What a casino licence means for players
A national licence gives you your own country's protection. An offshore licence, such as Curaçao, Anjouan and Kahnawake, gives much less. This guide explains the 16 licences in our data, one by one.
A casino licence is permission from a regulator to offer gambling. The licence also sets rules that the site must follow. These rules decide how well you are protected.
Not all licences give the same protection. The most important question is this: does the licence come from the country where you live?
National licences
A national licence comes from the country where the players live. Examples are the UKGC in Great Britain, Spelinspektionen in Sweden and the KSA in the Netherlands.
A national licence gives you that country's rules on identity checks, safer-gambling tools and complaints. In many countries one national self-exclusion scheme covers every licensed site. Examples are GamStop in Great Britain, Spelpaus in Sweden, ROFUS in Denmark and Cruks in the Netherlands.
A national licence covers players in that country only. A US state licence covers players in that state only.
Offshore licences
An offshore licence comes from a place that licenses sites for players in other countries. Examples in our data are Curaçao, Anjouan and Kahnawake.
An offshore licence does not make a site legal in your country. If your country licenses online gambling, a site with only an offshore licence may be unlicensed there. Your national self-exclusion scheme and complaint bodies do not cover it.
Player protection under an offshore licence is much lighter. Self-exclusion often works only site by site.
A Malta (MGA) licence is a strong EU licence, but it is not a national licence for players outside Malta. It does not replace the licence of your own country.
How to check a licence
To check a licence, find the licence number in the footer of the site. Then search the regulator's public register. The website's domain should be listed under that licence.
Each licence, one by one
The text below comes from our regulator pages. Each page lists the brands that hold the licence, their owners and the fines.
National regulators: UK, Nordics and EU
UKGC: Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission is the statutory regulator for gambling in Great Britain.
A Gambling Commission licence covers players in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own gambling law and is not covered.
Licensed online operators must check your identity and age before you can gamble. They must take part in GamStop, the national self-exclusion scheme, so one sign-up blocks you from all GB-licensed gambling websites and apps. Operators must also offer safer-gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs. Gambling with a credit card has been banned since April 2020.
In our data: 699 brands from 58 owner groups hold this licence; 42 fines on record. UKGC-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Spelinspektionen: Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority)
Spelinspektionen is the Swedish government agency that licenses and supervises gambling in Sweden.
A Swedish licence covers players in Sweden. Licensed sites must verify your identity and must ask you to set a deposit limit (per day, week or month) before you play. A bonus may only be offered when you first sign up.
Spelpaus is the national self-exclusion register. One sign-up blocks you from all sites with a Swedish licence for the period you choose. Licensed sites must also show a quick link to Spelpaus and to a self-test.
In our data: 191 brands from 35 owner groups hold this licence; 49 fines on record. Spelinspektionen-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Spillemyndigheden: Spillemyndigheden (Danish Gambling Authority)
Spillemyndigheden is the Danish Gambling Authority, part of the Danish Ministry of Taxation's area.
A Danish licence covers players in Denmark. Licensed sites must verify your identity, and since 1 January 2020 you must set a daily, weekly or monthly deposit limit before you can play.
ROFUS is the national self-exclusion register, run by Spillemyndigheden since 2012. You can exclude yourself for 24 hours, one, three or six months, or permanently. It covers all Danish-licensed online gambling sites, land-based casinos and land-based betting.
In our data: 174 brands from 39 owner groups hold this licence; 1 fine on record. Spillemyndigheden-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
MGA: Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority regulates gambling in and from Malta.
An MGA licence is a well-established EU licence. MGA licensees must verify players, offer responsible-gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion on their own site, and keep player money separate from company money.
An MGA licence does not replace the licence of the country where you live. If your country has its own licensing system, a site that holds only an MGA licence may not be authorised there, and your national self-exclusion register (for example in Germany, Sweden or the Netherlands) does not cover it. Self-exclusion with one MGA operator does not automatically apply to other MGA operators.
In our data: 272 brands from 15 owner groups hold this licence; 1 fine on record. MGA-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
GGL: Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) is the joint gambling authority of Germany's 16 federal states, based in Halle (Saale).
A German licence covers players in Germany. Licensed operators appear on the GGL's official list of permitted providers (the whitelist).
German rules are among the strictest in Europe. Players have a monthly deposit limit that applies across all licensed operators together, normally €1,000. A central system called LUGAS enforces it and stops you playing at more than one operator at the same time. Virtual slots have a maximum stake of €1 per spin.
In our data: 156 brands from 40 owner groups hold this licence. GGL-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
KSA: Kansspelautoriteit (Netherlands Gambling Authority)
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is the Dutch gambling regulator, set up on 1 April 2012.
A Dutch licence covers players in the Netherlands. Licensed sites must verify your identity, set and respect playing limits, and watch for signs of problem gambling under a legal duty of care.
Cruks is the central self-exclusion register. Licensed sites must check it every time a player logs in or visits, so one sign-up blocks you from all Dutch-licensed online gambling and land-based casinos and arcades. The minimum period is six months, and you cannot end it early.
In our data: 44 brands from 25 owner groups hold this licence; 43 fines on record. KSA-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
DGOJ: Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) is the Spanish government body that regulates gambling offered nationwide, mainly online.
A Spanish licence covers players in Spain. Licensed sites must verify your identity, use a '.es' domain and offer safer-gambling tools such as deposit limits.
The national self-exclusion register, the Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego (RGIAJ), covers all sites with a Spanish licence. Players listed in it cannot open or use an account with any Spanish-licensed operator. Land-based gambling in each Spanish region has its own rules.
