Online gaming licenses: criteria, reliability, and choice | 8FORTUNA

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 game selection. It identifies the company responsible for the website and the authority that supervises it. Start by checking what the authorisation actually covers: which operator, which activity and which domain. These details help you compare casinos on concrete grounds and spot a licence that is being used merely as a selling point.

This guide introduces the main gambling regulators, explains the difference between casino operators and game suppliers, and takes you through a five-step licence check. Each relevant section links to an official register. We also explain what to look for in withdrawal terms and complaints procedures.

What does an online casino licence cover?

A gambling licence authorises a company to carry out specific activities. These may include running a casino, offering betting or supplying software. Its scope depends on the applicable framework: holding a licence in Malta, for example, is not a universal passport. When choosing a casino, look for the authorisation held by the company operating the website you are visiting, its current status and the activities it covers.

Licence applications and ongoing supervision may involve checks on company officers, the source of funds, gaming systems, identity verification and complaints handling. The rules vary by regulator and licence type. Alderney’s AGCC, for example, explains its checks on systems, internal procedures and player protection. An authorisation therefore comes with obligations that continue throughout the operation of the business, beyond submitting an application. Read about the AGCC’s checks.

You should also distinguish the casino from its suppliers. A B2C licence covers services offered to players; a B2B licence or supplier authorisation covers services provided to businesses. An approved studio may supply games to several websites. Seeing its name in a game catalogue does not replace checking the operator with whom you hold your account.

To compare these details with a casino’s bonuses, payment options and games, read our AmunRa review too. The review and the official register answer two complementary questions: what the casino offers and who operates it.

How can you compare gambling licences?

The regulator’s name is a starting point. When comparing two casinos, check whether the authority provides a searchable register, whether the operator is listed for the relevant activity, and whether information about supervision and complaints is accessible. The MGA, UKGC and several other regulators offer public tools for these checks. You should then examine each casino’s withdrawal terms and service quality.

The price a company pays for its licence does not measure the quality of your experience. Player funds protection also needs a careful reading: the UKGC explains that money held by a gambling operator does not have the same protection as money in a bank account, and that keeping it separate does not guarantee its return if the business becomes insolvent. Read the casino’s terms to understand the arrangements it describes. Read the UKGC’s explanation of player funds protection.

The main gambling licences and their official registers

Each section below identifies the relevant authority and the most useful check for a player. Search for the operator’s legal name, which may differ from the casino brand. Where a register distinguishes between different types of licence holders, choose the category that matches the service offered on the website.

Curaçao — CGA: the Curaçao Gaming Authority supervises the sector under the LOK, which came into force on 24 December 2024. The framework distinguishes between online gaming licences and supplier licences. To check a casino, start with its operating company and the current reference for its authorisation; an old statement or a logo alone does not establish its present status. The official register provides lists of licence holders, while noting that these lists alone do not guarantee a licence’s current validity. Open the CGA’s licence register.

For an example of a casino brand and its positioning, see our introduction to Stake. Before choosing an offer, always check the entity and terms for the domain on which you are viewing it.

Malta — MGA: the Malta Gaming Authority distinguishes, among other categories, B2C gaming service licences. Casino games, live games, roulette and blackjack fall under Type 1 in this classification. Its licensee register and URL checker let you connect a company with a website. Use both: the name of a familiar group is not enough to identify the domain concerned. Open the MGA register and URL checker.

Great Britain — UKGC: the Gambling Commission provides registers of licensed businesses and regulatory action. When researching an operator, you can also consult the regulator’s decisions and public statements. Together, these sources help you assess its status and regulatory history. Then read the casino’s own rules, particularly those concerning your funds and complaints. Open the UKGC’s public registers.

New Jersey — DGE: the Division of Gaming Enforcement publishes information about permit holders and online gambling websites authorised within its jurisdiction. Check the exact website address against the official list rather than relying solely on a brand name. The DGE also explains the dispute process after you have contacted the operator. This section concerns New Jersey; it does not describe a licence shared by all US states. Read the DGE’s official information.

Antigua and Barbuda — Division of Gaming: this division of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission supervises the relevant gambling activities. The FSRC publishes a list of active licence holders and identifies entities that claim to be authorised without holding the corresponding licence. Compare the legal name shown by the casino with that list and the activity stated. An old reference to Antigua needs to be checked against the current status. See the licence holders published by the FSRC.

Kahnawake — KGC: the Kahnawake Gaming Commission distinguishes, among other authorisations, Client Provider Authorizations for operators from Casino Software Provider Authorizations for software suppliers. Its directory lists holders and website addresses. This distinction matters: approval of a supplier whose games appear in the catalogue is not the authorisation of the company handling your balance and withdrawals. Open the KGC’s authorisation directory.

Alderney — AGCC: the Alderney Gambling Control Commission publishes eGambling licence holders and different categories of certificates. Identify the relevant holder and category, then consult the information for players. The authority explains its controls and complaints procedure. It also sets out the limits of player funds protection in the event of insolvency; you should read this alongside the operator’s terms. See the AGCC’s eGambling licence holders.

