A casino licence answers one question before you deposit: if something goes wrong, who is behind this operator, and can you do anything about it? But not all licences are equal. This hub explains the regulators you will actually see in casino footers — from the EU-grade Malta Gaming Authority to light-touch offshore licences — what each one allows, how complaints work, how player money is protected, and which countries a casino is allowed to serve.
Last reviewed June 2026. General information, not legal advice — always confirm a licence on its official register and check your own country’s rules.
Licence comparison at a glance
| Licence | Where | Tier | Player-fund & fairness rules | Complaints route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta (MGA) | Malta, EU | Strongest | Mandatory fund segregation; independent game testing | Operator → binding ADR + MGA Player Support Unit |
| Kahnawake (KGC) | Mohawk Territory, Canada | Established | AML, data security, fair-gaming standards | Operator → KGC investigates |
| Curaçao (CGA/LOK) | Curaçao | Reforming | Tightening under 2024 law; direct supervision | Operator → CGA (strict-liability enforcement) |
| Anjouan | Comoros | Light-touch | AML/CFT + responsible-gaming on paper; thin enforcement | Operator → ABGB/AOFA (recognition disputed) |
| Liberia (NLA) | Liberia | New | AML officer + banking required; unproven record | Operator → NLA (untested) |
Read the full licence guide
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
EU framework with segregated player funds, tested games, and a binding complaints route. The benchmark other licences are measured against.
Kahnawake (KGC)
Operating from a Mohawk territory in Canada since 1996. Real AML, fairness and dispute standards under one Client Provider Authorization.
Curaçao (CGA / LOK)
The old master-licence era is over. A new authority now licenses directly — better oversight, but verify the green seal brand by brand.
Anjouan (Comoros)
Cheap, fast, and common on crypto casinos. A genuine licence, but low-information and disputed in recognition — verify everything else.
Liberia (NLA)
The newest offshore licence, covering casino, sports, lottery, esports and prediction markets. Promising, but with no track record yet.
Restricted countries explained
Why an offshore licence does not mean a casino can legally accept you — and how to tell if it is allowed to.
National and local licences
Above the offshore licences sit national regulators. In these markets, an offshore licence is not enough — a casino needs the local licence, and that is where your strongest protections and complaint routes live.
United Kingdom — UKGC
The UK Gambling Commission runs one of the strictest regimes worldwide. Offshore operators may not serve UK players.
Ontario, Canada — iGaming Ontario / AGCO
Canada’s regulated online market. See our Canada legality guide.
Germany — GGL
A national regime since 2021 with strict deposit and stake limits.
France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands
Each runs its own licence (ANJ, ADM, DGOJ, KSA). Offshore licences do not cover these markets.
What every good licence should give you
| Protection | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Segregation of funds | Player balances kept separate from operating money, so the business cannot spend your deposits. |
| Independent game testing | RNG and return-to-player figures verified by approved labs, not the casino’s word. |
| A complaints route that ends | An escalation path beyond the operator — ideally to a body that can make a binding decision. |
| AML / KYC | Identity and source-of-funds checks that also protect honest players from fraud. |
| Responsible-gambling tools | Deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion, required as standard. |
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