The various online casinos available can be classified into two distinct classes-those licensed by a regulatory body and those that are not. If you're a real money player, knowing the difference between the two and the effect that it can have on your gambling experience is critical.
To help simplify things and bring some clarity to the murky waters of licensed and unlicensed casinos, we've compiled this handy guide of things you should know to ensure you stay safe, have fun, and get a fair shot at winning great prizes.
Licensed vs. Unlicensed: What's the Difference?
The first thing you should know is that there is a distinct difference between licensed and unlicensed casinos. While some unlicensed casinos may dispute this in an attempt to attract customers, be careful not to fall for this.
Licensed casinos are issued an official gambling license by a state governing body such as the UK Gambling Commission, iGaming Ontario, or the Malta Gaming Authority. Depending on where you're located, the governing body will differ. Therefore, it is always best to research what body has jurisdiction over your region.
These licenses prove that the online casino has been vetted, audited, and passed all regulatory requirements to operate and offer gambling services. Casinos must also regularly meet additional requirements to keep their licenses.
Casinos without a gambling license are the opposite: they aren't backed by any regulatory body and have either failed, skipped, or fallen short of the audits and vetting processes required to obtain one.
Because gambling on a fully licensed casino is the only way to legally gamble in regions where the activity is permitted, playing games at an unlicensed casino doesn't only place you at risk because the casino isn't endorsed. It can also get you into legal trouble if you are caught. If you're in Canada and unsure what type of site you're dealing with, SlotsOnlineCanada.com is an excellent resource for finding and comparing licensed online casinos.
Licensed vs. Unlicensed: Fairness of Games
The fairness of the games a casino offers is often a significant consideration when choosing what platform to gamble with. In this regard, you may want to do research beforehand to see if your chosen casino has a reputation for being fair and giving players an honest shot at winning.
For operators, part of obtaining a license requires proving that all games are fair to players. This is often done through extensive testing and game RNGs (random number generators) audits. However, if a license is granted, it is usually acceptable proof that all games offered on the site are fair-even if they don't offer the odds you want.
Because unlicensed operators don't have to go through this process, there is a chance that some operators will attempt to skew games in their favour. Not all unlicensed operators do this, but it is essential to remember that games on any casino that doesn't have a license might not have been tested.
Therefore, if you play with an unlicensed operator, it will be up to you to decide whether their games are fair.
Licensed vs. Unlicensed: Safety and Security
Even more important than a chance to win, great bonuses, and a wide selection of games from top providers is an operator's security and focus on player safety. Any site that in any way knowingly compromises this or even unknowingly does so through negligence should be avoided at all costs.
Safety and security are among the few categories in which there is no guarantee that a licensed operator is better (or safer) than an unlicensed one. This is because, even if a site is above board and obtains a license, it may still be vulnerable to hacks that could compromise you as a player.
Licensed casinos are still immeasurably safer than unlicensed options. This is because unlicensed casinos may compromise your safety themselves rather than a third-party hacker doing it. This occurs when a site is set up to look like a legitimate online casino but is actually a scam site that aims to steal your money or information.
Licensed vs. Unlicensed: Responsible Gambling
In many countries, a requirement for a gambling license is to display prominent, responsible gambling advertising and make it easy for at-risk players to seek help. More than this, online casinos are expected to monitor player behaviour and approach players with help should they seem to struggle.
This practice has helped the iGaming industry grow exponentially in recent years while minimizing the damage that problem gambling can cause. Without this, the risk of problem gambling could lead to severe consequences for many players and society at large.
While it may be incorrect to generalize, most unlicensed operators give little thought to ensuring that players gamble in a safe and responsible manner. For these operators, profit is the sole focus, with other things, like helping at-risk players, simply falling by the wayside. As such, avoiding these sites, particularly if you're prone to addictive tendencies, is essential.
Licensed vs. Unlicensed: Recourse
The final difference that all players should know between licensed and unlicensed operators is your ability to seek recourse. Although all players hope that their experience will be a smooth one, there may be occasions on which you have a dispute with the operator you're using or need to lodge a complaint.
If the operator is licensed, this is rarely a problem. You can submit your complaint to whichever regulatory body has issued the casino's license, and that body will investigate your complaint or claim and provide feedback. Should additional steps to resolve the matter need to be taken, the body will handle them.
However, this is not possible with unlicensed casinos. The only avenue for recourse is with the website itself and its support staff. Considering the website is already in dispute with you by the time you seek recourse, the chances of them offering any real help are slim. Further, because the site is unlicensed, there will be little you can do.
Final Say
Online gambling can be a thrilling and enjoyable experience. However, the stark differences between licensed and unlicensed operators should not be taken lightly. As such, only play on sites offered by officially licensed operators.
