At Gambling Zone, we only cover online casinos and gaming sites that are licensed and regulated. That’s vital to make sure that any sites we recommend offer a fair, safe, and honest gaming experience.
But who regulates online casinos? And what does their work involve?
In this post, we’ll provide you with an overview of the main regulatory bodies operating in the UK and Europe.
Who Regulates Online Casinos in the UK?
The Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005, and started functioning in September 2007. Any gaming website (not just the best casino sites) that wants to operate legally in the UK requires a licence from the Gambling Commission.
It’s responsible for regulating all types of gambling in the UK, including:
- Casinos
- Gaming machine providers
- Arcades
- Bingo
- The National Lottery and other lottery operators
- Betting (e.g. sports betting)
- Remote gambling (phone betting and online sites)
The Gambling Commission has strict criteria that any individual or business must meet before they’re granted a licence. Regular assessments are performed to confirm that licensees continue to follow the rules.
Who Regulates Online Casinos in the States of Alderney and Isle of Man?
The States of Alderney and Isle of Man aren’t part of the UK or EU. As a result, they have set up their own regulatory bodies to monitor gambling within their respective territories.
Alderney Gambling Control Commission
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) was formed in May 2000 to regulate all gambling in the States of Alderney. This ensures that electronic gambling is fair for players and complies with regulations, completely free of criminal influence. It also works to prevent young people from engaging in underage gambling.
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) was founded in 1962, and is an independent statutory board of the government. Any gambling businesses that want to operate legally in the Isle of Man require a licence, including amusement arcades, casinos, betting shops, lotteries, and online gambling sites.
Who Regulates Online Casinos in Europe?
The main regulatory bodies in Europe include:
Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority was created under the Gibraltar Regulatory Act 2000. It wasn’t formed exclusively to monitor gambling: its work covers communications, broadcasting, postal services, cybersecurity compliance, and competition.
The ‘competition’ part of its operations includes online and offline gambling. Another key part of its activities is to encourage data privacy and protect the information rights of all citizens. That helps give gamblers the peace of mind that any personal details they enter into an online gaming site will be secure.
Playing Online Casino
Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) was founded in 2001, and was previously known as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority. It regulates all gaming to ensure that companies operate in a fair, honest way. That includes working to keep crime out of the gaming industry and protect minors from underage gambling.
Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority
The Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority was founded in January 2001. It regulates and supervises all forms of gambling in Norway, including sports betting, casinos, horse racing, and the National Championship in Poker.
However, it only allows two companies to provide casino games and betting services in Norway: Norsk Tipping AS and Norsk Rikstoto. Like other regulatory bodies, the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority takes strict action against anyone trying to perform illegal operations within the gambling industry.
Swedish Gambling Authority
The Swedish Gambling Authority oversees gambling within Sweden, and works to keep it legal and safe for citizens. It issues licences to companies operating lotteries, slot machines, online gaming services, bingo, and more.
How to Find the Best Casino Sites
We encourage you to always check that a gaming site carries a licence from a trusted regulatory body before you sign up. The regulatory bodies listed above work hard to keep gambling fair and safe. In the UK, the Gambling Commission monitors operators providing online and offline gaming services closely.
All of the top gambling sites in the UK hold a licence from the Gambling Commission, which is a key trust signal. You can find all the information you need on the top casino sites for UK-based players in our guide to the Best UK Casino Sites. Check it out before you decide where to play next!
