Gambling Jurisdictions

Gibraltar - solid as a rock
Gibraltar – solid as a rock

What Are Gambling Jurisdictions? 

With online gambling – well, all forms of gambling, in fact, including that carried out at arcades, land-based casinos and betting shops – virtually every country in the world has laws and regulations pertaining to how online casinos and land-based casinos must carry out their operations – and each country is known as a jurisdiction. Most online gambling regulators are government-appointed bodies, and they generally ensure the integrity of casino games offered, ensure that players are being treated fairly and make sure that online gambling businesses are operating in a legal manner.

Of course, as online gaming has continued to grow (and with the advancement of state-of-the-art technology like crypto) online gambling regulators have had to adapt – fast – and today, online gambling is more popular than ever – so online gambling jurisdictions have their work cut out to keep up!

On this page we’re going to be looking at what online gambling regulators have to do – including a brief look at how they go about regulating land-based casinos – and we’ll show you some of the main online gambling regulators that are in existence today. To kick things off, let’s have a look at what online gambling regulators actually do.

Regulating Online Gambling Sites: What Do Regulators Do?

While every country has their own online gambling laws and regulations – in those where online casino gambling and online poker (along with all other forms of internet gambling is legal), online gambling regulators have a number of tasks. Generally speaking, online gambling regulators ensure:

  • That all of the games offered at the online casino are fair, with a random number generator delivering fair, unbiased results.
  • That online casinos hold player funds in separate bank accounts; this means that players can get paid out in case of insolvency
  • The online gambling industry operates in a legal manner while adhering to all relevant rules and regulations, including anti-money laundering measures and player verification checks
  • That casinos are ensuring responsible gambling is a top priority; this includes making sure that under 18’s are prevented from being able to gamble online

Who Are The Main Online Gambling Regulators?

As we’ve already seen, all online casino and online gambling sites that want to offer real money gambling products to players need to hold a valid online gambling license – and below, we’re going to be taking a look at a breakdown of the world’s leading online gambling regulators:

Alderney Gambling Control Commission

The Alderney Gaming Commission was established in 2000 to supervise gambling enterprises that sought to set up shop in the British Isles, and it is highly regarded and trusted, much like the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission. —- The Alderney Gambling Control Commission is a body that regulates gambling on the island of Alderney.

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission has an incredibly strong reputation among both players and online betting sites, and while their licenses are pretty tough to get (and usually reserved for those companies with big bank rolls), the benefits of a license can be fantastic for online gambling companies – and when it comes to taxation, few jurisdictions can offer online gambling companies such lucrative dealers. It’s no surprise that so many of the bigger sites look to get licensed in Alderney!

Read our full review here >>>

Antigua Division of Gaming

The Antigua Division of Gaming is a component of Antigua’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission, and the licensing regulator has grown to be one of the most popular in the world today, given to liberal taxation policies and the ease with which new operators may set up shop in the area.

While Antigua is still one of the newer online gambling jurisdictions, it’s likely we’ll see their popularity increase over the coming years, especially as some online gambling companies look to move away from Curacao due to the negative connotations many players have with Curacao licenses.

Read our full review here >>>

Belgian Gambling Commission

The Belgian Gambling Commission is one of the world’s harshest gambling regulators, allowing just a few operators to open up shop there – and they’ve become well-known for maintaining a ‘blacklist’ of operators who are unable to do so. However, despite taking things like responsible gambling and player-safety seriously, the BGA has come unter quite intense criticism for being far too heavy-handed when it comes to regulating online gambling – and because of this, we’ve seen a number of operators actually pull out of the Belgian market completely.

Unfortunately, this has led to a number of Belgian customers heading to illegal/unregulated online gambling websites, and it’s a pretty big risk playing at these sites as you’re not guaranteed to receive any winnings – and the casino may be operating/using pirated or fake games.

