"Licensed and regulated" is the most common phrase at the bottom of a casino site, and one of the least informative until you know which regulator stands behind it. A licence from one authority may come with protected player balances and a formal complaints route; a licence from another may mainly confirm that the company exists.
We have written a player-focused guide to each of the eight jurisdictions below. This page gives you the overview, a comparison table and a five-minute routine for checking any licence yourself.
The Eight Jurisdictions at a Glance
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Main law | Known for | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | Malta Gaming Authority | Gaming Act 2018 | EU base for many operators; player funds protected by law | MGA licence |
| Curaçao | Curaçao Gaming Authority | National Ordinance on Games of Chance (in force 24 December 2024) | Reformed from master licences to direct licences | Curaçao licence |
| United Kingdom | UK Gambling Commission | Gambling Act 2005 | Slot stake limits, 10x wagering cap from 2026 | UKGC licence |
| Sweden | Spelinspektionen | Gaming Act 2019 | One bonus only, limits at registration | Swedish licence |
| Gibraltar | Gambling Commissioner and Licensing Authority | Gambling Act 2005 | Small number of large operators, by policy | Gibraltar licence |
| Isle of Man | Gambling Supervision Commission | Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001 | Protection of player money | Isle of Man licence |
| Kahnawake | Kahnawake Gaming Commission | Kahnawake Gaming Law (1996) | Long-standing regulator with a player complaints process | Kahnawake licence |
| Anjouan | Anjouan licensing authorities | Computer Gaming Licensing Act (2005) | Widely adopted by new casinos since about 2023 | Anjouan licence |
If you are deciding between the two licences you see most often on international sites, our Curaçao vs Malta comparison goes through them side by side.
Three Questions That Separate One Licence From Another
1. What happens to my balance if the operator fails? Some regulators require player money to be protected, for example held separately from the company's own funds. Malta writes this into law and the Isle of Man requires it; the UK requires operators to tell you how well your money is protected.
2. Who can I complain to? Mature regulators run or require a dispute route: an approved dispute-resolution service in the UK, a complaints process at the Kahnawake Commission and at the Isle of Man GSC. Some jurisdictions offer much less.
3. Does the licence cover my country? Many countries require a local licence to serve their residents: the UK since 2014, Sweden since 2019, and others. A permit from one jurisdiction does not override another country's rules.
A Five-Minute Licence Check
- Click the seal or licence statement in the footer. Check the address bar: a validation page should be hosted by the regulator.
- Note the company name. Licences are issued to companies, not brands.
- Compare it with the terms and conditions. The company operating the site should be the licence holder.
- Search the regulator's public register where one exists (Malta, UK, Sweden, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Kahnawake all publish lists).
- Match the domain. The website you are on should be covered by the licence.
If a step fails, it may be a clerical mistake, but it is also the classic pattern of a borrowed or expired licence claim. Our casinos to avoid guide lists the other warning signs.
Licence or License?
You will see both spellings throughout this section. British English uses "licence" as the noun and "license" as the verb; American English uses "license" for both. Searches for a "casino license" and a "casino licence" lead to the same regulators.
The Five Casinos We Review
Below are the five casinos we review, with their welcome offers. A licence is the first item in our assessment, never the only one: we also test payments, read the terms and contact support, as described on our how we test page.
