Licensed and unlicensed online casinos: How do you find the real quality providers?
Which online casinos are actually recommendable? Among other things, a valid license plays a major role. Only reputable online casino sites have a legal license from a Gambling Commission, which confirms that the gambling provider is subject to regular checks and must comply with certain laws to protect players.
Online casinos in Germany are regulated by the GGL (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder), while EU internet casinos are supervised by various organizations such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). In both scenarios, players from Germany can have fun on these sites without any worries.
Importance of the online casino license Let’s first clarify what an online casino license is exactly. In Germany, a German license is issued by the Joint Gaming Authority of the federal states (GGL) to selected top providers of games of chance. In the EU, different authorities are responsible for this. The licenses guarantee player safety and the integrity of a reputable online casino. With the license, the online casinos undertake to protect players’ personal and financial data, comply with legal requirements, offer support in the fight against gambling addiction and much more. This makes gambling on licensed online gambling sites safe.
Risks of playing in illegal casinos
Difficulties in paying out winnings: Legal online casinos in Germany are not only characterized by excellent payout ratios (payout ratio = RTP), but also guarantee a secure payout. This can be different with illegal online gambling sites. It could be that the operator withholds your winnings and does not pay them out.
No guarantee of fairness in the game: Random number generators (RNG) are essential for playing fair online casino games such as live casino games, online poker and online slots. In illegal casinos, the casino software may not have been tested for fairness and reputability, which means that we do not provide purely random results.
Potential legal consequences: If German players play at an illegal online casino, the law offers no protection for them if they want to take legal action. The situation is different in a licensed online casino in Germany. Here, you have the opportunity to assert your rights.
How to identify online casino providers with a license
Check the official website of the casino for the presence of a license: The best online casinos have their licensing openly visible at the bottom of the website. To check whether the provider is operating legally, you can copy the license number and enter it at the relevant gaming authority.
Obtain details of the regulatory authority: To find out which authority is responsible, also read the information on this at the bottom of the page. This is usually Malta, Curaçao or Gibraltar.
Options for checking the casino data: The company details can also be found at the bottom of the casino page. The operator’s name, address and other company information are recorded there.
Popular licensed regulatory authorities
Regulatory authorities stipulate certain requirements that a secure online casino must meet. The inspections of online casinos by the authorities relate to data protection, general terms and conditions, secure SSL connections, random number generators, online gambling (such as live games and slots), payment methods, customer service (e.g. via live chat), responsible gaming and other aspects.
In order to offer the best possible casino site, a reputable online casino adheres to these requirements. A license from a reputable authority is therefore essential. In addition, the Gaming Commission carries out regular inspections of providers, and players have the opportunity to contact the authority with complaints about the respective operator.
When testing online casinos, you can find this EU licensing authority:
GGL – Hansering 15, 06108 Halle (Saale)
MGA – Building SCM 02-03, Level 4, SmartCity Malta, Ricasoli SCM1001, Malta, SCM 1001 Gibraltar – 1B Leanse Place, 50 Town Range, Gibraltar Curacao – PO Box 4633, Pletterijweg Oost, Ara Hilltop Building – Suite-A4, Willemstad, Curaçao Isle of Man – DPO, Cabinet Office, Government Office, Buck’s Road, Douglas, IM1 3PN Alderney – St Anne’s House, Queen Elizabeth II Street, Alderney in the Channel Islands GY9 3TB Denmark – Englandsgade 25 on the sixth floor – 5000 Odense C
Examples of illegal, licensed and trustworthy casinos
Test winners among secure online casinos may have different EU licenses. The operators also offer various casino bonus offers, mobile casino games and high-quality live casino games. Everyone has to decide for themselves which is the best choice. In any case, they all have something in common: they are places where you can safely bet your money on games.
Always make sure that you do not play at unsafe casinos. Always carry out a comparison of online casinos. Check the game selection, payment methods, customer service and other aspects before you sign up. If you fall for a dubious casino and don’t choose from a list of the best casinos, you could have an unpleasant experience.
Showcase example:
- You receive numerous spam messages.
- The selection of games has not been checked for random number generators by an independent organization.
- The games have a low payout ratio.
- Payments are either not made at all or only with a considerable delay.
- Round-the-clock customer service is either non-existent or of low quality, etc.
What should you do if you have become a victim of fraud?
Have you discovered an illegal online casino? Then we advise you to inform the police and the gambling authority. Depending on the type of fraud involved, change your passwords, inform your bank or have your credit card blocked. In the event of a report, screenshots of payments and other evidence can be very useful. Be careful in future when visiting illegal gambling venues.
Conclusion Which online casinos are actually recommendable? German online casinos and reputable casinos with a legal EU license can be visited without further ado. It is important that all the safety precautions that a gambling operator must have are in place. Always test this before you register to prevent any inconvenience later on. If you pay attention to the aspects listed, nothing stands in the way of an enjoyable game!
