The jurisdictions of online casinos

Highly valued by British operators, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) follows a strict set of rules, and does not allow every operator to obtain a licence. The commission was founded in May 2000 under their gambling law that was published the year before, in 1999. The regulator follows a strict set of requirements for the operators. For example each licensee must prove fair operation and the use of approved software. They are also frequently checked by the commission. These inspections are followed by technical tests with audits of the casino and the random number generators. The security of the websites, as well as the transaction procedures are also closely monitored. 

The British overseas territory of Gibraltar is a part of the United Kingdom and the European Union, but it is financially independent from the United Kingdom. The Gaming Commission has been issuing licences since 1998, which means that the licensing authority has had long-standing experience in the field of online gambling. The operator is closely monitoring the feasibility of the operators, their business plan, and they verify the bank accounts before they decide to allocate a licence. This jurisdiction is among the most reliable in the whole industry. Online casino operators like Gibraltar, as it only imposes a tax of 1% of their revenue, and VAT does not apply to Gibraltar.

The small archipelago in the British territory of the Irish Sea is the Isle of Man, and they have remained independent from the United Kingdom in terms of defence and foreign relations. They also have an autonomous government. The state has become one of the first to legalise online gaming when it was introduced in the legislation in 2001, and developed this industry with strong player protection regulations. Each operator must apply with the gambling supervision commission, who will then determine whether the operator is eligible for a licence that costs £35,000 annual licence fee, as well as 1.5% tax on revenues. The company will also have to give information about all their employees and company structure, including teams dedicated to marketing, administrative services and customer support.

The United Kingdom is one of the most stringent and strictest jurisdictions in the area of online gambling. The regulator, the Gaming Commission, is internationally renowned and issues the licences only to serious and reliable operators, after they have conducted thorough investigations to determine if the particular company also has sufficient finances to pay the high taxes. Any dispute is taken very seriously, and follows a strict procedure. Unfortunately, the high taxation on gaming revenue currently stands at 15%, and it does not attract many companies to obtain this license.

The Scandinavian country of Sweden is located in northern Europe. The birthplace of the world's most famous furniture brand, online casinos must be in possession of a license from the 1st of January, 2019, if they want to present their services to players in Sweden. The Swedish gambling authority Spelinspektionen ensures that players are treated fairly, that the conduct of operators are transparent and of a high standard of player protection. The aim of the regulator is to prevent illegal gambling and lotteries. The licensor also has very strict regulations for the operators, especially regarding the promotion of online gambling. For example, conditions for bonuses must be communicated very clearly and must only be a click away from the offer. The regulatory authority issues licenses to companies and reviews them regularly.

The island of Malta is situated in the Mediterranean, and the Malta Gaming Authority acts on the Lotteries and Other Games act of 2001 which aims to regulate the various sectors of online gambling in order to ensure fair and transparent games, and to prevent the risk of cyber crime, corruption and money laundering. In order to obtain a licence, the operators have to prove that their software has been tested and complies with the current regulations. The operators will also have to pay an application fee of €2,330, as well as €8,500 yearly for the licence, and €1,500 for renewing it. Unfortunately, when faced with complaints, the Maltese authorities are currently disappointing some players in cases of disputes, as they prefer not to intervene.

The Caribbean island Antigua was the first one to issue remote gaming licences in 1994. They have a lot of experience in the field of online gaming. In order to obtain a licence, the operator has to fulfil various conditions. They first must pay a non-refundable deposit of $10,000, and pay a yearly licence fee of $75,000. The company will also have to ensure that the games are fair, and the random number generator is therefore checked regularly. The company will also have to ensure not to allow minors to play, and they have to monitor users regarding their deposits and withdrawals.

The Caribbean island Curaçao  in the Netherlands Antilles is one of the oldest jurisdictions that issues remote gaming licences. To obtain a licence, the operators have to respect the laws and principles established by the Curaçao Internet Gaming Association. They are responsible to ensure not to let minors play casino games, and not to offer illegal games. A deposit of 60,000 ANG is required, as well as 10,000 ANG per month for the first two years. However, players cannot count on a lot of support, as the regulatory body does not want to get involved in disputes.

The Indian reserve community in southern Quebec started operating the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in the year 1996. They introduced their own online gambling regulation in 1999, and issue licenses to operators that are valid for two years. In order to get a license the applicant must agree to comply with frequent checks and various tests to ensure fair gaming. Additionally, the company also has to pay $20,000 for the license and $10,000 for the renewal. The regulatory authority of Kahnawake also acts as a mediator in case of disagreements or conflicts between the players and operators.

The small Central American country of Costa Rica has no specific legislation surrounding the industry of online gambling. The government simply considers this type of commercial activity as a standard type of business. As a result, operators are not subject to any regulations or special monitoring. This means that companies are effectively self regulated. They pay the government a licence fee of $5,000 and renewal fee each year, as well as $500 in administrative costs.

Like some other states in Central America, Belize also issues licences for online gambling. Unlike a Costa Rica, they have a regulatory body called the Belize Computer Licensing Board. However, in order to obtain a licence the operators will only have to pay a fee of $15,000 and a commission of around 5% up to $20 for every transaction made by a player, as well as a tax of 15%. No other means of control are implemented.