- A licence means a regulator sets rules and can punish breaches.
- US states, the UKGC, MGA and AGCO are strict; Curaçao has historically been lighter-touch.
- Prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC; sweepstakes casinos aren't licensed as casinos.
- Always check the licence on the regulator's own website.
What regulators do
A gambling regulator licenses operators, sets rules (fair games, segregated funds, age and identity checks, advertising, safer-gambling tools), audits them and punishes breaches with fines or licence loss. Many also offer a complaints route.
The main regulators
| Regulator | Where | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| US state regulators (e.g. NJ DGE, PGCB, MGCB) | Individual states | Very strong |
| UK Gambling Commission | Great Britain (Northern Ireland has separate rules) | Very strong |
| Malta Gaming Authority | Malta (EU member state) | Strong |
| AGCO (regulator) / iGaming Ontario (runs the market) | Ontario | Strong |
| Curaçao (CGA / new regime) | International | Historically light |
| CFTC | US prediction markets | Strong (federal) |
A licence only counts where the regulator has power. A Malta (MGA) licence is issued in an EU country, but it is not an EU-wide passport: many EU countries — including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden — require their own national licence, and an MGA-licensed site can't legally serve players there without it. MGA rules do require operators to keep player funds separate from company money, but that protection works through Maltese law and the MGA's complaints process, not as a universal guarantee.
Sweepstakes casinos are not licensed as casinos — they rely on sweepstakes law. See how to spot a safe sweepstakes casino.
How to check
- Find the licence number and regulator in the footer.
- Search the regulator's official register yourself.
- Check the company name matches.
More: spotting an unsafe gambling site and choosing a safe online casino.
FAQ: gambling licence
What does a gambling licence guarantee?
Less than people think. It means a regulator sets requirements and can punish breaches — typically game testing, rules on how customer funds are held, identity checks, safer-gambling tools and a complaints route. It doesn't guarantee that every game or payment is error-free, or that you'll get your money back if the operator fails: how well funds are protected varies by regulator and operator.
Does a Malta licence let a casino operate across the EU?
No. Malta is in the EU, but gambling isn't covered by a single EU licence. Each country sets its own rules, and many require a national licence. A licence only protects you where it actually applies — check what's required in your country.
Is a Curaçao licence safe?
Curaçao has reformed its system, but it has historically offered less player protection than UK, US or Maltese regulators.
How do I check a licence?
Find the licence number in the site's footer and look it up on the regulator's official register.