Read our full review here >>>

Curaçao Harbour
It’s chill-lax time in
Curaçao

Curacao

Curacao is the biggest online gambling regulator in terms of licenses handed out – which may come as a surprise when you look at the size of Curacao on a map. (And, be honest; could you even find Curacao on a map?) The reality is, Curacao is basically a tax-haven for companies – and the reason why so many online gambling companies choose to base themselves in Curacao is down to the fact that the barrier to entry for getting an online gambling license is very low.

Aside from this, Curacao licenses can be very cheap – starting from as little as $5,000. There are four master license holders who are appointed by the ‘government’ – and these master license holders are then legally able to sub-license casinos. It’s a bit of a mess, and unfortunately, almost all of the world’s shady online casinos are indeed based or licensed in/by Curacao.

Read our full review here >>>

Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission

The Gambling Supervision Commission (Isle of Man) is in control of all betting activities on the Isle of Man, and the Commission, which was established in 1962, is generally considered as one of the world’s top and most respected regulators. The Gambling Supervision Commission, like the Gibraltar Licensing Authority, offers extended licensing periods and low tax rates, making it an appealing area for operators to set up shop.

Regulating some of the world’s biggest online casinos, the Isle of Man’s Gambling Supervision Commission regulated land-based gambling too, and they have a solid reputation in the gambling world; they’re widely considered to be one of the most proactive and fair online gambling jurisdictions around.

Read our full review here >>>

Gibraltar Licensing Authority

Gibraltar Licensing Authority: Gibraltar Licensing Authority: Gibraltar License The Gibraltar Licensing Authority, one of the largest online gaming regulators, is situated in Gibraltar… a region noted for luring online gambling firms owing to low tax rates. However, don’t let this make you think that getting an online gambling license from them is an easy feat; in fact, many companies regard this as being one of the hardest online gambling licenses to get.

Many of the world’s biggest online betting sites like Bet365 and Ladbroke hold online gambling licenses from the GLA, and they’re one of the leading figureheads in the online gambling industry, unafraid to take harsh action on licensees who are found to have breached the terms and conditions of their license.

Read our full review here >>>

AAMS

The Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS) is the regulatory body in charge of regulating online gambling in Italy. While permits authorized by the AAMS only enable companies to offer online services to Italian citizens, the license conditions are stringent, ensuring that players are playing in a safe, fair, and secure environment. 

Unfortunately, the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato hasn’t done an excellent job in regulating the Italian market – and when compared to other iGaming regulators, the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato is a fairly unknown name. Because of this, many players choose to NOT play at sites licensed by the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato, instead choosing to head to MGA or Curacao-licensed online casinos instead.

Read our full review here >>>

Danish Gambling Authority

The Danish Gambling Authority was established in 2012 when Danske Spil, a state-owned monopoly that was the only company permitted to accept gambling bets, lost its monopoly. Companies that get a permit from the Danish Gambling Authority are really only permitted to provide betting services to Danish people, and the Authority’s 20% taxation rate has caused many businesses to opt out of obtaining a license. 

What’s more, there’s been some serious issued with how the regulator has approached regulation – and things like mandatory weekly deposit limits have turned many Danes into playing at unlicensed casinos located off-shore in an attempt to escape the heavy-handed regulations the DGA has imposed.

Read our full review here >>>

Kahnawake Gaming Commission

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a licensing agency situated in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Quebec. It’s one of the more well-known brands in the online gambling regulatory field, and it’s largely considered as one of the most respectable licensing authorities worldwide. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is noted for treating player complaints seriously (often examining individual instances), and it’s an attractive destination for any online gambling site thanks to inexpensive taxes and fees, resulting in high demand for its licenses. 

However, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission hasn’t lived without controversy – and it’s darkest day is undoubtedly the day when they were found to take little action against the scam poker site that was able to steal millions of dollars from players by using a ‘super player’. Read more about it in our review of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission below:

Read our full review here >>>

Malta Gaming Authority

The Malta Gaming Authority is one of the world’s largest gambling regulators, and almost all reputable online gambling companies that want to provide services to European players apply for a license from them, due to the reputable nature of licenses issued and the low tax rates. 

