How to Verify a Gambling Licence and Spot Unlicensed Sites

Many gambling websites say they are licensed. A claim on a website is not evidence, and even a genuine licence does not make a service lawful in your country. This page sets out a simple method for checking a licence claim and recognising common warning signs. It is general information, not legal advice.

Step 1: find the exact claim

Look in the footer and terms for the licensing authority, the licence number and the name of the licensed company. If any of these is missing, treat the claim as unverified.

Step 2: go to the regulator, not the website

Open the licensing authority’s own website by typing its address yourself or searching for it, rather than following a link or badge on the gambling site. Many regulators publish a searchable register of licensees; for example, the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority both publish public registers.

Step 2b: match the details

The licensed company name matches the company named in the site terms.
The licence number matches.
The website address or brand is listed under that licence.
The licence is active, not suspended, expired or revoked.
The licence covers the type of activity (for example, online casino or sports betting).

Step 3: check the country question separately

A licence from one jurisdiction does not mean the service may lawfully offer gambling to people in another. In Australia, for example, offering some online gambling services such as online casinos to people in Australia is illegal for any provider, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) blocks offending sites. Check the law where you live.

Warning signs of unlicensed or fake operators

No operating company, registered address or contact details.
A licence badge with no number, or a badge that does not link to a regulator register entry.
Promises of guaranteed wins, very large bonuses or pressure to deposit quickly.
Payments requested to a personal bank account, e-wallet or cryptocurrency address of an agent.
Withdrawals delayed, new fees added, or accounts frozen after a win.
The site keeps changing address or uses many near-identical domains.

What a register entry usually shows

Entries differ between regulators, but a useful register page normally shows the licence holder’s legal name, the licence number, the licence type, the date it was issued and its current status, and often the brands or websites covered. If a register shows the licence holder but not your website, ask the operator how the two are connected. If you cannot find the operator at all, treat the claim as unverified.

Other checks that help but are not proof

Secure connection (https): a padlock only shows that the connection is encrypted. Scam sites can have one too.
Domain details: a very new domain or one that has changed owner often is a warning sign, although a long history is not proof of good behaviour.
Independent complaints: search the operator’s name with words such as “complaint”, “unpaid” or “scam”, and read dates and details rather than counting stars.
Dispute route: a genuine licensed operator normally names a regulator or an independent dispute service you can contact.

If the licence cannot be verified

If you cannot verify a licence, assume you would have no regulator to complain to, no protection for your balance and no recourse if a withdrawal is refused. Do not deposit more than you can afford to lose, and keep your identity documents private.

A worked example

Imagine a site that states in its footer: “Licensed by an overseas authority, licence number 12345, operated by Example Entertainment Ltd.” First, search for the authority’s own website and find its register. Second, search the register for “Example Entertainment Ltd” and for the number 12345. Third, check that the status is active and that the website address or brand you are using is listed. If the register has no matching entry, or the company name differs, the claim is unverified. Finally, ask whether the licence would even allow the site to serve people in your country. This example is invented to show the method; it is not a real operator.

Keep a record of your checks

When you verify a licence, save a screenshot of the register entry with the date, the licence number and the company name, and keep a copy of the site’s terms at the time you registered. If a dispute arises, these records help you and any regulator or bank to understand what was promised and what was licensed.

What we do on this site

We do not state that any operator or brand is licensed, unlicensed, legal or illegal unless we have verified it against an official source. Where we cannot verify, we say so.

Note: This page is general information, not legal advice, an offer or a recommendation to gamble. Online gambling is for adults only; check that it is legal where you live.