Prior to an online bingo site becoming active it has to be licensed by a real government body.

This is because banks won’t work alongside an unlicensed site and major payment entities will not either, these include the likes of card Visa and Mastercard who sites depend upon heavily for payments.

Indeed, in order to take bets and make money, bingo sites must prove that they are legitimate to a government body. However, the process is actually much more complex than it sounds and requires sites to go through a whole range of checks and red tape.

In the past, the world of online gambling operators was quite lawless yet these days it is as legitimate a business as any, largely thanks to the regulations we have mentioned above.

In this section, we will look at how exactly online gambling licensing authorities function from country to country. We will also examine the requirements that each authority employs.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the first governmental gambling body on our list…

Alderney

This small island, just three square miles in total and home to only 2,000 human inhabitants, is a major player in the international gambling industry.

This small British Crown dependency established, in 1999, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) and started giving licenses to online casinos. Ten years later, in 2009, additional rules and regulations were brought in and in 2018 further amendments were made to better define online gambling and to bring in more distinct ordinances.

The AGCC has two kinds of license; one for the body that signs up new players and makes financial transfers (Category 1) and one for the operation that is home to the online casino itself (Category 2).

This type of licensing shows the bond between the company and its customers using various URLs. Indeed, a Category 1 license may be given to one site which is then responsible for all activity at any casino sites using its services.

Cyprus

In the early, looser times of online gambling back in the 90s until the first early 2000s, the island nation of Cyprus provided many gambling sites with licensing without truly regulating online gambling.

With the arrival of the Betting Law of 2012, this all came to a swift halt when Cyprus’s National Betting Authority made online bingo, poker, slots, roulette, and blackjack illegal. In the nation today, only simple sports betting is legal and licensed.

As a result, there exist a few sportsbooks with Cypriot licenses, maybe even a few online casinos  with old style Cypriot licenses, yet none are being issued in the nation at present.

Denmark

Despite high tax rates and a late realisation of the lucrative nature of online gambling, Denmark is home to a flourishing online licensing business. Danish licensees are allowed to work the flush UK market of players thanks to getting the green light from the UKGC. As a result, their policies and procedures are able to regulate online gambling extremely well.

The Danish Gambling Act changed Denmark’s style of online gambling, spawning the Danish Gambling Authority. Regulating and licensing online gambling, this body has almost 50 licensees with licenses issued for five years at a time.

Gibraltar 

Gibraltar was licensing online gambling sites way back in 1998. Indeed, this British-owned peninsula on Spain’s southern tip gained a reputation as an easy place to get online gambling operations started. The Department of Finance and Gaming’s Gambling Division works the system.

A seriously strict gambling licensing jurisdiction, Gibraltar has developed into the gold standard for creating reliable and trustworthy sites. Gibraltar charges sites real-life casinos or online casinos, or sportsbooks.

Isle of Man 

This small island in the Irish Sea has regulated gambling since the 60s with its Gambling Supervision Commission. These days the island is known for keeping a tight reign on its licensees.

In 2001, the Online Gambling Regulation Act (OGRA) outlined needs for the licensing of online casinos and sportsbooks. What’s more, they established many rules, prohibitions and needs regarding what was then the embryonic online gambling world.

The GSC is an extremely stringent body, currently needing testing and certification of gaming software, strict examination of finances and the investigation of live dealer studios, too. What’s more, only legitimate testing premises may be employed in this, and all need to be fully green-lit by the body.

These days, the body shows on its website all licensees, so it is easy to see whether a casino that says it has Isle of Man licensure is legitimate.

Jersey

The Bailiwick of Jersey, a Channel island nation that is a dependency of the British Crownis home to the Jersey Gambling Commission. This body has looked after the regulation of gambling in Jersey since 2010, with the licensing and rights to regulate online gambling coming in 2013.

With no corporate taxes for online gambling companies, Jersey is great value for companies looking for a budget entry point into the industry. Similar to Alderney, this island has a list of rules that each licensee must follow, such as certification by recognised testing houses. 

Malta

For many, Malta is the centre of global iGaming. With more than 350 licensees currently listed on the Malta Gaming Authority website, it’s hard to argue this point.

The Mediterranean island’s main body working on gambling regulation was created in 2001 and continues to be a global leader in the sector, known for its stringency and efficiency in all aspects.

United Kingdom

The UK’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) has been overseeing the regulation and licensing of online gambling sites in the country since 2005.

With rules, regulations and policies hitting all elements of online gambling including software testing and financial clarity, this is one of the most strict bodies on the planet.

The UKGC offers a variety of licenses to companies such as various types of remote betting licenses, many styles of remote casino licenses and a clutch of industry and intermediary licenses.