Reference page · every claim linked to its source
Licensing and regulation
Online gambling is not regulated globally. It is regulated country by country, and the difference between a licensed and an unlicensed operator is the difference between having recourse and having none. This page explains how to check, not who to trust.
Licences are jurisdictional, not global
There is no worldwide gambling licence. A site can be fully licensed in one country and operating illegally in the country next door, and it may still accept your registration either way. The only question that matters is whether it is licensed to serve players where you are.
The two licences people confuse
- B2B supply licence — held by the studio that builds the game. It covers the maths, the random number generator and the supply of that game to platforms.
- B2C operating licence — held by the platform that takes your deposit. It covers customer funds, marketing, complaints and responsible gambling duties.
Every studio in the provider index lists the licences it declares. None of that transfers to the operator showing you the game.
How to verify a licence in ninety seconds
- Find the licence number in the site footer. Regulated operators are required to display it.
- Open the regulator's own public register, linked below. Do not use a third-party directory.
- Search the number or the company name and confirm the status reads as active.
- Check the trading name on the register matches the brand you are actually looking at.
- If the number does not resolve, or the status is anything other than active, treat that as the answer.
What a licence buys you
In a well-regulated market, an operating licence usually carries obligations around segregated player funds, independently tested game fairness, mandatory self-exclusion and deposit limit tools, an approved alternative dispute resolution route for complaints, and a regulator empowered to impose penalties or withdraw the licence. Those protections are the actual product of regulation. Outside it, a dispute is between you and a company that may be incorporated somewhere you will never reach.
Informational, not legal advice
This page describes how licensing regimes generally work and links to the regulators themselves. It is not legal advice and it cannot tell you what is lawful where you live. Rules change frequently. For a decision that matters, check your national regulator directly or speak to a qualified lawyer.
Check it yourself
The registers below are maintained by the regulators, updated continuously, and are the authoritative record. Any directory that sits between you and them, including this one, is a secondary source.
Official sources
- UK Gambling CommissionStatutory regulator for gambling in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005.
- UKGC public registerSearchable register of licensed operators, individuals and regulatory action.
- Malta Gaming AuthorityRegulator for gaming licensed from Malta under the Gaming Act, Cap. 583.
- MGA licensee registerSearch MGA authorisations by company name, status, URL or gaming service.
Frequently asked questions
Is online gambling legal?
It depends entirely on where you are. Online gambling is licensed jurisdiction by jurisdiction: Great Britain licenses through the Gambling Commission, Malta through the Malta Gaming Authority, and many countries either prohibit it or have no framework at all. There is no global answer, and anyone giving you one is guessing.
How do I check whether an operator is really licensed?
Do not trust the logo in the footer. Take the licence number the site displays and search it in the regulator's own public register. The UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority both publish searchable registers, linked below, and both show current status including suspensions.
Is a provider licence the same as an operator licence?
No. A developer holds a B2B supply licence for building and supplying games. The operator holds a B2C licence for offering them to the public and handling player money. A game built by a licensed studio can appear on a completely unlicensed site.
What does a licence actually get me as a player?
In regulated markets it typically means segregated player funds, independently tested games, mandatory responsible gambling tools, an approved complaints route through alternative dispute resolution, and a regulator with the power to fine or revoke. Without a licence, none of that is guaranteed.