Gambling Licenses

Every site we recommend must hold a license. A license is our first port of call when researching a betting site and should be yours too. A license informs users about who is regulating the operator, what rules they have to adhere to, and where complaints can be made if necessary. In this guide, we will look at the licensing system, the most common regulating authorities, and how to check a license within a short amount of time.

What a License Means for You

A license means that a specific company has been checked by a regulator and has agreed to comply with its regulations. A licensed operator should:

• Check the age and identity of players before paying out winnings
• Use encryption to protect personal and payment data
• Use approved games and settle bets according to published rules
• Provide tools for responsible gambling such as self-exclusion and deposit limits
• Be accountable to a regulator that can impose fines, suspend or revoke its license

A license does not imply fair bonus conditions or fast payouts. A license also does not imply that online gambling is permitted in your jurisdiction. An offshore license relates only to the operator and not the jurisdiction you are based in. Please ensure you are aware of the laws in your jurisdiction prior to registration.

Licensing Authorities You Will See Most Often

Regulators differ in how strict they are and how much help they give players. These are the ones we meet most often during reviews.

How We Verify a License Before Reviewing a Site

We only rate a site once we have confirmed its license. Every site is assessed using the same 5-step process:

1. Record the company name and license number from the terms and at the bottom of the site
2. Search both these values on the regulator website (not some other website)
3. Confirm the license is active and the company name corresponds to the terms
4. Check the license covers the domain (if domains are listed on the register)
5. Check for any enforcement notices, fines, or warnings against the company

If any of these steps are not completed, the site will not be rated. Licenses are also rechecked at any review update, as licenses from 12 months ago may have expired or been suspended.

How to Check a License Yourself

You can also perform the same test prior to making your first deposit:

1. Locate the footer and view the operator’s license number, registered address and company name. A licensed site should display all three.
2. Click the regulator logo. If the license is genuine, the logo will take you to a verification page on the regulator’s website. If the logo simply reloads the betting site or is a static image, this is a cause for concern.
3. Type the regulator’s website address manually, open its public register and look up the license number or company name.
4. Check that the company name, license status and, if listed, the website address match.
5. Visit the regulator’s warnings or enforcement page and look up the operator’s name.

Red Flags of a Fake or Weak License

• License number or company name completely missing from website
• Number that does not appear on the regulator database or is held by a different company
• Expired, canceled, surrendered, or suspended license
• Regulator logo that links to no page
• License information only available by chat on request or via payment
• Website held by a company other than the one linked to the license

Regulators are known to issue alerts for websites using copies of their licenses or logos that were never granted. Use a logo as an indicator to investigate rather than evidence.

What to Do If a Licensed Operator Treats You Unfairly

1. Contact the company in writing and store all communication such as email, transaction numbers and chat logs.
2. File a complaint and wait for the time period set out in the terms for a response.
3. If this fails, contact the dispute service as stated in the terms or the regulator. The KGC takes complaints via email.
4. Inform us of the complaint. Unaddressed complaints are recorded in our reviews. Operators that do not handle customers effectively are awarded fewer points.

FAQ