By numbers, the MGA is second only to Curacao in terms of the number of online casinos and casino games that it licenses – although unlike Curacao, the MGA is a highly-respected name in the online gambling world. They do issue licenses relatively easily, but they regularly check up on their licensees to ensure that they’re adhering to the terms and conditions of their license – and they make sure that all online gambling sites licensed by them are following Malta’s gambling laws.

Read our full review here >>>

Netherlands Gaming Authority

The Netherlands Gaming Authority is a fairly new iGaming regulator – and they’re probably also one of the most unpopular, as they’ve made it a lot harder for players to access their favorite casino games from the Netherlands. Like some other online gaming regulators around the Netherlands Gaming Authority has introduced maximum deposit limits on a weekly basis – although you are able to request to increase this limit, at least.

While still relatively new, the Netherlands Gaming Authority is regarded to be a reputable iGaming regulator, even if they are considered to use overly heavy-handed approaches when it comes to regulation.

Read our full review here >>>

Spanish Gaming Commission

The National Gaming Commission of Spain (Comisión Nacional del Juego) is a body that regulates gambling in Spain. While the Spanish Gaming Commission was established in 2014 to deal with the newly regulated online gaming market in Spain, and while the Commission is known for enforcing strict license conditions on operators, Spanish players are still unable to play against or communicate with players from other European countries, as is the case in other European countries.

It’s no surprise that so many players from Spain are heading to other forms of online gaming; illegal sites have become common for Spanish players, which is a shame, as it often means these players end up getting ripped off and losing their money. 

Read our full review here >>>

UK Gambling Commission

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) was established in 2005, after the passage of the Gambling Act of 2005 by the UK government. The UKGC is widely considered as the world’s most prominent and respected regulator, imposing very severe operational standards on its licensees. The UK Gambling Commission is known for ensuring that players – and their finances – are kept secure at all times. 

A license from the Commission indicates that an operator has been thoroughly vetted, and you can rest assured that any site approved by the Commission is reliable and fair. However, the UKGC has come under fire in recent years for being too heavy-handed with regulation – and this has also had a knock-on effect on the land-based gambling industry in the UK as well.

Read our full review here >>>

Swedish Gambling Authority

The Swedish Gambling Authority is a relatively new online gaming regulator that’s responsible for regulating all forms of online gaming and land-based casinos. While they have some great initivites, the Swedish Gambling Authority has come under intense criticism for a number of reasons; for example, the Swedish Gambling Authority has now banned bonuses and promotions for players – and this has had a huge impact on the ability of online casinos to attract players to their site.

What’s more, the Swedish Gambling Authority was one of the first online gaming regulators to mandate a weekly deposit limit for players – and unlike in other countries, you cannot request an increase in this limit, leading some players to criticize the regulator quite heavily.

Read our full review here >>>

Nevada Gaming Control Board

The Nevada Gaming Control Board was established in 1955 by the state government to assist control the rapidly increasing casino sector that Las Vegas aided in the development of. The Gaming Control Board is highly respected and is often referred to as a ‘model’ for other regulators to follow – and in 2013, the Gaming Control Board was in charge of overseeing online poker in the state. While gambling services in the USA are evolving, the NGCB was one of the first in the country to start to oversee the regulation of online gambling – although they also regulate land-based gambling, too.

Read our full review here >>>

ARJEL (France)

In 2010, France’s parliament approved the regulation of internet gambling, resulting in the formation of the Autorite de regulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL). The ARJEL, which is in charge of giving gambling licenses to enterprises located in France, is regarded as a reputable regulator, but it has been chastised for imposing excessive taxes and fees, making it difficult for smaller businesses to enter the market. 

