Gibraltar Licensed Casinos

What is an online casino license? What are they for?

The biggest fear of players is to register with a cheating casino. A casino that will not pay their winnings. There is a simple solution: the license that approves the online casino. Indeed, according to the license, you can know the casino’s reliability.

There are several licenses in the world, the most strict, and others that are a bit laxer with the casinos. A license, also known as a certificate, is granted by a governmental authority to ensure a specific guideline to avoid disputes with players. The license can be obtained on the condition that the casino strictly complies with the standards imposed by the organisation.

Furthermore, we would like to underline this point, there is (still) no harmonisation of licenses or international licenses, hence the interest to check what the casino refers to. Licences are not the same, and each one has its criteria.

History of casino licensing in Gibraltar

Gibraltar is where many British companies like to settle because of its favourable tax climate. Online Gibraltar Licensing Authority casinos are also among these businesses. This is also because the country was one of the first to make it possible for internet gambling providers to obtain a licence.

This possibility has existed since 1998. The law regulating the activities of gambling sites was further expanded in 2005 with the introduction of the Gambling Act.

In 2011 and 2013, further changes were made to the law. This constant change shows that they quickly move when needed in Gibraltar.

In online gambling, this is also necessary because the developments in this area move very quickly. Gambling operators can now obtain a licence in no less than seven different categories.

What does an operator awarded a licence by the Gibraltar Authority commit to?

Obtaining a licence is a long and arduous process that discourages less serious applicants. Even though the Gambling Act obliges all iGaming players to be licensed, the Gibraltar Licensing Authority has been in existence since 1998! This only confirms the seriousness and experience of the commission in terms of requirements.

The criteria to deserve this precious Grail are numerous. The operator must first present a solid file on the establishment he intends to open. This includes, but is not limited to, a precise business plan and a bank check.

The applicant undertakes to comply with Gibraltar law and regulations, of course, and to know each player precisely (their personal and accurate details remain confidential but must be known to the applicant casino).

The objective is to prevent criminal networks from infiltrating the environment to launder funds and prohibit minors from gambling. For this reason, your casino will ask you specific and common questions at the beginning of your activity on the site!

The establishment that claims this licence must also refrain from any false advertising and meet its financial obligations to its future players (for example, payment of winnings within a certain period). So you are well protected if you play at an online casino licensed by the Gibraltar Licensing Authority!

How is the GLA supervised?

The Gibraltar Gaming Commission, in addition to issuing licences for gambling, also monitors and regulates gambling laws and regulations. Since almost exclusively branches in Gibraltar of companies offering online services is also the authority’s main task. Inspecting the companies is done in different ways.

Inspections are carried out to test companies for compliance with the rules and conditions set for obtaining a licence. An important part of this is checking the reliability of the games on offer. The finances must also be in order so that players can always be paid.

A significant advantage of licences from this jurisdiction is that the commission is almost exclusively concerned with controlling companies operating online. They, therefore, know exactly what to look for when assessing whether a provider is reliable.

The companies are also given a huge list of requirements that they must fulfil to be licensed. Of course, this list states that the offer must be proven to be fair.

There are also various requirements regarding the company’s finances. This prevents the casino from going bankrupt and not paying out their players. An extensive business plan is required, and this is reviewed very carefully. The comprehensive laws and controls in place ensure an excellent score in terms of reliability.

Independent testing and registry

Part of the controls and regulations is to carry out independent testing. This is not done by the authority itself but by independent entities. Random tests are carried out, and compliance with the rules are checked.

The main purpose of this is to protect players who come to the online casinos. All companies that eventually receive a licence are included in a register.

This register is available on the Gibraltar Gaming Authority website. This can be checked in the register when someone starts playing at a casino licensed by this authority. It also states if a licence has expired, been cancelled or revoked.

Is It One of the most reliable licences?

The Gibraltar licence has been known for years as one of the most reliable licences. Most casinos are eager to establish themselves to obtain a license in the country. After all, it also enables them to offer services in the United Kingdom.

Since Britain withdrew from the EU not too long ago, it is still necessary to have an additional licence for the other countries in the European Union. A Malta casino licence is recommended. Both of these are extremely stringent jurisdictions.

Combining these two licenses makes a casino one of the most reliable providers online. It’s almost a guarantee that nothing illegal will ever happen to you. However, not all companies are created equal. We recommend that you do your research online, for example, by reading our experiences on gambling sites.

Do Gambling licenses create security?

Before registering and playing at a casino, the most important thing you should do is find out if the casino is licensed. Casino licenses are evidence that the casino in question is reputable and meets all the strict regulations and demands the license holder has.

A casino can do whatever it wants without a license, including offering pirated slots, bad terms and conditions, or not paying out any winnings. As a result, you should always check if the casino is licensed before you play. You can almost always be completely safe if you see that a casino has a GLA license at the bottom of the page, which is one of the best licenses on the market right now.

You can always contact customer service if you encounter problems or questions while playing at a GLA Casino. GLA Casinos all have some form of customer support, and most of them have Live Chat.

It is always possible to contact the Gibraltar Licensing Authority if you cannot resolve the issue with the casino directly. This gifs you an extra feeling of security when you know that authority is checking the casinos you’re playing with your real money.

