A licence is the single most important thing to check. Here’s how to verify one and what it does — and doesn’t — protect.
How to check a licence
- Find the regulator name and licence number, usually in the site footer.
- Verify it on the regulator’s own website, not just the casino’s — legitimate licences appear in the regulator’s public register.
- Confirm the licence covers your country. A licence in one jurisdiction doesn’t make a site legal or safe in another.
What a licence protects
A meaningful regulator typically requires segregated player funds, fair/ tested games, identity checks, complaint routes and responsible-gambling tools. It’s not a guarantee of good service, but its absence removes your main protections.
Red flags
- No named regulator or an unverifiable licence number.
- Terms and bonus conditions that are hidden or vague (see bonuses).
- No deposit limits, self-exclusion or other responsible-gambling tools.
- Pressure tactics, or reviews that only ever praise.
This site publishes operator-specific guidance only for markets where doing so is legal, and only after checking licensing. Always confirm what’s lawful and licensed where you live.