How To Get Online Casino License
Online Gambling has proven to be an incredibly profitable and popular business model in many countries. Each year, over one hundred are being launched and the government worldwide tries to keep up with their pace by regulating markets.
The process of starting an online casino might take several weeks and even months, but this is a very profitable and solid business model that is worth the time you invest in getting your gaming license. We hope you have a clear idea of everything you need now that you have read this guide on how to get your online casino license. Online casinos must go through a vetting process to obtain a license. They need to fill out an application, pay relevant fees, and receive approval from a licensing body. Gamblers are more apt to trust a site that earned approval from at least one jurisdiction. Meanwhile, they’re less likely to. Getting a license for online casino can be quite beneficial. It proves that your casino works along with the gambling laws and regulations.
There are several different licenses all over the world right now and both players and governments demand that more casinos should have a valid license. We guide you to licenses for online casino and gambling. Make sure to gamble at trusted sites when playing online.
The Importance of an Online Gambling Licenses
In many countries, online gambling is neither forbidden nor allowed. These markets are called “grey markets” and if you play in a grey market country there are some risks attached. Obtaining an online gambling license is a very complex process which involves a variety of due diligence requirements which must be fulfilled. New casinos online that have a license are much more safe and secure than casinos that don’t have them.
All legal online gambling businesses have at least one license to be considered as a safe online casino. Some licenses are harder to obtain than others. For an example, the UK Gambling Commission is regarded to be the toughest one to get for casinos because of all the requirements. However, there are still casinos without Gamstop that are not connected to the license. If you are a casino player, you can, therefore, feel safe when you are playing at a casino with a UK Gambling Commission license. Other popular licenses are Malta Gaming Authority and Curacao eGaming.
At Casinomir, we only list online casinos with a proper license/licenses and with the best casino bonuses and free spins. This is very important for us, because we only want to list casinos that are totally safe and reliable. Another great thing with casinos that has a license is that all of your winnings are completely tax-free.
Make sure to play casino with the right license for your region
What are the Requirements for an Online License?
In order for a casino to apply for a license, the applicants must go through security and background checks and also procedural and operational practices. The requirements vary from license to license.
This is all in necessary in order to guarantee the legitimacy and fairness of the casino. Some checks include background information, game fairness and “random number generation guarantee”, ethical business practices, tax and financial status, fair employment, criminal background and much more.
In addition to this, the receiver of a license must undergo regular financial and tax auditing and technical tests to ensure everything compiles properly. The aim of this procedure is to continuously improve the quality of security in the online casino industry.
The safety and satisfaction of casino players are the most important thing. From the governments perspective, tax and financial information are very important. Each gambling authority organisation is entrusted by their government to carry out and maintain the licensing process.
Online Gambling Licenses and Services
If you start up your own online casino it is critical that you decide which jurisdiction that you want to belong to. Online casino includes online betting, bingo, casino, fantasy sports, esports, poker and sports betting. What you may consider are the initial licensing costs, ongoing licensing costs, maintenance costs, availability of services and tax-levels and other benefits.
The basic premise of licensing in any country is to improve the quality of the services to online casino players. Security and safety are the two most important factors. To get an approved license may take a very long time, so make sure to send in an application as early as possible. If you have a multilingual casino site it is a huge advantage to have several different licenses so that you can expand to more countries.
In addition to this, almost all banks require that you have a correct casino license before you can open up a bank account. All in all, casino licenses are very important and never play at an online casino that doesn’t have a proper license. At this page, you can click on the different licenses that are available and learn more.
Gambling license USA
We summarize the most important online gambling laws pertaining to gambling operators and users of gaming services. Specifically within the countries where online gambling is legal to some degree or other.
If after reading this document you are still unsure of what to do, we assist you with a USA legal opinion for your casino, game or sportsbook.
Gambling license USA
The USA is a very lucrative market for online gambling companies. Although, there are many legal risks involved. Since 24% of all online gamblers in the world reside in North America, and the majority of gambling companies doing their hosting in Curacao (where we have our operations – to find out more Click here), we go into detail about the legal situation in this country.
The individual States in the USA have the power to make laws pertaining to their state only. But on the other hand, there are Federal Laws that are applicable to the whole country, while protecting State rights. This makes the online gambling legal situation in the country very complex.
We start by giving an overview of the main Federal laws that address the legality of online betting, wagering and gambling in the USA. We will then have a look at the situation in the individual States.
USA Federal gambling laws:
1. The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 (commonly referred to as the Federal Wire Act).
This law addresses only the issue of online sports betting and wagering. It does not address the legality of online gambling as such.
Here is paragraph (a) from that law:
“Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”
Source: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1084
2. Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970
The Illegal Gambling Business Act was enacted as part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. This Act was designed to be a companion to other laws, such as the Federal Wire Act, in targeting a source of income for organized crime. Unlike the Federal Wire Act, the Illegal Gambling Business Act is designed to assist states in enforcing their laws with regard to interstate gambling activities and is dependent on a predicate state offense.
Here are some extracts from that law:
18 U.S.C. 1955 the Statute
Prohibition of illegal gambling businesses
(a) Whoever conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of an illegal gambling business shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(b) As used in this section-
(1) “illegal gambling business” means a gambling business which-
(i) is a violation of the law of a State or political subdivision in which it is conducted;
(ii) involves five or more persons who conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct, or own all or part of such business; and
(iii) has been or remains in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of thirty days or has a gross revenue of $2,000 in any single day.
