence type, and website. The online gaming framework falls under the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001. As the register includes several categories, including providers, take the time to check the activity and the domain corresponding to the casino. Consult the GSC register.
Sweden — Spelinspektionen: the Swedish authority, also known as the Swedish Gambling Authority, provides a directory of licences and permits. This reference complements the jurisdictions presented above. As with other registers, check the company concerned and the category of its authorisation instead of stopping at the SGA acronym. Consult the Swedish directory.
Other useful criteria for choosing your casino
Verifying the licence becomes truly useful when it accompanies a comparison of the offering. For similar services, prefer a casino whose rules are easy to find and adapted to your way of playing. Here are the points that allow you to concretely decide between two establishments, without stopping at the announced bonus amount.
Customer service: look at the opening hours, available languages, and contact methods. A precise question about the timeframe of a withdrawal or about the accepted documents is more instructive than the sole mention of
