The Most Prestigious Online Casino Licenses
Before an online gambling establishment is allowed to offer its service to the public, it is required to get a license from one of the recognized iGaming regulatory authorities. Why is a casino license so important? Firstly, most banks will not get into business with unlicensed betting sites, and neither will companies such as MasterCard and Visa. Also, you will not want to signup with a site that might disappear with your money.
Note that to be given an operation permit, a betting house must undergo a vigorous vetting process to ensure that they meet the industry's standards, and only the best make it through the evaluation process.
What's the Work of Licensing Authorities?
Today, all the governments that issue online casino licenses have specific rules that gaming sites must adhere to - note that not all licensing jurisdictions require all the following, but the reputable ones do.
- Regular testing and validation of Random Number Generator (RNG) software
- Observe a list of permitted/prohibited markets
- Publish current data on each game's Return to Player rate (RTP)
- Provide customer support
- Display elapsed playing time on gaming platforms
- Establish limits on deposits
- Respond promptly to customer complaints
- Tests for senior management and owners
The Best Casino Licenses
Besides the legitimacy and financial trust paid for by the license, gambling websites get very little - the true beneficiary in this entire process is the player. In addition to assured reliability, honesty, and security, licensing jurisdictions offer customer dispute centers, where you can register complaints about betting houses. Below are iGaming jurisdictions that issue the best casino licenses on the market.
Malta
This is a small island situated in the Mediterranean and is part of the EU. It's an important online gaming jurisdiction, which has issued licenses to over 380 betting websites through the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA). The Maltese government has created specific policies and standard operating procedures for remote gambling. It features four classes of remote gaming permits;
- Class 1 covers operators offering digital games such as table games, slots, and lotteries
- Class 2 is meant for online sports betting operations
- Class 3 covers player vs. player gaming operations like poker networks
- Class 4 licenses companies that host and manage remote gambling but aren't themselves casino operators
Curacao and Netherlands Antilles
The regulation of online gambling companies was decentralized from the Curacao Gaming Control board in 2002. The benefit of having a casino license from the Netherlands Antilles is that game sites can obtain sub-permits that can be used by sister companies. These can then be used to run several forms of gambling, in which you can indulge in legally. They include live betting, sportsbetting, mobile gaming, lotteries, poker, and casino games.
Kahnawake
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established in 1996 and regulates over 100 casinos. This body is situated in Mohawk territory within Canadian borders and has its own laws. This iGaming regulatory body is also among the best - it ensures fair gameplay and safety for all online gamblers.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has been licensing betting houses since 2006 after the UK Gambling Act (2005) was passed into law. The regulatory authority has put in place strict rules and policies addressing every aspect of iGaming; from software testing and financial transparency to certification and auditing.
The UKGC provides a variety of casino licenses, including live betting certifications, remote casino permits, as well as intermediary permits.