Of the 28 casinos we list, 16 hold a Curaçao licence (57%) and 8 an Anjouan licence (29%). Only one shows a Malta (MGA) licence, the strictest of the lot: Go4Casino. One is licensed in Tobique (Spin Million) and 2 simply describe themselves as “offshore”.
These licences are not equal. The short answer: Malta protects players best, Curaçao is the market standard, Anjouan and Tobique are newer and less proven, and a Costa Rica “licence” is not a gaming licence at all. None of them replaces a licence from your own country’s regulator. Here is the detail, casino by casino.
What is each licence worth? The comparison
A licence tells you who supervises the casino and where to turn if something goes wrong. The second point is where the gaps are widest.
| Licence | Issued by | What it involves | Player recourse | Our take | Casinos we list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta (MGA) | Malta Gaming Authority, the regulator of an EU member state | Checks on operators and their directors, player funds must be protected, mandatory responsible gambling tools, public licence register | Player complaints handled by the regulator | The most protective licence among the casinos we list | 1 |
| Curaçao | Curaçao regulator (Gaming Control Board, becoming the Curaçao Gaming Authority under the law passed in late 2024) | Licences now issued directly to operators (OGL/… numbers); the old master-licence sublicences are being phased out | Complaints can go to the regulator; the framework is newer and less tested than in Europe | The market standard: fine if the number checks out, less protective than Malta | 16 |
| Anjouan | Authorities of the island of Anjouan (Union of the Comoros), through a licensing agent | Quick to obtain, widespread since 2023; disputed in October 2026 by the Comoros government | Little documented player recourse | Check carefully; do not treat it as proof of reliability on its own | 8 |
| Tobique | Gaming commission of the Tobique First Nation (New Brunswick, Canada) | A young jurisdiction: its first online gaming licence was issued in 2024 | Little track record on complaints | Too new to judge; the casino’s own history matters more | 1 |
| Costa Rica | No online gambling regulator | Costa Rica does not issue online gaming licences: the operator registers a company there | No gambling regulator to turn to | Not a gaming licence in the proper sense | 0 |
| Offshore (unspecified) | Unspecified jurisdiction | The casino does not clearly state which authority supervises it | Uncertain | The weakest guarantee: the casino’s payout history becomes the only benchmark | 2 |
Regulatory situation as of October 30, 2026. The Curaçao and Anjouan regimes are changing fast: the regulator’s own website is the reference.
The licence of every casino we list
This table shows the licence recorded for each casino with a published review, in our ranking order. A number only appears when we have recorded it; a dash does not mean the casino displays none. Casinos on pause drop off the list automatically.
| Casino | Licence | Number recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmobet | Curaçao | — |
| Velobet | Curaçao | OGL/2024/1798/1048 |
| Spin Million | Tobique | — |
| BetFury | Curaçao | OGL/2024/1494/0942 |
| Winzter | Curaçao | — |
| BetNinja | Anjouan | — |
| Lussurio | Curaçao | — |
| Golden Mina | Anjouan | — |
| Unique Casino | Curaçao | 1668/JAZ |
| Party Spinz | Anjouan | — |
| WelleBet | Curaçao | — |
| CrownSlots | Curaçao | OGL/2023/176/0095 |
| EvoSpin | Anjouan | — |
| Lucky Treasure Casino | Curaçao | — |
| Spin Dynasty | Curaçao | — |
| Tenobet | Curaçao | — |
| Kings Chance | Curaçao | — |
| Pokobet | Curaçao | — |
| Celsius | Anjouan | — |
| HunnyPlay | Curaçao | — |
| RealSpin | Anjouan | — |
| Nomini | Anjouan | — |
| Spinanga | Anjouan | — |
| HolyLuck | Offshore (unspecified) | — |
| Go4Casino | Malta (MGA) | — |
| GQBet | Offshore (unspecified) | — |
| Slott | Curaçao | — |
| Spinaura | Curaçao | — |
Licences taken from the casinos’ websites and recorded in our reviews. Check it yourself before depositing: a casino can change licence.
Curaçao: reading the licence number
For years Curaçao ran on a handful of “master licences”: an intermediary held the licence and handed out sublicences to casinos, with no direct oversight of each one by the regulator. The reform started in 2023, followed by the law passed in December 2024, replaced this with licences issued directly to operators, supervised by a new body, the Curaçao Gaming Authority.
