How to verify whether a gambling operator has a valid licence

Why this matters

Only confirm a licence using the regulator’s own public register or verification tool; match legal entity, licence number, licence type and domain mapping, and escalate to the regulator if any detail is missing.

What to check on the regulator’s record

Start with the regulator’s public register or verification tool. Reputable regulators (for example the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority) provide searchable records that list licence numbers, the legal entity holding the licence, permitted activities and licence status.

Match the operator’s website disclosures (company name, registration number, claimed licence number, and the domain) against the regulator record. Key fields to confirm are: legal entity name, licence number, licence type/vertical (must cover remote/B2C casino if you are a player), status (active/suspended/revoked) and any listed domains or brands.

• Legal entity name (company name and registration number).
• Licence number and licence type (must permit remote casino/B2C where relevant).
• Licence status and effective dates (active, suspended, revoked, expired).
• Domains or brands listed on the regulator register (if present).

How to use official registers (step-by-step)

Use the regulator’s own HTTPS website. Examples include the UK Gambling Commission’s public register and the Malta Gaming Authority’s Licensee Register and verification endpoint. Enter the trading name, company name, domain or licence number into the register search and inspect the returned record.

If the record shows an active licence that matches the legal entity and licence type for consumer-facing casino activity, this is strong verification. If domains are not shown but the company is licensed, you must either obtain documentary proof from the operator or ask the regulator to confirm the domain-to-licence mapping.

• Search by domain, trading name, company name and licence number.
• Confirm licence vertical (remote casino/B2C) — B2B licences do not prove consumer rights.
• Save or screenshot the regulator’s result and note the verification date.
• If the register lacks domains, contact the regulator for confirmation.

Common failure modes and red flags

Do not rely on badges or screenshots displayed on the operator’s website. Scammers routinely copy regulator logos and invent licence numbers or produce fake verification pages. Only use the regulator’s official site to confirm licence details.

Other red flags include mismatched company names, licences that cover B2B services rather than B2C gambling, and consumer-warnings published by the regulator that explicitly say they have no connection to a site. Treat any of these as reasons to refuse to accept the licence claim without further evidence.

• On-site licence badges or images are not authoritative.
• Company name differs from the name shown on the regulator register.
• Licence type does not cover consumer-facing gambling.
• Regulator has published a consumer warning about the site.

When to escalate to the regulator

If you cannot map the domain to the licence on the regulator’s public record, contact the regulator’s consumer or licensing unit with the domain and any licence number the operator provides. Request written confirmation or a published statement.

If the regulator cannot or will not confirm, treat the licence claim as failed — do not publish or rely on the operator’s claim. If you are a consumer, do not deposit funds and consider reporting the site to the regulator and local consumer-protection authorities.

• No domain-to-licence match on the regulator’s site.
• Regulator’s public register lacks the necessary fields to confirm the claim.
• The regulator has an active warning or denies any connection to the site.
• You are preparing public content and need an auditable confirmation.

Practical checklist

• Identify the claimed regulator and any licence number displayed on the operator’s website.
• Open the regulator’s official HTTPS register/verification page and search by domain, licence number and legal company name.
• Confirm licence is active, covers remote casino/B2C, and the legal entity matches the site.
• Check for enforcement actions or consumer warnings and save screenshots with a verification date.
• If domain-to-licence mapping is unclear, contact the regulator and obtain written confirmation before treating the claim as verified.