If you’ve spent any amount of time playing at online casinos you’ll have heard of gambling industry licencing. You probably also know gambling licensing is important, though may not understand exactly why. Let’s take a closer look now, learn more about licensed operators, and get a better understanding of why regulations are so important.
First and foremost; online casinos must be run by a licensed operator in order to be legal. A site will generally provide its licensing information in the footer of the homepage, indicating which authority granted certification. The license will come from Costa Rica, Curacao, the Isle Of Man, Kahnawake, or Malta. It may seem strange, but these licenses covers all the regions of the world.
If you are at a site and can’t find proof of licensing be sure to contact customer support for the information. You don’t, under any circumstances, want to play at an unlicensed site. Let’s find out why.
Why Do Operators Need A License?
The gambling industry is broad and complicated, involving many intricate parts. For example, who is to say that the casino game you’re playing is fair? An operator with a license is bound by law to provide fair games, lest the organisation be shut down by authorities. In this case fair means games that are run according to a strict set of guidelines.
Once granted a license the organisation will also be regularly audited. Auditing confirms that every part of the casino is still running according to rules and regulations. Again, if anything is found to be irregular the operator will face legal consequences, or even potentially get shut down. Hence every licensed online casino, and every game at the site, including lottery games, scratch cards, and live casino online entertainment, is regulated by an authority.
Unlicensed Casino Problems
If an online casino isn’t licensed, it isn’t being regulated. The problems with this should speak for themselves, but let’s go into detail. An operator not bound by law, although seeming perfectly adequate on the surface, may do exactly as it pleases. This means that jackpots may not be paid out, withdrawals may be withheld for no reason, and games may not be operating fairly.
Thankfully, illegal online casinos normally don’t last for very long. Authorities in the country of operation normally shut the sites down quickly. But make no mistake, illegal casino do still exist, and should be avoided.
Always Stick Within The Law
Casino licenses, and by extension gambling regulations, are in place for very good reason. Governments go to great lengths to ensure that gambling is kept fair, and that gamblers aren’t taken advantage of. It is in your best interest to stick to regulated gambling activities, especially when it comes to the online world. Not to worry; there are many legal online casino options. Better still, legal operators offer impressive promotions and outstanding loyalty programs. In most cases legal sites offer better promotions, and far better service, than can be found at an illegal alternative.