And:
(e) This section shall not apply to any bingo game, lottery, or similar game of chance conducted by an organization exempt from tax under paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, any private shareholder, member, or employee of such organization except as compensation for actual expenses incurred by him in the conduct of such activity.
3. Interstate Wagering Amendment of 1994
This Act relates mostly to lotteries:
“Whoever brings into the United States for the purpose of disposing of the same, or knowingly deposits with any express company or other common carrier for carriage, or carries in interstate or foreign commerce any paper, certificate, or instrument purporting to be or to represent a ticket, chance, share, or interest in or dependent upon the event of a lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any advertisement of, or list of prizes drawn or awarded by means of, any such lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme; or, being engaged in the business of procuring for a person in 1 State such a ticket, chance, share, or interest in a lottery, gift, enterprise or similar scheme conducted by another State (unless that business is permitted under an agreement between the States in question or appropriate authorities of those States), knowingly transmits in interstate or foreign commerce information to be used for the purpose of procuring such a ticket, chance, share, or interest; or knowingly takes or receives any such paper, certificate, instrument, advertisement, or list so brought, deposited, or transported, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”
4. Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA)
The Act prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law (termed “restricted transactions” in the Act). The Act also requires Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board (in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General) to promulgate regulations requiring certain participants in payment systems that could be used for unlawful Internet gambling to have policies and procedures reasonably designed to identify and block or otherwise prevent or prohibit the processing of restricted transactions.
The Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board have issued a joint rule that designates five payment systems which are covered by the Act. These systems are:
(i) automated clearing house (ACH) systems,
(ii) card systems,
(iii) check collection systems,
(iv) money transmitting businesses, and
(v) wire transfer systems.
The Act starts with the following paragraphs:
“(a) Findings.- Congress finds the following:
(1) Internet gambling is primarily funded through personal use of payment system instruments, credit cards, and wire transfers.
(2) The National Gambling Impact Study Commission in 1999 recommended the passage of legislation to prohibit wire transfers to Internet gambling sites or the banks which represent such sites.
(3) Internet gambling is a growing cause of debt collection problems for insured depository institutions and the consumer credit industry.
(4) New mechanisms for enforcing gambling laws on the Internet are necessary because traditional law enforcement mechanisms are often inadequate for enforcing gambling prohibitions or regulations on the Internet, especially where such gambling crosses State or national borders.”
Notwithstanding section 5362 (2), a financial transaction provider, or any interactive computer service or telecommunications service, may be liable under this subchapter if such person has actual knowledge and control of bets and wagers, and-
(1) operates, manages, supervises, or directs an Internet website at which unlawful bets or wagers may be placed, received, or otherwise made, or at which unlawful bets or wagers are offered to be placed, received, or otherwise made; or
(2) owns or controls, or is owned or controlled by, any person who operates, manages, supervises, or directs an Internet website at which unlawful bets or wagers may be placed, received, or otherwise made, or at which unlawful bets or wagers are offered to be placed, received, or otherwise made.”
More information can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act_of_2006
Because of these Federal gambling laws, online gambling companies are hosting their operations in off-shore countries that supply legal gambling licenses and also using off-shore money transfer services. But even doing so has its risks as can be seen from the recent arrests of the founders of companies like PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker.
The United States judiciary system seems to target only the largest online gambling operators (many of them quoted on the Stock Exchanges), which leaves the market open for the smaller companies. Indeed, we see a spike in these smaller companies’ business turnover as gambling enthusiasts moved over to them after their main resources were cut off.
According to Department of Justice the companies allegedly tried to circumvent UIGEA rules with the help of others who acted as “payment processors” by helping to disguise gambling revenue as payments for non-existent goods such as jewelry or golf balls. A bank in Utah was charged as an accomplice.
State Laws:
The legality of online gambling varies across among each individual state. As of late, many states have taken significant strides in the online gambling industry. New Jersey has been at the forefront of legalizing online gambling. In fact online gambling has been legal for quite some time there. In total, the online casinos have generated a staggering 1.4 billion dollars in revenue. And since legalization, annual growth has skyrocketed.
In order toobtain an online gambling license within New Jersey, one will have to partner with a local land-based casino. If the commercial agreement is successful, financial disclosures as well as game testing will follow. As of mid 2020, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have both adopted the same process.
States Where Sports Betting is Legal:
States such as Illinois have renewed their Gambling Acts to allow for online sports betting. However, like many other states with similar laws, the new Illinois Gambling Act does not permit any other form of online casinos. Many states that have opted for legalizing online sports betting but have yet to even review the ban on online casino gambling. These are the following states that have legalized some form of sports betting:
Washington
Oregon
Montanan
Colorado
New Mexico
Arkansas
Mississippi
Tennessee
North Carolina
Delaware
States Where No Specific Legislation Exists:
The question of the legality of online gambling is a complex one. As it stands many States do not have explicit laws on this question. Even so, the following States have instituted specific laws that prohibit internet gambling. That which would make it illegal for their citizens to take part in online gambling activities:
Louisiana
Montana
Minnesota
South Dakota
North Dakota
Wisconsin
That does not mean that States not on the list allow online gambling – there may just not be a specific current law dealing with that issue.
We are indebted to http://www.gambling-law-us.com for the following information on the different gambling laws of the individual States:
(Follow the links attached to each State to get the details of the specific legal situation)
For more information:
As gambling is regulated by state and territory, you can review the links under the “Gambling and Licencing” heading.
Casino License In Nj
Get in touch:
Pa Casino License
FURTHER INFORMATION ON CURACAO GAMBLING LICENSES
We wrote an article on Curacao Gambling License which may be of interest to you should you be looking for alternative casino licensing information.