Multiple Payment Options

When it comes to depositing at casinos, these are the best methods to choose from. It’s just a matter of reading up about them and selecting the one that appeals to you. The most common payment options are electronic wallets, credit- and bank cards, cryptocurrencies, and, finally, prepaid cards.

These methods of payment each have their advantages and disadvantages. Each casino may charge a fee for certain payment methods. For that reason, it might be the smartest move to a maximum of methods to present. At the moment, GLA Casinos offers these payment options most frequently:

• Neteller
• Skrill
• ecoPayz
• Trustly
• Zimpler
• Instant Bank
• PaySafeCard
• VISA
• MasterCard
• Bitcoins
• ETH

GLA Compared to Other iGaming Licenses

In addition to being one of the first iGaming licenses on the market, Gibraltar Licensing Authority is also one of the strongest. The primary reason that the license has become so sought after is that many players feel more secure when playing at GLA casinos.

Another very popular license is the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the British gambling license. It is deemed a bit more secure than GLA because it is more strict.

Some other licenses that also are quite popular are the Curacao license and Malta Gaming Authority. However, they are not as secure as the previous one. As far as law and regulation are concerned, they could be compared to the Wild West.

The process of obtaining a license from these places is straightforward and can easily be purchased for a reasonable price. In addition, these licenses do not require any complicated demands or requirements from license holders. This doesn’t mean that all Curacao and Maltas casinos are cheaters. The license itself doesn’t tell you much about the security of a casino in general, so you should be more cautious.

How Trustworthy is a GLA Casino

Are you playing at a casino with a Gibraltar casino license? Chances are, it’s a trustworthy casino. Gibraltar has its commission, the Gibraltar Gambling Commission, which approves or rejects applications for a casino license from Gibraltar, just like a similar commission in Malta. 

Online casinos with a Gibraltar casino license must meet strict requirements. However, a Gibraltar casino licence doesn’t say everything about a reliable casino. We suggest you look at the support offered on the casino’s website, look at their offers and look at any of their bonuses. It should never be too good to be true!

Game Providers Available on GLA Casinos

You will certainly not be disappointed when playing at GLA Casinos if you like big and varied game selections. Almost all game providers are available here, except those exclusive to specific casinos or licenses.

A very wide range of games has been created so you can pick and choose the ones you like.

We have giant providers such as NetEnt, Big Time Gaming and Microgaming.

You will also find older and rarer providers, such as Amatic and Playtech.

Everyone can find a game that suits their tastes, regardless of their favourite genre.

Currently, game development is progressing at record speeds due to the tough competition in the market. The number of games has grown exponentially in recent years, which means more games than ever before. There are dozens of different titles to choose from at GLA Casinos, which isn’t unusual.

Here are 4 points to remember about the Gaming Enforcement Authority in Gibraltar

1. A total of seven licenses are differentiated according to the applicant’s service area (sports betting, virtual casinos, gaming providers, etc.) when coming up with new GLA licensed casinos .
2. As a player, make sure that you play at a facility licensed by a government authority. In the footer of the casino you are playing at, you will see the Commission’s logo appear. If you click on it, you can see if the license is still valid, and therefore, if you are protected while playing at the casino in question.
3.  And be aware that if a licensed establishment no longer meets the criteria set by the Commission, it will have its license withdrawn and, therefore, its right to operate. Monitoring is therefore essential, and controls are permanent for licensed establishments.
4. As an authority that takes players’ interests to heart, the Gibraltar Licensing Authority does not compromise on the three poles of responsible gambling: respect for the legal age, the fight against money laundering, and the fight against gambling addiction. These aspects are part of the criteria for obtaining a prestigious licence.

The Gibraltar Gambling Commission’s primary duties are:

• Licensing and regulating operators for gambling purposes
• Supervising that potential licenses meet high standards of fitness and propriety
• Overseeing activities to keep gambling free from criminal activity
• Creating a safe market for consumers

Legal Gambling

In Gibraltar, legal gambling means that you can only gamble in online casinos with a Gibraltar casino license. These online casinos have been checked by a strict commission and remain under the supervision of this commission even with a Gibraltar casino license. This way, the government in Gibraltar knows that the casinos with a Gibraltar casino license are reliable.

Conclusion

As a small state in the south of Europe, Gibraltar has acquired a unique position in the online gambling market. The strict laws and regulations, which are well constructed, make it very attractive for companies to establish themselves here. In addition, the taxes that must be paid on business activities related to gambling are very favourable.

Licences issued by the Government of Gibraltar are only issued under strict conditions. Once a company has a licence, it is suitable for its reliability and player safety. You can easily find this information on the Gibraltar Gaming Authority website.

Gibraltar is home to many of the world’s most prestigious gaming and betting companies. Gibraltar is the only British offshore financial centre in the European Union. Since it was first granted, the Commission has already granted 21 licences to online gambling operators.

This figure seems very low compared to the licences issued by other gaming authorities. However, the Gibraltar Gaming Commission does not want to leave anything to chance.

Groups such as Bwin, Ladbrokes, Betclic, Victor Chandler, Partouche Interactive, Stan James, Betfair Casino, William Hill Casino and many other major online gambling players have their Gibraltar gaming license.

GLA Contact details:

Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner

Suite 603, Europort

Gibraltar

Tel: (00350) 20064145

Website: https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/finance-gaming-and-regulations/remote-gambling