Casino licences
The licence decides who you can complain to and what the casino must do when something goes wrong. Here is which licences protect players best, what each one covers, and how to check a casino really holds one.
Which licences protect you best
I group licences by how much a regulator can do for you. Open any licence for the full breakdown and the casinos we rated that hold it.
Strict national regulators
A country or state regulator with its own rulebook, real fines and a complaints route. Best protection, but the licence usually only covers players in that market.
Respected international licences
Established regulators that license casinos serving many countries. Solid audits and rules, with dispute help that is real but weaker than a national regulator.
Light-touch licences
Cheap, quick licences with limited oversight. Fine as a baseline for a clean operator, but little help if a casino refuses to pay.
Strict national regulators
| Licence | Who it covers | Dispute help | National self-exclusion | Casinos we rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGCO | Players aged 19 or older who are physically in Ontario. | Try the site's formal complaints process first (a decision can take up to 90 days), then complain to the AGCO. It cannot get your money back for you. | Operator programs and the centralized program | 5 |
| Spelinspektionen | Players in Sweden. Only gambling licensed in Sweden may be advertised there, and each licence covers a specific type of gambling. | Spelinspektionen does not approve operators' terms. | Spelpaus | 4 |
| UKGC | Players in Great Britain. The licence covers gambling offered to people in Great Britain, so it says nothing about how a casino treats… | Complain to the operator first. If it is not resolved within eight weeks, you can take it to a free, approved ADR provider. | GAMSTOP | 4 |
| GGL | Players in Germany. The GGL licenses virtual slots, online poker and sports betting. | The GGL site has a contact form for reporting irregularities at licensed online offers. | OASIS | 3 |
| Spillemyndigheden | Players in Denmark. Licensed operators display the authority's label, and winnings from licensed operators are already taxed. | Complain to the operator, which must handle complaints and tell you within 14 days when to expect a decision. | ROFUS | 2 |
| ADM | Players in Italy. You must be an adult with an Italian tax code and sign a gaming account contract with an authorised operator. | See the licence page | Registro Unico Autoesclusi | 1 |
| DGOJ | Players in Spain. Only operators licensed by the DGOJ may offer online gambling there, and licensed sites run identity and age checks. | The DGOJ site has a complaints and reports section (Denuncias y reclamaciones). | RGIAJ | 1 |
| HGC | Licences online operators for the Greek market under Law 4002/2011. | Submit a named complaint about a licensed operator on the HGC complaints platform. The HGC uses complaints for supervision and enforcement. | None | 1 |
| CT DCP | Players in Connecticut. In March 2025 the DCP said only two platforms were licensed for online casino: DraftKings (with Foxwoods) and… | Contact the operator directly first. If its process does not resolve the issue, file a complaint with the DCP through its complaint center. | Connecticut Gaming Self-Exclusion | 0 |
| MGCB | Players in Michigan. Under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act (Act 152 of 2019), internet gaming may be offered only by persons lawfully… | Complain in writing to the operator first and wait for its written response. | Responsible Gaming Database | 0 |
| NJ DGE | Players physically in New Jersey. Internet gaming is run by approved permit holders, originally limited to Atlantic City casino licensees. | File a complaint with the casino first. Once you have its response, you can send the Division an Internet Gaming Dispute Form with your original… | DGE Self-Exclusion Program | 0 |
| PGCB | Online casino play authorised by Pennsylvania's Act 42 of 2017 and offered by operators licensed by the Board. | The Board runs a Patron Complaint/Dispute form for licensed online operators. | PGCB iGaming Self-Exclusion | 0 |
| WV Lottery | Players in West Virginia. Interactive wagering is lawful only under the Interactive Wagering Act and Commission rules, run through… | See the licence page | Commission and operator exclusion lists | 0 |
Respected international licences
| Licence | Who it covers | Dispute help | National self-exclusion | Casinos we rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGA | A Maltese B2C licence is used by operators serving many countries, but it does not override your own country's rules, so check your market… | Complain to the casino first. Unresolved disputes go to an ADR entity the operator must offer, and the MGA Player Support Unit takes reports of… | None | 7 |
| Gibraltar | Remote gambling licences under the Gambling Act 2005, used by operators serving international players and, with a separate UK licence, Great… | Complain to the operator first, then email the Gambling Commissioner a Complaint Resolution Request Form. | None | 2 |
| Isle of Man GSC | Online gambling licences for operators serving international players. | Complain to the operator first. The GSC then investigates complaints about its own licensees from non-UK players, issues a decision, and allows a… | None | 0 |
Light-touch licences
| Licence | Who it covers | Dispute help | National self-exclusion | Casinos we rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curaçao | Direct B2C and B2B licences from the Curaçao Gaming Authority under the LOK, used by many international casinos. | Complain to the operator, which must answer within four weeks. | None | 6 |
| Tobique | Online gaming licences issued by the Tobique Gaming Commission under its Gaming Act 2023 to foreign operators. | Complain to the casino's support first, then file a formal complaint via the Commission's validation page or the Tobique Shield link. | None | 5 |
| Kahnawake | Client Provider Authorizations for online casino, poker and sportsbook operators licensed from Mohawk Territory. | Complain to the casino first, then email the Commission or use its form. | Comprehensive Self-Exclusion | 2 |
| Anjouan | B2C and B2B internet gaming licences under the Anjouan Computer Gaming Licensing Act (2005). | Complain through the operator's licence seal; it has 30 days to respond. Then escalate to an approved ADR provider, paid by the operator. | None | 0 |
How licensing feeds our TrustScore
Licensing is 30% of the TrustScore, the biggest single weight, ahead of payments (25%), games (20%), bonuses (15%) and support (10%). I score it from 1 to 5. See how we rate casinos.
- 5Strictest national regulator, clean record (UKGC, GGL, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, US states).
- 4Respected international licence (MGA, Gibraltar, Isle of Man), or a strict national licence with minor complaints.
- 3Clean light-touch licence such as a normal Curaçao licence. Light protection, but no red flags.
- 2Light-touch licence with active problems: unresolved disputes, regulator warnings or a pattern of complaints.
- 1No verifiable licence, or a casino flagged as rogue.
How to check a casino’s licence
It takes two minutes and it is the best protection against fake licences.
- 1
Find the licence number and company name
It is in the footer or the terms and conditions. If neither names a company and a licence number, treat that as a warning.
- 2
Look it up on the regulator's register
Use the regulator's own website, not a link from the casino. The register should show the same company and a licence that is active.
- 3
Check the domain is listed
Licences cover specific websites. A real licence held by a company does not help if this domain is not on it.
- 4
Be wary of seals that do not click through
A badge image proves nothing. A real one links to the regulator's register entry for that casino.
Casino licence questions
Which casino licence protects players best?
Strict national regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission, the German GGL, Sweden, Denmark and US state regulators give the most protection. They enforce their own rules and offer a real complaints route. Respected international licences like Malta (MGA) come next.
Is a Curaçao licence safe?
A clean Curaçao licence is the baseline for many international casinos, but it is light-touch. It does little if a casino refuses to pay, so I check the operator's payout record as well as the licence.
How do I check if a casino is really licensed?
Find the licence number and company name in the footer or terms, then look both up on the regulator's own public register. Check that the casino's domain is listed there too. A seal on the page proves nothing unless it clicks through to the register.
Does a licence guarantee I get paid?
No. A licence gives you someone to complain to and rules the casino must follow. How much that helps depends on the regulator, which is why the licence is one part of our TrustScore and not the whole score.
How much does the licence count in your TrustScore?
Licensing is 30% of the TrustScore, the biggest single weight. See how we rate casinos.