How I Check Casino Licenses (And Avoid Scam Sites)

So you found a casino. Looks slick. Got all the right graphics. Says they’re licensed and regulated at the bottom of the page.

Cool. But is it real?

I almost deposited $200 at a site with a completely fake license badge once. Looked legit. Had the official logo and everything. Only reason I didn’t lose that money? I actually checked. And the license didn’t exist.

Here’s how I verify every single casino now—takes about 5 minutes and it’s saved my ass multiple times.

Take RolleroCasino as an example—they launched in 2025 with over 3,000 games and a €5,000 welcome bonus plus 300 free spins. Their license information sits right in the footer with SSL encryption and KYC verification clearly displayed, making the verification process straightforward.

Step 1: Find the Actual License Info

First thing—scroll to the bottom of the casino’s homepage. Most legit sites put their license details in the footer. Some hide it on an “About” or “Legal” page.

You’re hunting for three things:

Who issued the license (Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao, UK Gambling Commission, whatever)
The actual license number
The company name that holds it

If you just see a badge with no number? Red flag right there. I’ve seen tons of fake badges that look identical to real ones. They’re counting on you not clicking through.

Real licenses have specific formats. Malta uses something like “MGA/B2C/394/2018” with real numbers you can verify. Curacao licenses show a validator number. UK licenses have long reference codes.

Heads up: Some casinos bury this info deep in their Terms & Conditions. I once spent 15 minutes clicking through pages trying to find it. That alone made me suspicious—why would a legitimate casino make their license hard to find?

The license badge should be clickable. Click it. It should take you straight to the regulator’s site showing that exact license. If it links nowhere or just to some generic page? Walk away. Don’t even bother checking further.

Step 2: Actually Verify the License Exists

This is where most people stop. They see a license number and assume it’s real.

Don’t do that.

Every legitimate regulator has a public database. You need to actually search it and confirm the license is real and active. Here’s how:

Malta Gaming Authority — Go to mga.org.mt and hit “Public Register.” Search the license number or company name. It’ll show you if the license is valid, who owns it, and when it expires.

UK Gambling Commission — Visit gamblingcommission.gov.uk and search their public register. Super detailed. Shows exactly what the license covers and any compliance issues.

Curacao — This one’s annoying. Curacao has like 4-5 different master licenses (1668/JAZ, 8048/JAZ, etc.). You need to find the right validator site for whatever sublicense the casino claims. Check their badge for the master license number, then Google that specific validator.

I caught a scam this way last year. Casino had a Malta license number that looked totally legit. Right format, everything. But when I searched the MGA database? That number didn’t exist. They just made up a plausible-looking number and hoped nobody would check.

Also—check the dates. I’ve seen casinos display licenses that expired 2-3 years ago. The database shows expiry dates. If it’s expired, the casino is operating illegally.

Step 3: Make Sure It Actually Matches

Okay, so the license is real. Great. But does it actually apply to the casino you’re on?

This is the step literally nobody does. And it’s caught more fake sites for me than anything else.

Check these things in the regulator’s database:

Does the company name match what the casino shows?
Is your casino’s exact domain listed under that license?
Does the license type cover your country?

Some operators run multiple brands under one license. The database should list every domain that license covers. If the site you’re on isn’t in that list? Something’s wrong.

Real example: I checked a casino last month. Valid Curacao license, showed up in the database, everything looked good. Except—the license was for a completely different domain. They were using their sister site’s license and betting players wouldn’t verify. That’s straight-up fraud.

Also, some licenses have geographic restrictions. A Curacao sublicense might not legally cover players from your country even if the license itself is valid. The database usually shows this. For instance, if you want to learn more about specific game providers like NetEnt, checking whether their games are properly licensed in your jurisdiction matters—not all licenses cover all game types equally.

When researching the best online roulette casino options, geographic licensing becomes especially important since table game regulations vary significantly between jurisdictions. A license valid for slots might have different requirements for live dealer games.

Pro tip: Screenshot everything. The casino’s license page, the regulator’s database results, the domains listed. If they ever refuse to pay you out, you’ve got documentation.

What If They Don’t Have a License?

Some crypto casinos operate with no traditional license. They use blockchain validation or just run unregulated. I’m not here to judge—some people prefer that.

But know what you’re getting into. No license means no oversight. If they decide not to pay you? You’ve got zero legal recourse. Your only protection is their reputation (which can be faked) and user reviews (also fakeable).

I personally won’t touch an unlicensed casino anymore. Lost $300 once on a site that just… vanished. No license meant no one to complain to.

7 Surprising Benefits Of A Donor-Advised Fund You Might Not Know

Protecting Credit Through Awareness