What is a casino license and why is it so important?
The online gaming laws in Australia are a bit strange, to say the least. It is legal for Australians to play at an online casino, as long as the casino is NOT licensed in Australia.
Now, there are online casinos that are licensed in Australia. However, as illogical as it may seem, Australian players are NOT allowed to play at any online casino that is licensed IN Australia. Are you still following us?
Luckily, in practice it is not as difficult as it seems: there are hundreds of licensed online casinos that operate outside of Australia, accept Australian players and also carry the AUD as a currency.
A license ensures the casino has met preset guidelines, offers casino games that are completely random and has the right policies in place to verify their player’s identity and keep their personal data safe and secure. Furthermore, they have to show that your payments are processed well and that their overall product is fair and balanced. Should you have any problems or questions, the casino has to be able to help you in a correct manner.
A Casino license is like a seal of approval from the country it has been issued in. The license confirms that the online casino has met their mininum standards and specific requirements.
These requirements can generally include things like a positive cash flow position, checks on ownership and proof that the used systems, personal data and games are safe and secure.
Anti money laundring measures, protection of vunerable players and customer verification are also key requirements of any casino license.
Before a license is approved, the casino has to undergo a long and extensive process which include background checks and thorough screening of the owners, an audit of all procedures and methods and extensive proof that all casino games are random and fair. Failure to comply to these audit will always result in a license application being denied or a current license being revoked.
Why is a casino license important?
Casino licenses are there to protect both the players and the countries where the operator is based. If there was no licensing process, anybody could open a casino and there would be no control over the way the casino would handle vital issues such as player and payment information, customer satisfaction, withdrawals and money laundring. The license in essence ensures the online casino and the people in charge have been checked out and can be trusted with your money and personal data.
As a player, do you need to be interested in the casino license?
In short: yes, you should. Whenever you sign up to an online casino you are giving them your personal details. You do not want wrong parties to gain access to your name, date of birth and address.
You also want to be 100% sure that your payment information is handled safe and secure in order to prevent abuse. Not only do you want to be sure that deposits are processed correctly, the same goes for withdrawals.
Furthermore, you need to be assured that whenever you have a complaint or issue with the casino, your complaint will be handled correctly.
You should ALWAYS check if the casino that you are signing up to has a license from a trusted country (United Kingdom, Malta, Gibraltar, Curacao). All casinos should display clearly on their site under which license they are operating. If you can’t find it on their site, contact the helpdesk and ask. If they can not or will not provide you with the desired information it is time to look for another casino.
A casino without a proper license is breaking the law and can not be trusted with your personal data and money.
What are the best casino licenses?
Licenses in regulated markets such as the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain demand casinos have a base in their country. These licenses are generally stricter than licenses in non regulated markets.
Licenses from Malta, Gibraltar and Curacao have a good reputation and are generally considered safe.
How do I find out which casino has which license?
An easy way is to read our casino reviews where we include all information the license(s) the reviewed casino operates under. All casinos we recommend are licensed in trustworthy countries. You can be sure your money and personal details are safe.