What Is An Online Casino Licence And Why Should You Care

January 8th, 2020 by LuckyMobileCasinos

We take a look at why you should care where your online casino is licensed and what to look for to gamble safely online.

Casino Licences Explained - What You Need To Know

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When we log on to play a cheeky round of blackjack, the last thing we want to do is read a load of small print.

However, it turns out that’s just what we should be doing – otherwise we could be risking not only our hard-earned cash, but even breaking the law!

The first sign to look out for when trying out a new casino website is an online casino licence. You can usually find references to this in the footer of the homepage – it should say how and where the website is licensed to operate.

What does a casino gaming licence offer?

All online gambling operators running in Britain will need, at minimum, a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. This is also true of Sweden and Denmark and their respective gambling regulators.

However, other countries are happy to accept other licensee – if you live in Canada, you can choose to play on a Maltese or UK licensed casino, without breaking the law.

So it’s important to know what are the laws in your country and what each of the licenses cover.

There are additional needs for those running land-based casinos, but you don’t need to worry about these if you’re playing online. They are completely separate from the online world.

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Having a licence ensures not only that the site is operating legally, but that you’re protected as a player. A licensed casino will offer:

Responsible gambling

Licensed casinos must have strict responsible gambling policies, including marketing and their own self-exclusion options. When you play on these, you can always be assured you’re playing within your means.

Anti-money laundering

When you play online casinos, you want to know your money is going somewhere safe – not for crime. A casino licence ensures that not a single penny goes towards criminal or any other kind of suspicious activity.

Effective complaint resolution

If for any reason you’re not happy with the service you’ve received, a licence ensures you’re dealt with fairly. The Gambling Commission has strict standards on customer service, so if you think you have lost money unfairly or question the randomness of play, you can send a complaint to the operator directly.

Compliance for different games

Every kind of game has a different set of rules in order to be compliant with the law. For example, a lottery game might be different from bingo. A licence ensures your operator is abiding by these rules.

True fairness in gameplay

Today’s online casino games are run by random number generators. These means there’s no way of “fixing” the results. Gambling licences regularly check the tech behind online games to ensure they remain random.

What kinds of casino licences are there?

Depending on the region, the sites you play at may have different licences. These all vary in terms of strictness, so it’s essential to know you’re playing in the right region with the right licence.

If you’re not sure where to play, read on to see what your chosen casino’s licence covers.

UKGC licensed casinos

Otherwise known as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, this type of licence takes all of the above into consideration. This affects the public, the operators and those issuing the licences. This is a non-governmental organisation, and only operators like GUTS casino running under this licence can operate in the UK.

If you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, look for the logo on the footer of the site, which should click to the license. If you’re not, you won’t find a casino that plays more by the rules than one rules under the UKGC.

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Swedish Gambling Authority

As the name suggests, this only really applies if you’re playing in Swedish casinos. When you log on, ensure the site you access isn’t limited by this licence only. This authority has the same aims as the UK – to promote responsible gambling with tech and marketing, but is a little more difficult for players to enjoy: you get limited bonuses, slow spins on slots etc…

However, the aim is to keep you safe and if you are in Sweden, it’s better to pick a casino like Casumo mobile casino that plays within the law than to take a gamble on an unlicensed casino.

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MGA licensed casinos

Also known as the Malta Gaming Authority, you’ll find most online casinos (like Leo Vegas casino) operating in Europe use this licence.

This licence has a strict set of regulations and directives, for the UK only and for outside of the UK. There is comprehensive information on the website, including links to other issues like Data Protection and advertising.

If you live somewhere like New Zealand or Canada, and want a licensed that you can contact and will care, despite the fact that you’re not a native, the Maltese Gaming Authority is a good place to go.

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Curacao licence

Casinos with a Curacao licence can generally operate anywhere in the world. However, these regulations are far less strict than others. For example, they only really focus on the infrastructure for the provision of online games and intellectual property.

To stay safe, if you see a website with a casino licence, lookout for a secondary licence. This may be a UKGC or MGA licence, which will cover all other issues such as money laundering, random number generators and responsible gambling.

If in doubt…bow out!

A reputable online casino site will always have details about the kind of casino licence they cover – this should be stated as a licence number and the name of the organisation that issued the licence.

If you’re not sure, check out Lucky Mobile Casino’s quick guides:

At Lucky Mobile Casinos, we’ll always point you towards reputable casinos where you know your money is safe.

We’ll also help you learn more about responsible gambling, from setting time and money limits to the self-exclusion schemes available to you.

Don’t forget to play safe! If you don’t know where to start go for a trusted brand that has years of experience and has passed every license with flying colours, no penalties charged.

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