There is no regulatory body for online gambling, meaning each country has its own rules and regulations. Here you can find the most sought after and prestigious licensing authorities for online gambling.
Curaçao eGaming Authority
The Dutch Antilles is host to the online gambling jurisdiction of Curacao. Offering only one type of license for all types of gambling operations, Curaçao eGaming is extremely popular for many operators looking to cover different types of business operations centred firmly inside the gambling industry.
One of the most respected gambling jurisdictions is the Gibraltar Licensing Authority. It has a reputation for strict regulation of online gambling operators and is white listed by the UK Gambling Commission. The Gambling Division of the Government of Gibraltar handles all licensing, while the Gambling Commissioner is responsible for all licensee’s adherence to regulatory conditions.
At only 48 km2, the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake in Quebec Canada is host to one of the worlds first gambling jurisdictions and the home of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission issue licenses to/and regulate businesses who wish to operate online betting and casino sites within the gambling jurisdiction of Kahnawake.
Despite it’s small land mass, one of the world’s biggest gambling jurisdictions can be found in the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta. The Malta Gaming Authority or the ‘MGA’ are the official licensing authority for the jurisdiction of Malta, and they are responsible for all licensing and regulations for companies wishing to operate from this jurisdiction.
Located in central America, Panama has a rich history of terrestrial gambling and in 2002 began the Panama Gaming Control Board. The Panama jurisdictional license allows for wagering in Canadian dollars and they are signed up to the TIEA agreement with Canada so all financial transaction are monitored for financial crime prevention.
The UK Gambling Commission regulates all online and land based gambling establishments that offer services to UK based players. They are also responsible for the National Lottery and have a crucial role to play in the protection of all UK players from the potential dangers of gambling.
Online Gambling Jurisdictions and Licensing Authorities Explained… Who? What? Where?
There are certain areas in the world that allow for the enforcement of special legislation related to companies that run online casino and gambling sites, even for those companies responsible for the provision of services to the gambling industry as a whole such as casino software developers and suppliers. These special areas around the world are known as gambling jurisdictions, and the official bodies who regulate all the gambling related activities within them are called licensing authorities. Here are some examples of gambling jurisdictions and the licensing authorities that operate from each.
For any online gambling establishment or service provider to be able to provide a service legally to consumers, they must hold a license that is issued by the appropriate licensing authority for the jurisdiction or jurisdictions they wish to operate in. As a requirement of obtaining a license, the company must also operate part of its business from the same jurisdiction that they want to be licensed in. The individual laws and regulations set by each of the different jurisdictions can vary depending on a regions particular requirements.
Alistair is a journalism graduate from London in the U.K and also our junior researcher and copywriter. When he’s not working in the office on all sorts of projects, Alistair loves to play online poker and one day (when he’s a millionaire!) he hopes to publish a book about poker tips and how to profit from playing online poker.
Alistair Edwards
Alistair is a journalism graduate from London in the U.K and also our junior researcher and copywriter. When he’s not working in the office on all sorts of projects, Alistair loves to play online poker and one day (when he’s a millionaire!) he hopes to publish a book about poker tips and how to profit from playing online poker.