OGL/year/… format
A licence under the new system, issued to the casino itself. Among the casinos we list: Velobet, BetFury and CrownSlots (OGL/2024/1798/1048, OGL/2024/1494/0942, OGL/2023/176/0095).
…/JAZ format
A number from the old master-licence system. It is the one we recorded for Unique Casino (1668/JAZ). Not a red flag in itself, but check on the regulator’s website that the operating company is listed under the new regime.
Anjouan: why it is in the news in October 2026
Anjouan is one of the three main islands of the Union of the Comoros and enjoys broad autonomy. Its online gaming licences took off from 2023, when the Curaçao reform made Curaçao licences more expensive and slower to obtain. Today 8 of the casinos we list hold one.
On October 19 and 20, 2026, the trade press reported that the Comoros government and central bank call this licensing scheme illegal and have asked the UK for help investigating it, while preparing legal action at home. The Anjouan regulator replies that its licences are valid. At the time of writing, no licence has been revoked and the casinos concerned are operating normally.
What it means for you
- Short term, nothing changes in how these casinos work. But a licence disputed by the very state it claims to come from is a weak fallback in a dispute.
- Do not leave a large balance sitting in an account, whatever the licence: withdraw winnings as you go.
- Look at the payout record: observed withdrawal times, identity checks, support answers. Our withdrawal speed tests say more than a logo.
How to check a licence in 4 steps
- Note the company and the number in the casino footer. No company and no number is a bad sign.
- Compare with the terms and conditions: the company named there must be the one running the site.
- Check with the regulator, not the casino: the licence seal should lead to a page hosted on the regulator’s website. The MGA has a searchable public register; for Curaçao, look the number up on the regulator’s website.
- Keep a record: a dated screenshot of the footer and the terms. In a dispute, it is the first thing you will be asked for.
What a licence does not guarantee
Local approval
An offshore licence does not replace a licence from your own country. In France, for instance, the ANJ only licenses sports betting, horse racing and poker online, and will not handle a dispute with these casinos.
Fast withdrawals
A licence sets a framework, not payout times. Identity checks, limits and the payment method matter more: see our KYC guide and our page on pending withdrawals.
Fair bonus terms
Wagering, max bet and win caps are set by the casino. Read them before accepting: we list them in our guide to the hidden rules of a casino bonus.
A licence is the first filter, not the only one. Our methodology explains what else we look at before listing a casino, and our guide on how to choose an online casino turns it into a checklist.
⚠️ A good licence does not make gambling risk-free
A licence protects you from a dishonest casino, not from losses: over time, the house always keeps an edge. Set a budget you can afford to lose, use the deposit limits in your account and take breaks. If gambling is getting hard to control, our responsible gambling page points you to help.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Curaçao gaming licence trustworthy?
It is a real gaming licence. Curaçao has been overhauling its system since 2023: licences are now issued directly to operators (OGL/… numbers) under stricter conditions. It still offers less protection than a European licence such as Malta’s, especially when a player needs to escalate a complaint.
Is an Anjouan licence legit?
It is issued in the name of Anjouan, an autonomous island of the Comoros, and has spread quickly since 2023. In October 2026 the Comoros government and central bank publicly disputed the licensing scheme and asked the UK for help investigating it; the Anjouan regulator says its licences are valid. No licence had been revoked as of late October 2026.
Does an offshore licence make a casino legal where I live?
Not necessarily. Many countries license online casinos themselves (the UK, Sweden, Ontario…) or do not allow them at all (France only licenses sports betting, horse racing and poker online). A Curaçao, Anjouan or even Malta licence does not replace a local licence, and your local regulator will not handle a dispute with an offshore casino.
How do I check a casino’s licence?
Note the company name and licence number in the casino footer, then look them up on the regulator’s own website (register or validation page), never on a page hosted by the casino. The company name must match the one in the terms and conditions.
What can I do if a licensed casino refuses to pay?
Complain to support in writing first. If that fails, file a complaint with the regulator that issued the licence, with your messages and screenshots. Your chances depend heavily on the licence: this is where regulators differ the most.
📚 Read next
9 years of experience in the iGaming industry. Former analyst for two European operators, Thomas tests every casino with a real account and real wagers before any publication.
To compare two casinos on licence, bonus and withdrawal times, use our casino comparison tool, or see our list of the best online casinos.
Gambling involves risks, including debt, isolation and addiction. Responsible gambling.