Once you have identified the operator, compare the gaming experience: slots, table games, live games and how they work. Our guide to all casino games helps you understand these categories before choosing a game catalogue.

Gibraltar — Gambling Division: the Gambling Division’s official website provides a register of licence holders, including B2C or B2B activities and links to approved brands. For a casino serving players, find the company and its operating activity, then check the associated brand. This avoids confusing a technical services licence with the casino’s authorisation. The same website publishes warnings and complaints information. Open Gibraltar’s register.

Isle of Man — GSC: the Gambling Supervision Commission publishes a register of online gambling licence holders, with their status, licence type and website. The online gambling framework includes the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001. As the register contains several categories, including suppliers, take time to check the activity and domain corresponding to the casino. Open the GSC’s register.

Sweden — Spelinspektionen: the Swedish Gambling Authority, also known as Spelinspektionen, provides a licence and permit directory. This adds to the jurisdictions listed above. As with the other registers, check the company concerned and its authorisation category rather than relying on the abbreviation SGA. Open the Swedish directory.

Other useful criteria when choosing your casino

A licence check becomes most useful when it accompanies a comparison of the offer. Where services are similar, favour a casino whose rules are easy to find and suit the way you want to play. The following points help you choose between two casinos on practical grounds, beyond the advertised bonus amount.

Customer support: check opening hours, available languages and contact channels. A specific question about withdrawal times or accepted documents tells you more than a simple “24-hour support” statement. Keep the reply if it clarifies an important condition. Useful support explains the process and tells you how to follow up on your request.

Player reviews and their dates: look for detailed accounts of withdrawals, verification and problem resolution. Identify the period, domain and, where possible, operator concerned. An old experience may not describe the current service. On 8Fortuna, compare the practical information in a review with the casino’s terms to choose the offer that matches your priorities.

Game studios are another useful consideration. The Relax Gaming profile introduces a supplier. It complements your assessment of the game catalogue, while payments and your player account remain the casino operator’s responsibility.

Bonus terms: compare the required deposit, eligible games, maximum stake, expiry period and wagering requirement, meaning the total amount you need to wager. Also check how winnings are treated and any withdrawal caps attached to the offer. A smaller bonus may suit you better if its terms match the games and budget you have in mind.

Deposits and withdrawals: check whether your payment method can also be used for withdrawals, then note the minimum amount, limits, possible fees and identity documents required. Distinguish the casino’s advertised processing time from the time needed by the payment provider. These details offer a more useful comparison than a list of banking logos alone.

Account protection: check the website address before logging in, use a password unique to that account and enable two-factor authentication where available. HTTPS encryption protects communication with the domain you are visiting; by itself, it does not establish that an operator is trustworthy. Also locate the deposit limits, time-out and exclusion tools available in your player account.

Check a licence in five steps

Start with the casino’s footer and terms and conditions. You should be able to connect the brand, operating company and stated licence. Record the date of your check: a change in company, address or status can make an old screenshot insufficient.

1. Identify the company. Copy the legal name and licence number from the casino’s terms. Search for the company first, then the brand if the register offers that option. Two casinos that look different can belong to the same operator; conversely, a brand may be used by several entities.

2. Open the official source. Use the regulator’s website or register. If you click a seal in the casino’s footer, check the domain of the page that opens. A certificate image displayed by the casino is still a document supplied by that casino; the register allows an independent check.

3. Read the status and activity. Check whether the authorisation is active and which activities it covers. Look for suspension, expiry or revocation notices where available. Distinguish casino operators from software suppliers, then consult any decisions relating to the licence holder.

4. Match the domain. Compare the exact address, including its extension, with the approved domains or brands where the register publishes them. If the address is missing or the information is unclear, ask support for an official reference before depositing. Two similar names alone are not enough.

5. Check complaints and withdrawals. Open the complaints procedure, advertised timeframes and withdrawal terms. Keep a dated copy of your chosen offer and the important clauses. You will then have the information needed to discuss any later discrepancy with support.

Who should you contact about a dispute?

First, send the casino a specific request stating the amount concerned, date, transaction and outcome you are seeking. Include useful references without sharing your password. Keep the correspondence and final reply. If the issue persists, consult the procedure of the relevant regulator or dispute resolution body named in the terms; the process and its scope vary by licence.

The MGA, for example, recommends trying to resolve the issue directly with the operator before submitting a complaint to the authority. The DGE also asks you to document the steps taken with the relevant licence holder. A well-documented complaint helps the case to be assessed; the regulator or dispute resolution body acts within its own remit. Read the MGA’s complaints procedure.

Choose with the right information

When choosing between casinos, combine three checks: an identifiable operator and authorisation, clear bonus and withdrawal terms, and a game selection that suits your preferences. Use the official register as your reference for the licence and detailed reviews to compare the service. Together, these give you a better basis for your choice than a regulator’s logo or the promise of the largest bonus alone.