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How to Verify a Casino Licence

Updated September 2026·6 min read
Every legitimate licensed casino appears on a public gambling register. You can look it up in a couple of minutes on the regulator's official website. If you cannot find the casino on the register, do not deposit. This single check prevents almost all online casino scams.

Step 1 — Find the casino's licence claim

The casino's website footer or "About" page will list which regulator it is licensed by and, usually, the licensing entity name. It will say something like: "Licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority" and name the operating company. Note the regulator and the company name.

Step 2 — Go to the official register directly

Do not use the link on the casino's website. Type the register URL yourself:

RegulatorOfficial Register URL
MGA (Malta)authorisation.mga.org.mt
UKGC (United Kingdom)gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register
Gibraltargibraltar.gov.gi/finance-gaming-and-regulations
Curacao eGaminggaming-curacao.com / curacao-egaming.com
Isle of Mangambling.gov.im
Kahnawakegamingcommission.ca

Step 3 — Search for the casino or operator

Search the register by the operating company name or brand. The register will show the licensed operator. Check that:

  • The operating company matches the one named on the casino site
  • The status shows "Active" or "Current" — not "Suspended", "Revoked" or "Surrendered"
  • The licence covers online casino / remote gaming activity
  • The website domain you are on is listed among the operator's approved domains

Red flags — signs the licence is fake

These are signs a casino is not genuinely licensed:

  • The operator or brand does not appear in the official register
  • The company name on the register is different from the casino's operator with no explanation
  • The licence status shows "Suspended", "Revoked" or a lapsed date
  • The casino claims a licence is "pending" — no active licence means no protection now
  • The casino shows only a low-oversight offshore claim with no verifiable register entry
  • The website has no physical address, no clear terms, or no responsible-gambling tools

What a licence tells you

A licence from a respected regulator such as the MGA or UKGC means the casino must follow rules on fair games (independently tested RNGs), segregation of player funds, anti-money-laundering, advertising standards and dispute resolution. UKGC and MGA are considered among the strongest regulators; Curacao is common for international sites but has historically offered lighter oversight.

Every casino on this site has had its licensing checked against the official public registers. Each review names the regulator and operating entity so you can verify it yourself.

Fake and cloned casino scams

Some scam sites copy the branding, name or logo of a legitimate licensed casino to trick players. The real operator holds the licence; the scammers only pretend to.

Always confirm that the website domain you are on is the operator's official, approved domain listed on the register. A slight difference in domain spelling is a warning sign. Regulators such as the UKGC publish warnings about unlicensed operators — check them if in doubt.