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Gambling Licenses

Updated: 30.04.2024
Reviewed by Joe Booth
Fact checked by Nikita Lukanenoks

Why learn about different types of gambling licenses if all you want to do is play online slots? A gambling license check becomes a must if you're going to protect yourself against any potential problems.

You might not know this yet, but it's not uncommon to find a gambling license for sale these days – and the casino that ends up buying one like that is the one to stay away from it. Shady online casinos don't feel like shouldering the gambling license cost – and you can be sure their intentions are far from being honest.

The leading gambling licensing objectives are to ensure gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, as well as to protect children and other vulnerable groups from being harmed by gambling. Paying a gambling license fee and continuously meeting all those standards makes up for a grand online casino where you can feel safe at any time.

To keep you safe, Slotsjudge picks casinos with best online gambling licenses - Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, the Isle of Man Gaming Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, etc., giving you complete information on the jurisdictions, requirements, and aims.

While most casinos hold specific gambling licenses, it pays to know the best gambling license countries to make the right choice and be well-informed. You will learn all about the most reliable and well-known gambling authorities and remember how to check for an online gambling license at the casino you are considering.

  • Alderney Gambling Control Commission Alderney Gambling Control Commission
    Alderney Gambling Control Commission Starting an online casino is no small feat. First, you need to design your site, then get the games, advertise your casino, and, finally and most importantly, get a gambling license. If you're planning to operate in the UK, or if you're trying to expand into the UK, then you need a license from the UK Gambling Commission. However, if you want to prove your e-casino, then you ought to obtain a license from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission as well. Alderney is one of the most respected gambling commissions in Britain, an..
    Trustworthiness 9/10
  • Antigua & Barbuda Directorate of Offshore Gaming Antigua & Barbuda Directorate of Offshore Gaming
    More and more online casinos make their way to Antigua, an island in the West Indies; all to get one of the licenses for online gambling institutions. Specifically – Directorate of Offshore Gaming. Founded in 1994, it has been providing licensing services for now more than two decades and is a part of the regulating commission at Antigua and Barbuda’s financial department – Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC). The UK Gambling Commission recognizes the presence of Directorate of Offshore Gaming as it is one of the white-listed bodies. ..
    Trustworthiness 8/10
  • Canadian Kahnawake Canadian Kahnawake
    Kahnawake is a Mohawk territory found in Quebec, Canada. It is a place rich in Indian heritage and culture. It also covers about 48.05 square kilometers. Kahnawake is one of the many territories that form part of the wealthy Mohawk nation. Interestingly, once the world of gambling went online, Kahnawake was among the pioneer regions to recognize the productive potential of the gaming sector. Eventually, it represented the earliest gaming locations in the world. Today, it’s the home of the famous Kahnawake Gaming Commission! So, what does it do? It offers gaming per..
    Trustworthiness 7/10
  • Costa Rica Regulatory Organisation Costa Rica Regulatory Organisation
    Costa Rica has been a popular destination for online gambling institutions. The Costa Rica gambling license happens to be one of the favorite licenses for an online casino, as more than 300 institutions are running with this license. Online gambling is legal in Costa Rica if the institution does not bring any money from overseas into a bank account in Costa Rica. Compared with other licenses, the gaming license issued by Costa Rica is considered relaxed in terms of norms and regulations. Only a decade ago, this license had developed a reputation for not being excellent i..
    Trustworthiness 7/10
  • Curacao eGaming Curacao eGaming
    Curacao has been offering online gambling licenses for more than twenty years now, which makes it one of the pioneers in regulating this sphere of entertainment with its Online Gaming laws created in 1993. Online gambling companies usually choose Curacao because of the simple procedure and a quick turnaround, as well as because of a very attractive taxes policy requiring only 2% of the profit (not the turnover). And talking about the simplicity of the licensing procedure and the gambling laws themselves we must admit that there is only one actual type of license you can ..
    Trustworthiness 9/10
  • Cyprus National Betting Authority Cyprus National Betting Authority
