Trust verification
Verify a Casino Licence
A casino licence is meaningful only if you check it on the regulator's own register. Here is the 5-minute process for UKGC, MGA, Ontario AGCO and US state regulators.
- Find the licence number in the casino footer - every regulated operator displays it.
- Look it up on the regulator's official public register - never trust third-party "checker" sites.
- Confirm the status is "Active" and the brand name matches the registered trading names.
UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
The world's strictest gambling regulator. Active UKGC licence is the safety floor for UK residents.
Official register: gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register →
- 01
Find the casino's claimed licence number
Scroll to the casino footer. UKGC-licensed operators must display their account number - typically a 5-6 digit number like "Account 38905" - and the licensed entity name. If neither is shown, the casino is not UKGC licensed.
- 02
Open the UKGC public register
Navigate to gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register. This is the official register - bookmark it. Do not trust third-party "licence checker" sites.
- 03
Search by account number or company name
Enter the account number from step 1. The register returns the licensed company, all trading names operating under that licence, and the current licence status.
- 04
Verify status is "Active"
Look for the status field. "Active" means the licence is live. "Surrendered" or "Revoked" means the casino can no longer accept UK players - withdraw funds immediately if you see this.
- 05
Cross-check the trading name
The register lists every trading name associated with the licensed entity. The casino brand name you're checking should appear in that list. If it doesn't, the operator is misrepresenting its licence.
- 06
Check for open regulatory action
The register shows any open Regulatory Panel hearings, conditions on the licence, or recent enforcement actions. Recent fines or restrictions are public - search the operator name on the UKGC enforcement news page.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
Tier-1 European regulator covering most non-UK European online casinos. Player-fund segregation, independent dispute resolution and annual financial audit required.
Official register: authorisation.mga.org.mt/verification.aspx →
MGA licence numbers follow the format MGA/B2C/XXX/YYYY. Paste the full string into the verification form. The result shows licensee name, all approved URLs, licence type and current status. If the casino URL you're checking isn't in the approved URLs list, the operator is using the MGA brand without authorisation.
Ontario AGCO (iGaming Ontario)
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulates the only fully licensed online casino market in Canada. Operators must be registered with both AGCO and iGaming Ontario to legally serve Ontario players.
Official register: igamingontario.ca/en/about/registered-operators →
The page lists every registered operator. If a casino claims to serve Ontario players but isn't on this list, it's operating illegally in the province - your funds have no Ontario consumer protection.
US state regulators
Each US state with legal online casinos runs its own register. Operators must be licensed in every state they accept players from - a casino licensed in New Jersey cannot legally take Pennsylvania players without a separate Pennsylvania licence.
- New Jersey (NJ DGE): nj.gov/oag/ge/ →
- Pennsylvania (PA GCB): gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov →
- Michigan (MGCB): michigan.gov/mgcb →
- West Virginia (WV LCB): wvlottery.com →
- Connecticut (DCP): portal.ct.gov/dcp →
Red flags during verification
- No licence number in the footer. Most regulators require display. Absence means either unregulated or misrepresented licensing.
- Licence number returns "Surrendered" or "Revoked" on the register. Withdraw funds immediately. The casino has lost permission to operate.
- Brand name not in the licensee's trading names. The operator is using someone else's licence - common scam pattern for clone sites.
- Footer links to a "licence" PDF instead of the regulator's register. The PDF may be forged. Always verify on the regulator's own site.
- Open regulatory action (fines, restrictions, hearings). Not automatically disqualifying - but read the public order before depositing.