Official permission issued by gambling regulators is the main sign that the site is working honestly. The editors of the portal have compiled a list of licensed online casinos in Europe and Asia. Here, each player can choose a site according to his requirements and preferences. The top includes trusted operators that offer customers a wide selection of games, attractive bonuses and convenient payment schemes.
Benefits of Licensed Online Casinos
The main advantage of such sites is that they have passed a number of checks before they get official permission. Obtaining a license is a time-consuming and expensive procedure. Fraudsters cannot provide the licensor with documents, reports and evidence that the software used is original. Authoritative regulators give the green light only to online casinos with licensed slot machines. By registering on such a site, the user receives guarantees of protection against playing on a scripted site with pirated software.
Licensed Mobile Casinos
Sites adapted for playing on smartphones and tablets are subject to the standard licensing procedure. If the site’s mobile application is available in official stores (App Store, Google Play), then this is an additional indicator of reliability. They include only those operators that operate in accordance with international law and fair play standards.
Types of Licenses and Their Features
As of the end of 2023, there are four formats for managing gambling markets:
- Jurisdictions regulating gambling on their own territory.
- Regions that control the gambling business and impose a monopoly on it.
- Countries with a complete ban on gambling.
- States without industry regulation.
With legal restrictions prohibiting gambling, operators resort to offshore licensing in such jurisdictions as Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Curacao. This allows you to conduct activities according to the law and attract players with additional guarantees. According to this scheme, online casinos operate with a license. In most cases, you will need to submit your own Responsible Gaming Policy and test the random number generator in order to obtain permission. After obtaining a license, the operator places the logos of the regulator on the site.
Curacao
The region was one of the first to legalize online gambling. This happened back in 1996. Now it is the most popular jurisdiction for registering a gambling business. One license covers several types of activities at once: poker, sports betting, online casino. It must be renewed once a year. The procedure for obtaining is relatively simple. The operator must provide the necessary documentation package and pay the registration fee. Income tax is 2%, and VAT payment is not provided.
There are two types of permits in Curacao: basic and sublicense. The decision to extradite the former is made personally by the Minister of Justice. Its presence allows holders to issue an unlimited number of sublicenses. Operators licensed in Curacao are not allowed to accept players from restricted regions (France, Netherlands, USA).
Malta
The region became the first in the European Union where gambling began to be regulated at the state level. Since 2000, Malta has been one of the most popular jurisdictions for operators. Recipients have access to B2B and B2C licenses. The second are divided into 4 types. All of them are issued by the Malta Gaming Authority, which is considered a leading licensor and has a strong reputation in the gaming community.
Great Britain
The United Kingdom provides the most expensive and authoritative gambling permits. Operators approved by the UK Gambling Commission are considered the most reliable. The regulator issues licenses for equipment, sports betting and online casinos. The activity tax is 15%, and the initial fee is £10,000. The UK Gaming Commission places high demands on the quality of software.
Kahnawake
The Canadian region issues permits for the operation of casinos, poker rooms and bookmakers. You do not need to register a local company to obtain it. There is no gambling tax, but there are mandatory payments: a registration fee of US$40,000 and a fee of the head of the company of US$5,000.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar has been issuing gambling licenses since 2005. The licensee is obliged to provide data on previous work experience and a business plan. The entry fee is not needed, the tax is from 1% of the annual turnover. Before issuing a permit, the software is tested in independent laboratories, for example, eCOGRA and iTech Labs. The regulator fights money laundering and accepts complaints from players about dishonest actions of operators.
Costa Rica
Sites licensed in Costa Rica are not reputable. Gambling activity in the region is practically not controlled, customers are poorly protected and may face fraud. The licensing procedure is simple, the permit costs between $5,000 and $10,000 and covers bingo, poker, lotteries, sports betting, and cryptocurrency games.
Panama
Obtaining a Panamanian license is relatively easy. It is enough for the applicant to have a legal representative in the country and not to have a criminal record. The regulator issues permits for bingo, bookmakers and poker. The region does not have strict control over operators, this should be considered before playing on sites licensed in Panama.
Isle Of Man
There are several types of permits available on the Isle of Man:
- Activities in the UK.
- B2B license.
- The whole range of gambling services in countries with legal gambling.
- Sports betting and sweepstakes.
The region has transparent legislation governing gambling. It is loyal both to business organizers and to customers. The software is tested in Applus, QALab, iTech Labs and other laboratories. The authorities are responsible for the reputation of the gambling sector, the licenses of the Isle of Man Commission for the Supervision of the Gambling Business enjoy authority.
The presence of permission is the main, but not the only criterion that the editors took into account when compiling the top. By studying the list of licensed casino sites, visitors will find out where the most profitable special offers await them. When creating the rating, we paid attention to the ease of registration, the range of games and payment instruments.
How to Check Online Casino License
Permission information is placed in the about section of the site, often it can be found directly in its footer. The operator informs about the license number and the supervisory authority by which it was issued. You can check this data on the official portal of the regulator.
How to Choose the Best Licensed Casino
It is important to pay attention to what types of games are covered by the license declared by the operator. If the site has entertainment that is not included in this list, it is not recommended to bet money on it.
Bonuses for New Players
Welcome bonuses allow you to start playing at the casino with additional benefits for the user. They may include free spins, deposit bonuses, etc. Before registering, you must study the wagering requirements and make sure that they are acceptable.
| Bonus type | Description |
|---|---|
| No deposit | Does not require account replenishment. |
| Deposit | It is given for depositing money to the balance and depends on the deposited amount. |
Casino Software With a License
An exciting game is guaranteed if the operator offers the developments of the best providers. It is worth giving preference to resources that host slots from NetEnt, Playtech, Quickspin, Novomatic and other popular brands. Such companies supply slot machines with licensed software to casinos that have proven their honesty and reliability.
Loyalty Program
The presence of a profitable loyalty program is essential for customers who plan to become permanent in the casino. As the player is active, he will receive additional privileges: simplified withdrawal, cashback, access to closed promotions, extended limits. The complete list depends on the policy of the operator.
Withdrawing Money From the Account
The faster the operator allows users to withdraw the money won, the more reliable it is. Sites that offer several payment methods are suitable for the game. This list should include leading electronic payment systems, bank cards and transfers.