Read our full review here >>>

New Jersey Division of Gaming

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, sometimes known as the DGE, is the regulatory authority in charge of ensuring that gambling firms in New Jersey follow the conditions of their gaming licenses. The DGE, which was founded in the 1970s, now oversees internet gambling in the area, issuing licenses to casinos in Atlantic City that enable them to provide online gaming to state residents. While not one of the world’s biggest online gambling site regulators, the NJDG is a respected figurehead, and they get involved with helping local legislators form intelligent online gambling legislation. 

Read our full review here >>>

Jersey Gambling Commission

The Jersey Gambling Commission is a body that regulates the gambling industry in Jersey. The Jersey Gambling Commission is in control of authorizing business owners that want to operate on the Channel Island of Jersey – and while it isn’t one of the most well-known commissions in the world, it does offer operators attractive taxation rates, so it’s likely that more businesses will set up shop there in the future. 

While not as popular as some of the other online gaming regulators on this list like the UKGC or the MGS, the Jersey Gambling Commission isn’t the best-known in the world – but it’s fairly well-known within iGaming circles, and it’s a regulator that can definitely be trusted.

Read our full review here >>>

 

 

https://youtu.be/yzYc-d_S5rc

The Bottom Line

The weaker the license, the stronger the relationship between the player and the operator needs to be in the gaming community. Weak licenses and weak operator relationships equal potential rogue casino outfits.

In essence, casino licensing is an integral part of online gaming.

 

FAQS

Are Curacao sites safe?

This depends entirely on the online casino you’re choosing to play at; it’s definitely fair to say that Curacao doesn’t have a very good reputation in the iGaming industry, and they’ve shown – time and time again – that they’re happy to turn a blind eye to those who’re found to be running clip-shot joints; some of their licensees even openly run fake/pirated versions of casino games.

However, that’s not to say that all Curacao-licensed online casinos are bad; some are very reputable, including some here on the forums – but you should always do your own due diligence before playing at one to make sure that it’s a legit site.

Do online gaming regulators work with governments?

Yes; in fact, in the vast majority of cases it’s the government that establishes the iGaming regulator in the first place. The regulator is usually responsible for reporting to the government, and they tend to liaise closely with authorities to discuss the legal framework surrounding online gaming.

Should I play at a casino that doesn’t hold a valid iGaming license?

No; if you find online casinos that don’t hold a valid iGaming license you should avoid them like the plague. Not only are they like to be running fake or pirated versions of games – even if you are lucky enough to hit a nice win it’s very unlikely that you’ll actually end up getting paid out.

List of Jurisdictions Reviews at Casinomeister

7
Ours
0
Casinos
ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
9.8
Ours
11
Casinos
Alderney Gambling Control Commission
5
Ours
4
Casinos
Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS)
7
Ours
0
Casinos
Antigua Division of Gaming
The Antiga Division of Gaming is one of the world’s oldest eGaming regulators, with a good reputation for enforcing licensees’ compliance with their terms and conditions.
5.3
Ours
48
Casinos
Curaçao Master License 8048/JAZ (Antillephone N.V)
1
Ours
31
Casinos
Curaçao Master License 1668/JAZ : eGaming
6
Ours
28
Casinos
Curaçao Master License 365/JAZ
1
Ours
2
Casinos
Curaçao Master License 5536/JAZ
8.9
Ours
37
Casinos
Danish Gambling Authority
6.9
Ours
19
Casinos
Gibraltar
7
Ours
7
Casinos
iGaming Ontario
As of the 4th of April 2022, online gambling is legal in Ontario, Canada. While, in the past, many Ontarians played at online casinos located offshore, this was considered to be a grey area; it wasn’t illegal for players…
9.7
Ours
3
Casinos
Isle of Man
9
Ours
46
Casinos
Kahnawake
By far the most qualified, experienced, player focused, and transparent.
7.9
Ours
202
Casinos
Malta Gaming Authority
8
Ours
1
Casinos
Netherlands Gaming Authority
8
Ours
41
Casinos
Swedish Gambling Authority
8.5
Ours
142
Casinos
UKGC

 

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