Which Casino Licence?

Like the vast majority of players, when I first started playing I didn’t know anything about casino licences. It goes without saying then that I was utterly oblivious to where a casino was licensed and what implications this meant. In fact, as long as the website looked pretty trustworthy then that was enough for me.  It’s pretty shocking attitude to have, and having been ripped off by flybynightcasino.com like sites a few times I started to take notice, and so should you.

It’s easy to think that your casino is in your home country, with casinos in the British market often draping things in the Union Jack, or German or French facing casinos adorned in the colours and symbols of the EU. The reality is that many are run and operated by people anywhere but those locations – some from as far afield has Curacao, Costa Rica, Canada or even Manila in the Philippines. But what’s the difference, I hear you ask. Well sometimes nothing, sometimes it’s everything. From the minor annoyance of the support team speaking pidgin English to the casino operating under very relaxed gambling laws and allowing them to exploit players - the licence can have a very pronounced effect on your casino experience.

That said, the days of the truly dodgy casino are well over, with most operating to strict Government remits and by game manufacturers who want to avoid the negative associations that come with a dodgy casino, but there are still those that are better than others, and given the plethora of casinos out there, why diminish your enjoyment by playing one that has a less reputable, more relaxed licence?

First off, let me say that there is no golden rule to picking out a bad casino by licensing authority, and that perfectly legitimate and fair online casinos operate under all sorts of licences. With that out the way, it’s safe to say that the European-based licences are recognised as having the strictest controls, procedures and have the best policy in dealing with player complaints. Such licences include, and in alphabetical order: Alderney, Cyprus, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man and Malta. These jurisdictions have to abide by remits set by the EU, or the FSA (Financial Services Authority) for those within the British Isles, and ensure casino operations are transparent and secure.

The most immediate boon for players is the ability to complain and seek advice from the licensing authority. However, although nearly all authorities have a system in place to receive complaints about casinos, many do little with them. The leader here, without doubt, is the Government of Gibraltar, who will respond and take appropriate action against the operator. Not only that but Gibraltar limits the number licences awarded and reviews holders on a yearly basis. Behind them Malta, the Isle of Man and Alderney are all on much on the same level, and generally produce a fair system having undergone a severe audit to receive the licence.

So, next time you visit an online casino for the first time be sure to check out the “About us” section and discover where they’re based and where their licence is from – it may affect your enjoyment. Also, if you have an issue that cannot be resolved with the casino directly then take it to the relevant Government authority, and follow that up by positing on player Advocacy sites.

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