In our data: 99 brands from 49 owner groups hold this licence; 20 fines on record. DGOJ-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
ADM: Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli
The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) is the Italian customs and monopolies agency.
An Italian concession covers players in Italy. Licensed online sites use a '.it' domain, show the ADM logo and concession number, and must verify your identity and your Italian tax code (codice fiscale) before you can play.
The Registro Unico delle Autoesclusioni (RUA) is the national self-exclusion register for online gaming. One request excludes you from all ADM-licensed gaming sites for 30, 60 or 90 days or indefinitely. Licensed sites must also let you set deposit and time limits.
In our data: 59 brands from 36 owner groups hold this licence. ADM-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
North America
Ontario: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario
In Ontario, online gambling is run by two public bodies.
An Ontario registration covers players located in Ontario only, aged 19 or older. Regulated sites must be registered with the AGCO and have an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario.
The AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming require identity checks, safer-gambling tools such as deposit limits, rules on advertising and bonuses, and protection of player funds.
In our data: 153 brands from 41 owner groups hold this licence; 18 fines on record. Ontario-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
New Jersey: New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is part of the state's Office of the Attorney General.
A New Jersey licence covers players physically located in New Jersey only, aged 21 or older. Online casino sites must work with a licensed Atlantic City casino, and sites use geolocation to check where you are.
New Jersey's self-exclusion programme can cover Atlantic City casinos, racetrack sports betting and online gambling together, or online gambling and online sports betting only. In person or by video you can choose one year, five years or life; online sign-up through the DGE website or your player account offers one or five years. The DGE fines operators that let self-excluded players gamble.
In our data: 28 brands from 18 owner groups hold this licence; 34 fines on record. New Jersey-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is the state agency that regulates casino gambling in Pennsylvania.
A Pennsylvania licence covers players physically located in Pennsylvania only, aged 21 or older. Online operators must be tied to a Pennsylvania casino licence holder, and sites check your location.
The PGCB runs an iGaming self-exclusion list for online gambling, separate from its lists for land-based casinos and sports betting. You can choose one year, five years or life. The Board fines operators that let self-excluded players gamble and also keeps an involuntary exclusion list.
In our data: 29 brands from 15 owner groups hold this licence; 13 fines on record. Pennsylvania-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Michigan: Michigan Gaming Control Board
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is the state agency that regulates the Detroit commercial casinos and, since 2021, online casino games, online poker and online sports betting in Michigan.
A Michigan licence covers players physically located in Michigan only, aged 21 or older. Online operators must partner with a Detroit casino or a Michigan tribal casino, and sites check your location.
The MGCB's Responsible Gaming Database lets you exclude yourself from all state-regulated online casino games, online sports betting, or both, for one year or five years. Licensed operators must honour it. A separate Disassociated Persons List covers the Detroit casinos.
In our data: 9 brands from 9 owner groups hold this licence; 1 fine on record. Michigan-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Australia
Northern Territory: Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission
The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission licenses sports bookmakers and betting exchange operators in Australia's Northern Territory.
A Northern Territory licence covers online betting on sport and racing. It does not cover online casino games: under the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001, online casinos and online slots may not be offered to people in Australia.
All Australian-licensed online bookmakers, including NT-licensed ones, must take part in BetStop, the national self-exclusion register run by the federal regulator ACMA since August 2023. You can exclude yourself for three months up to life. Licensed bookmakers must also offer deposit limits under the national consumer protection framework, and since June 2024 may not accept credit cards.
In our data: 38 brands from 14 owner groups hold this licence. Northern Territory-licensed betting sites and their owners → · official register
Offshore licences
Curaçao: Curaçao Gaming Authority
The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), formerly the Gaming Control Board (GCB), regulates gambling in Curaçao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
A Curaçao licence is an offshore licence. It is widely used by online casinos that serve players in many countries, often countries where the site has no local licence.
Player protection is much lighter than under a national licence in Europe, the UK or North America. There is no national self-exclusion register that covers Curaçao-licensed sites, so self-exclusion works only site by site. Rules on deposit limits and player-fund protection are less detailed and less tested than in strict markets.
In our data: 82 brands from 25 owner groups hold this licence. Curaçao-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Anjouan: Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority
The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) says it licenses offshore banks, insurers and online gambling operators from Anjouan, one of the islands of the Union of the Comoros.
An Anjouan licence is an offshore licence, and its legal basis is disputed. Comoros national authorities, including the Central Bank of the Comoros, have publicly described Anjouan licensing bodies and the firms selling their licences as fictitious structures.
In practice, an Anjouan licence gives players very little protection. There is no national self-exclusion register, no published rules on deposit limits or player-fund protection that we could verify, and no known independent dispute service.
In our data: 339 brands from 52 owner groups hold this licence. Anjouan-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Kahnawake: Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was set up in 1996 by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, a First Nations community near Montreal, Quebec.
A Kahnawake permit is an offshore-style licence. It is one of the older online gaming authorities and publishes regulations, a list of permit holders and notices of suspensions and revocations.
Player protection is lighter than under a national or provincial licence. There is no national self-exclusion register that covers Kahnawake-licensed sites, so self-exclusion works site by site. Rules on deposit limits and player-fund protection are less detailed than in strict markets.
In our data: 79 brands from 14 owner groups hold this licence. Kahnawake-licensed casinos and their owners → · official register
Related: all regulators · white-label casinos · all guides.
Last checked 19 Oct 2026. How we check facts. Gambling can be addictive. Help: BeGambleAware, GamStop, Gamblers Anonymous.