Online gambling license and laws are complex because almost every country in the world has its own legislation on this subject. Some states embrace online gambling, while others have strict laws and regulations and do anything in their power to ban it entirely.
Also, there is a situation where different jurisdictions within a single nation (like in the US). Have different approaches when it comes to online gambling and betting on sports.
In this article, we will try to break down this interesting subject to our readers. We will explain some of the most popular gambling licenses and regulators that can be found around the globe.
That way, you will be able to learn about those popular licensing bodies. And always know if the sportsbook of your choice is properly licensed and regulated.
Here is the list of the most popular gambling licenses in the sports betting world.
Alderney Gambling License
Alderney is a small island located between England and France (about 8 miles from the coast of France), which is a part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and the third-largest island of the Channel Islands.
This small island is home to one respected Gambling Control Commission, which was established back in 2000. This body issued licenses to some of the most famous and respected online sportsbooks and casinos.
Any gambling operator that has the Alderney Gambling License should be considered a safe and regulated place for customers to place wagers and play online casino games.
Getting the Alderney license isn’t an easy process, and it is quite expensive. Some of the popular gambling operators have it, for example, Paddy Power, bgo Casino, BetSafe, Grosvenor Casino, etc.
Overall, Alderney Gambling License isn’t considered to be a top-notch license among bettors but giving the fact that this licensing body is a member of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission whitelist, gives it a lot of credit in our eyes.
Although there are not many gambling operators with Alderney Gambling License, they are not chasing the customers. It isn’t easy to obtain this license as they ask applicants to prove that they are financially stable and technically operational to host gambling sites.
Curacao eGaming License
Curacao is a small island country located in the Caribbean Sea, near Venezuela. The country is famous for oil, tourism, and offshore international financial services. Curacao was the first country that produced legislation for online casinos and sportsbooks! As they set up and run the online gambling business since 1996.
Many gambling operators choose Curacao eGaming License as this license regulator charges low taxes… And the process to get the license is pretty straightforward.
Curacao is also attractive to gambling operators, as the country has simple gambling laws. And you only need one license for any type of gambling operation (online casino, sportsbook, or all-in-one website). Some popular operators hold Curacao license, such as 10Bet, BitStarz Casino, CampoBet, Casimba Casino, etc.
Unfortunately, Curacao eGaming License isn’t one of the best licenses at the moment, as they missed several times to react and get involved in disputes between players and gambling operators.
Bettors are well aware that Curacao eGaming License is easiest to get, and almost anybody who has money, and some kind of infrastructure can get this license.
In the past, there were situations that operators with this license suddenly disappeared, and many bettors lost their money. In our eyes, Curacao license is one of the less reliable licenses, and we always double-check operators with this license.
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
The Isle of Man is one of the most popular destinations for gambling operators around the globe. The Isle of Man is a small island located between Ireland and Great Britain. And since 2001 they managed to become one of the most respected licensing bodies in the world of online gambling.
The full name of this licensing body is Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, and they are one of the few licensing authorities whitelisted by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
Giving the fact that UKGC is the most respected licensing body in the world, this means that the Isle of Man GSC is highly valued. And operators with this license can offer their services to citizens of the United Kingdom.
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission is known to be strict, but fair. It isn’t an easy task to obtain the gambling license (unlike Curacao License, for example). Also, they are well known to be a licensing body that is approachable for both unsatisfied players and gambling operators.
Overall, the Isle of Man is one of the most underrated licensing bodies in the gambling world. They offer a quality service, and brands like 188bet, and Dafabet show that if you decide to place your money at any sportsbooks with this license, you will play at the safe and regulated place.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a jurisdiction located in Canada, and this licensing body was established back in 1996. They managed to get legal right from the Canadian government to issue gambling licenses in 1999. And since then, they are regulating online and land-based gaming operators.
At the moment, around 50 sportsbooks and online casinos have Kahnawake license, and this body is considered to be one of the better-licensing organizations.
They offer their customers several types of gambling licenses! (online casino, sportsbook, and poker room licenses), which is particularly useful for so-called all-in-one gambling sites.
Overall, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission guards the players against unfair treatment and will gladly help to resolve the dispute. They are maybe not the most popular licensing body in the betting world… But nevertheless, sportsbooks with Kahnawake Gaming Commission license should be considered regulated and fair.
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
Gibraltar is the country that lives from gambling. More than 10% of the total population of this country is employed in the gambling industry! And Gibraltar, in general, is the host of many gambling companies.
The Gibraltar license is maybe the hardest license to obtain in the gambling world, as their only interest is in mayor brands.
Any operator with Gibraltar gambling license is required to have substantial liquid funds at their disposal, to pay their customers winnings.
Overall, if you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy sportsbook… Then you should look for the sportsbook with the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority license!
The Malta Gaming Authority
Malta is one of the most popular destinations for gambling operators around the world for years now. They are operating since 2000, and since then, they issue over the 200 licenses to online casinos and sportsbooks. The interesting fact about Malta is that they were the first EU country that regulated online gambling, as they joined the European Union in 2004.
The Malta Gaming Authority is giving to the operators several different types of licenses, so no matter what kind of gambling services operator intends to offer, this regulator can issue a license.
In the end, The Malta Gaming Authority is the popular licensing body, but truth to be told, it is not complicated to obtain this license, and MGA isn’t a strict operator that takes special care about players.
If your favorite sportsbook has an MGA license, you should double-check the history of player complaints. As there were numerous cases in which companies licensed by MGA mistreated their customers.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission
Without any doubt, the UKGC license is the most reputable and popular license in the gambling world. In 2005, when the Gambling Act passed, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission was established. And in 2013 they took over the regulation of all betting and gambling responsibilities within the United Kingdom.
An interesting fact about this license is that UKGC doesn’t regulate the whole United Kingdom, as Northern Ireland has its own regulatory body, and Commonwealth nations are excluded as well.
Anybody who wants to offer any kind of betting or gambling activity to the UK citizens (online poker, sports betting, casino games, bingo, lottery)must acquire a license from this licensing body, and that isn’t an easy and cheap process.
The United Kingdom is one of the countries where the gambling laws are strictly regulated, and understandable, contrary to vague and puzzling laws in some other countries.
The UKGC can allow some brands to advertise their services to UK customers if they have some of the whitelisted licenses.
Those whitelisted gambling jurisdictions are EEA, Alderney Gambling License, Antiqua and Barbuda, Gibraltar, Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, and Tasmania.
These whitelisted jurisdictions have sufficient quality and reputation (by UKGC standards) to take wagers from customers in the United Kingdom.
Overall, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission is the most respected gambling commission in the betting world at the moment. And if your preferred sportsbook has the UKGC license. Then you should be aware that you are playing in a fair and safe environment.
FAQ
At the moment, there is no federal law against placing online wagers. So, online gambling is considered legal in the US. However, placing bets on a site located it the US is strictly regulated. But bettors from the US can place wagers through websites located offshore. It is important to choose the regulated and licenses sportsbook, as playing at sportsbooks who are not licenses can be very risky.
Online betting is considered safe if you take certain safety measures. It is essential to choose a reputable sportsbook, and always to play at licensed and regulated operators.
There is no universal answer to this question. Every bettor has his preferences regarding sportsbooks. Still, in general, it is important to register at a licensed and trusted sportsbook that offers a wide range of sports and has good bonuses and a wide range of payment methods. At our portal, you can find a list of best sportsbooks for US players.