Why Verifying a Casino License is a Must if You Gamble Online

by Mia
Casino License - MGJ

A license is the first thing I investigate when choosing an online casino.

Online casinos, they’re great, but let’s face it – there’s loads of them. The only real way to tell the most reputable from the questionable is by checking for and verifying an online casino license.

Online Casino License Verification

What is a casino license, why is verifying it important, and how do you do it? These were all questions I wondered, once upon a time. If you’re wondering about them too, here’s what you need to know.

What is an Online Casino License, Anyway?

An online gambling license is a legal document issued by a regulatory authority to an online gambling operator. This regulatory authority governs remote (online) gambling activities within its jurisdiction and upholds online gambling laws.

A casino gaming license allows a gambling operator to run an online casino platform (the sites where we play) in certain regions or territories. Under this license, the licensee (casino operator) must comply with specific regulations and standards set by the regulator.

There are online gambling licensing authorities all over the world, each with their own regulations and standards. Aside from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (Ontario’s official iGaming regulator), some of the more well known governing bodies include the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, Curaçao eGaming, Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission, etc.  

An online casino may hold one license or multiple casino licenses from different regulators. Each one allows them to operate and offer their services to players in different regions. As an example, for a casino to offer its games to players in Ontario, they need a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). However, if they want to target players in the UK, they need one from the Gambling Commission.

Operators pay for each license they hold, and these licenses don’t typically come cheap. For instance, in Ontario, an AGCO online gambling license costs an operator $100,000 per site.

What Online Casino License(s) Matters in Canada?

The license authority to check for depends on where you reside in Canada.

Ontario Casino License

AGCO and iGaming Ontario Logos - MGJ
AGCO and iGaming Ontario Logos

iGaming Ontario is a subsidiary of the AGCO and is responsible for conducting and managing internet gaming through private gaming companies (operators). Only operators who have successfully registered with the AGCO and fulfilled an operating agreement with iGO, can offer their games to players in Ontario.

Casino Licenses for the rest of Canada

Currently (at the time I published this post) no other Canadian province or territory has designated an official governing body to regulate online gambling within their region.  As such, if you’re a Canadian who plays outside of Ontario – to the best of my knowledge – the main online casino license Canada-friendly regulators you’ll want to keep an eye out for are:

Malta Gaming Authority - Kahnawake Gaming Commission - Curacao eGaming logos - MGJ
Malta Gaming Authority logo – Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission logo – Curaçao eGaming logo

Of all these I’ve listed, the Malta Gaming Authority and Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission are the regulators I’d trust the most.

The MGA is based out of Malta and was established in 2001. It is among the first regulators to regulate online gambling and is renowned for its commitment to protect minors from gambling, ensure funds security for players, and guarantees fair and responsible gambling operations.

The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission has been around since 1996 and is located in the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory, Quebec. It is North America’s largest regulatory body for online casinos, online poker rooms, and online sportsbooks, and has a good reputation and player protections. 

Why Playing at an Online Casino with a Legitimate License is Important

A site with a legitimate casino license means that the casino is committed to providing an ethical gaming environment and protections for players. More specifically, a casino with a legitimate license must comply with the rules of the licensing authority.

While rules and standards differ from one regulator to the next, the most reputable of the bunch – AGCO included – require licensed operators to:

  • Prevent underage gambling.
  • Protect the young and vulnerable from gambling harms.
  • Provide controls/tools that gamblers can use to control their gambling.
  • Ensure players receive their winnings.
  • Have anti-fraud and anti-crime systems in place to ensure gambling doesn’t become a source of criminal activity.
  • Ensure the security of player funds (even in the event the casino goes bankrupt) and personal data.
  • Guarantee game fairness to ensure all outcomes are random**

Failure to adhere to the rules of a regulator can lead to the offending operator being fined, losing its license, or even being shut down.

At a licensed gaming site, you can trust that the casino runs an ethical operation and has these player protections in place. That’s why playing at a licensed site is important.

How to Verify an Online Casino License 

You might think that all you need to do to verify if a casino is licensed is to look for the logo of the gambling regulator on the casino’s site. In actuality, this is only the first step.

Truth is, just checking to see if a casino lists a license on its site, isn’t enough. Why? Simply because a casino says its licensed doesn’t mean that it is licensed or that its license is currently valid with that regulator. You need to take the extra step of checking with the regulator itself.

Don’t worry, this is not as complicated as it might sound.

Take these steps to verify the validity of a casino gaming license

1 – Go to the casino’s homepage and look for the iGaming Ontario (or another regulator) logo. Usually, it is at the bottom of the site.

Casino License Authority Logos displayed on Betty.ca - PlayOJO.ca - PlayOJO.com-ca - MGJ
Screenshots of online Casino License Authority Logos displayed on Betty.ca – PlayOJO.ca – PlayOJO.com/ca

Screenshot of iGaming Ontario's What Sites Are Regulated Search - MGJ
Screenshot of iGaming Ontario’s What Sites Are Regulated Search

From there, you can search for a casino. If the casino’s in the list, it’s legitimately licensed.

Screenshot of iGaming Ontario Betty Search Result - MGJ
Screenshot of iGaming Ontario Betty Search Result

Screenshot of MGA Licensee Register Search - MGJ
Screenshot of MGA Licensee Register Search

There, you can search for the casino operator’s name to check their current license status.

Screenshot of MGA license search result for SkillOnNet - MGJ
Screenshot of MGA license search result for SkillOnNet

That’s all there is to it.

Mia’s Final Thought About Verifying Online Casino Licenses

Even though taking the time to verify an online casino license may be a nuisance when you just want to get on to the fun playing part, it’s safer for you in the long run if you do it prior to signing up. The last thing you want to do is skip this step and get scammed.

Bottom line, if an online casino isn’t legitimately licensed, I don’t trust it, and neither should you.

If you have any questions or comments for me and/or want to share your experience, as always, please fire away below or you can message me on one of my social channels.

Until next time, good luck, have fun, and beware of scams.

Mia 👩‍💻

**I’m not affiliated with anyone.

***All links and images in this post are for informational purposes only.

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