Gambling Licenses
Online casinos have proven to be immensely popular and lucrative, providing players with authentic gambling experiences as well as creating large profits for their owners. With the fast expansion of online gambling, corruption of online casinos became a major concern for both players and casino owners. Following the proliferation of criminal activity in online casinos, the gambling community sought a way to standardise and regulate online gaming.
A number of online gambling licensing organisations were set up to tackle the problem, and online gambling licences are now issued by a number of governments worldwide.
Despite that fact that obtaining a gambling licence is a complex process involving research and certification, most internet casino businesses possess an online gambling licence. Online gambling licences ensure the legitimacy of an online casino business, as they involve regular assessments of the company’s conduct. All legal online gambling businesses possess an online gambling licence in at least one jurisdiction.
The most recognised jurisdictions that issue gambling licences are Caribbean and Pacific Island Governments such as Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, St Kitts, Dominica, Curacao and Vanuatu.
FFShrine can provide you with gambling license from the following jurisdictions:
Gibraltar — Situated at the southernmost tip of Europe, Gibraltar licences twenty operators under the Gambling Ordinance.
Isle of Man — This is a model country for online gambling due to the legislative framework set by the Electronic Transactions Act of 2000 and the Online Gambling Regulation Act of 2001, which legalised e-gaming operations in the country. The Isle of Man is acknowledged as one of the most reputable white-label jurisdictions, offering the best infrastructure and services for online gambling.
Malta — Following the Public Lotto Ordinance Act in 2000, Malta delivers remote gambling services for online gambling.
Alderney — The Alderney Gambling Commission (AGC) voted in 2005 to allow a “free market approach towards e-gambling”, thus enabling the jurisdiction’s licensees to accept bets from players in all other countries, including the United States.
Kahnawake — The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), created in 1996, licences remote gambling in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, Canada.
Netherlands Antilles — In 2002 Curacao Gaming Control board made online gambling a central industry for the island of Curacao, thus expanding the island’s licensing capabilities.
Antigua and Barbuda — The Financial Services Regulatory Commission’s (FSRC) Division of Gaming certifies two types of licences: interactive gaming (i.e. casino and poker) and interactive wagering (i.e. sports betting).
Cyprus — The Cypriot government licenses online lotteries, betting exchanges, casino gaming, and sports betting.
Panama — This jurisdiction has regulated online gambling licensing since 2002.
Ireland — Ireland has licensed online gambling since 2000.
Dominican Republic — In 2005 Dominican Republic have accepted certificates from Gaming Laboratories International.
Costa Rica — More than 300 gambling websites are registered in Costa Rica, making it one of the most popular gaming jurisdictions.
Australia — The jurisdiction was a pioneer in establishing a regulated internet betting environment and today regulates the provision and advertising of interactive gambling services at federal level through the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.
When choosing your jurisdiction, you should consider taxation and licensing costs as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the licensing laws and technical standards.
Advantages of having a Gambling Licence
Online gambling licensing is targeted primarily at improving the quality of online casino services delivery. By obtaining an online gambling licence, an online casino certifies that it adheres to the accepted standards of online casino conduct. Licensing ensures that there is no misconduct within an online gambling website, thus gaining the trust of players and therefore increasing the success of the website.
Obtaining your gambling licence frees you of any legal, reputational or bureaucratic barriers that might get in the way of you running your business. Here are three reasons why you should obtain a licence:
| USER TRUST. Reputation is integral to the success of an online casino business. Licensed online casinos appear more reliable, secure and legitimate to prospective players. |
| PAYMENT PROCEEDING. Most banks require a gambling licence when you set up an account for your business. You will not be able to receive payments from bank cards without a licence. |
| LEGAL ASPECT. It is illegal in most countries to conduct any gambling without a licence. This can result in business termination and legal convictions. |
High standards are required of an online casino business in order to gain a gambling licence. Failure to meet all requirements of a licence will prevent a gambling business from gaining one. This ensures that all gambling websites that obtain a licence are of the highest quality.
Online gambling licensing has had an unprecedented impact on the online gambling community. It has restored the positive image and reputation of online gambling and regained players’ trust and confidence. Moreover, the quality of the online gambling services delivered to players has grown enormously.