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| Image Credit: Clari Massimiliano/Shutterstock |
A casino licence shows that a regulator authorised an operator to offer casino games, but it only protects you if the licence is real, covers your country and appears on the regulator’s own register. In France, online casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack are banned, so no foreign licence makes a casino site legal for French players.
Updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Gambling rules change, so confirm them on your national regulator’s website.
Table of contents
What does an online casino licence prove?
A licence proves that a regulator reviewed the operator and gave it permission to offer gambling under that regulator’s rules. It can also give you a complaint route and a body that can fine or suspend the operator.
It does not prove that the licence covers your country, that the site you are on belongs to the licensed company, or that withdrawals are quick. Those three points are what the checks below cover.
Are online casinos legal where you live?
It depends on the country. Some countries issue local licences, some run a state monopoly, and some ban online casino games. A foreign licence does not override local law.
| Country or region | Regulator | Online casino games | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) | Banned. Licences cover only sports betting, horse-race betting and poker. | ANJ lists of authorised and blocked sites |
| Belgium | Commission des jeux de hasard / Gaming Commission | Legal only with a Belgian A+ licence, which only holders of a land-based casino licence can obtain. | Gaming Commission licence list and blacklist |
| Switzerland | Federal Gaming Board (ESBK/CFMJ) and Gespa | Legal only through licensed Swiss land-based casinos. Foreign sites are blocked. Lotteries and sports betting are run by Swisslos and Loterie Romande. | ESBK and Gespa lists of authorised and blocked sites |
| Québec (Canada) | Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) | Espacejeux, run by Loto-Québec, is the only provincially authorised site. Offshore sites accept Québec players without a Québec authorisation. | Loto-Québec and RACJ |
| Ontario (Canada) | iGaming Ontario and the AGCO | Legal with an Ontario-registered operator. | iGaming Ontario operator list |
| United Kingdom | UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) | Legal with a UKGC licence. | UKGC public register |
French authorities state that a foreign licence, a site in French or technical access from France does not count as French approval. Belgian and Swiss regulators publish their own blocklists for the same reason.
Which online casino licences carry weight?
No single licence is safe in every country. The UKGC and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) are the best-known international licences, and Curaçao changed its system in 2024. A licence from your own country’s regulator matters more than any of them.
| Licence | Issued by | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| UK Gambling Commission | UKGC, Great Britain | Since 31 October 2025, licensees must prompt customers to set a limit before the first deposit and must label customer funds as not protected, medium protection or high protection. |
| Malta Gaming Authority | MGA, Malta | Widely used by operators serving Europe. An MGA licence is not valid in countries that require their own licence, such as France or Belgium. |
| Curaçao | Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) | The National Ordinance on Games of Chance took effect on 24 December 2024. It ended the master and sub-licence system, and operators now apply to the CGA directly. Check the licence status, because provisional licences were issued during the changeover. |
| National regulators | ANJ, Belgian Gaming Commission, ESBK, RACJ and others | These decide what is legal for residents of their country, whatever licence a site displays. |
How do you check an online casino licence?
Match the licence number in the site’s footer against the regulator’s own register. Six steps cover it:
- Note the operator’s legal company name, licence number and licensing body from the site footer.
- Type the regulator’s web address yourself, for example gamblingcommission.gov.uk or mga.org.mt, instead of clicking the badge on the casino site.
- Search the register for that number and confirm four details: company name, licence number, status (active, not suspended) and licence type (consumer-facing casino, not a software supplier).
- Compare the casino’s web address with the domains listed on the register, where the regulator publishes them. Clone sites copy the branding of licensed operators.
- Check your country’s authorised and blocked lists using the table above. If your country bans online casinos, stop here.
- Read the withdrawal, identity-check and bonus terms before depositing. If you play, start with a small amount and request a withdrawal early to see how the process works.
For a general checklist on payments, support and complaints, see Casino.org’s guide to choosing a safe and legitimate online casino.
Do SSL, seals and certificates prove a casino is safe?
No. The padlock in your browser only shows that your connection is encrypted. Scammers can install an SSL certificate in minutes, so it says nothing about the operator.
| Signal | What it proves | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Licence number on the regulator’s register | The operator holds that licence, with the status shown | That the licence covers your country |
| Padlock / HTTPS | Your connection to the site is encrypted | That the operator is licensed or pays out |
| Licence badge in the footer | Nothing until matched to a register entry | Anything, since images can be copied |
| RNG test certificate (eCOGRA, iTech Labs, BMM Testlabs, GLI) | A lab tested the game software | That the certificate is current or covers every game. Confirm on the lab’s own site. |
| Player reviews | Individual experiences | A fair sample, since reviews can be paid for or fake |
How is your money protected at an online casino?
It depends on the regulator. Under UKGC rules, operators must tell customers whether funds are not protected, have medium protection or have high protection if the company becomes insolvent. Operators with unprotected funds must repeat that warning every six months.
Under most other regimes you rely on the terms and conditions. Look for a statement that player money is held separately from company money, and treat a missing statement as a warning sign.
What does RTP mean?
RTP (return to player) is the share of all money wagered that a game pays back on average over a very large number of rounds. A 96% RTP means the casino keeps about €4 of every €100 staked in the long run.
It does not describe a single session. In one evening you can lose everything on a 97% game or win big on a 92% game. RTP also says nothing about whether the operator pays withdrawals.
Which red flags mean you should stop?
- The site asks for card details, ID or passwords by email or chat.
- No company name, licence number or registered address in the footer.
- The licence number is missing from the register, or belongs to a different company or domain.
- The domain looks like a licensed brand with a changed spelling or extension.
- Withdrawal fees, new identity demands after you win, or bonus terms that appear only after you deposit.
- Payment only in cryptocurrency, with no other option.
- Support that exists only on messaging apps and never answers in writing.
What can you do if a casino does not pay?
Complain in writing to the operator first and keep every message. If that fails, use the route that fits the licence:
- UK licensees must give access to an approved alternative dispute resolution provider, then you can contact the UKGC.
- Licensed operators in France, Belgium, Switzerland or Québec answer to ANJ, the Gaming Commission, ESBK or Gespa, and RACJ respectively.
- Offshore operators leave you few options. Ask your card issuer about dispute rights, since outcomes vary.
How do limits and self-exclusion work?
Set a deposit limit before your first deposit and keep gambling money separate from everyday money. If gambling stops being fun, use the exclusion system in your country, such as GamStop in the UK, EPIS in Belgium or the interdiction volontaire de jeux managed by ANJ in France. Contact a national helpline if you need support.