    The 2012 Betting Law has a special rule that improves the monitoring of new and traditional betting forms in the Republic of Cyprus, which in return offers compliance mainly due to fairness. Since its implementation four years ago, it has only used class A licenses. Applicants for class B permits came into existence in October 2016. Therefore, the National Betting Authority (NBA) has the right to receive and examine all applications before making any final decision. The body can also terminate applications as it monitors how online casinos provide their services to onlin..
    Trustworthiness 8/10
  • First Cagayan Leisure & Resort Corporation First Cagayan Leisure & Resort Corporation
    The Philippines are not only an island nation with millions of citizens, beautiful nature, and rich culture but also one gambling jurisdiction - The First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation (a.k.a. FCLRC). Established in 2003 it is aimed at regulating both online and land-based bookmakers that offered sports betting and casino games to Eastern Asia residents. It is appointed as both the Master Licensor of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Internet Gaming Operations in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP). On top of that, FCLRC also hol..
    Trustworthiness 9/10
  • Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
    Gibraltar is one of the best, well-known places in the online gambling industry. It has been offering licenses since 1998, and now this duty is handled by Gibraltar Regulatory Authority which has been setting the standards for player safety in online gaming since 2005. What’s more, the GRA also brought in new changes, by offering new improvements that would make it impossible for underage people to participate in gambling. Of course, they also ensure that the players that are allowed to gamble stay safe and protected. Today, online gambling-related companies can ge..
    Trustworthiness 7/10
  • Montenegro Montenegro
    Founded in 2011, eGambling Montenegro is a relatively new endeavor. It was operating under the radar of popular online casino rating sites until it increased its number of operators in about 2014. But, with the increase of operators came the rise in the number of Montenegro licensed casino sites that were blacklisted by some websites, as they were reportedly having issues with questionable and non-original software, mostly from NetEnt and Novomatic. Online gaming licensing is a serious thing and should be taken as such. Online casinos operate with real money and confiden..
    Trustworthiness 7/10
  • The Isle of Man Gaming Commission The Isle of Man Gaming Commission
    The Isle of Man is a secular respected online gaming license authority. It produced its first gambling permit back in 2001. Any gaming industry authorized by the Isle of Man is, in most cases, legitimate and safe to engage in online gambling and earn real money. Besides, unlike other gaming permits obtained in other countries, one from The Isle of Man has high recognition in security. The Isle of Man is among the few licensing gaming commissions whitelisted by the UK Gambling Supervision Commission. What does this mean? The UK government is comfortable with the depths and s..
    Trustworthiness 10/10
  • The Malta Gaming Authority The Malta Gaming Authority
    The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is an independent regulatory body that deals with all matters relating to gaming in Malta. The main aim of the MGA is to ensure that there is equality in principles stipulated by the regulatory body. Applications for permits should be filed within 60 days before the ship calls in Malta. Approvals are only done after paying the average fees, and MGA ensures that it’s following the law. The gaming authority in Malta also monitors local land-based casinos as it follows The Gaming Act under Chapter 400 of the Malta laws. What is also..
    Trustworthiness 8/10
  • The Philippines Gambling Commission The Philippines Gambling Commission
    The Philippines Gambling Commission, aka PAGCOR, was created through a Presidential Decree and it is controlled and owned by the government. For right now, they are the third biggest moneymaker for the Philippines government. They think that by the year 2021, they will be able to lead the Philippines to be the top gaming and entertainment location for the region of ASEAN. In doing this, they will have a lot of revenue coming in that will help to fund the nation-building programs. They do have a solid goal set for themselves, and their mission is pretty simple to understa..
    Trustworthiness 8/10
  • UK Gambling Commission UK Gambling Commission
    If you're opening a brick-and-mortar casino or starting a casino online in the UK, then you will need a license from the leading gambling authority of the country – the United Kingdom's Gambling Commission. This Commission regulates all gambling activities but does not grant planning permissions for betting shops. This kind of task is performed by local authorities. In today’s brief review, we’ll cover up some history about and jurisdiction of the Commission, as well as its goals and aims. ..
    Trustworthiness 10/10