The badge looked legitimate. Malta Gaming Authority logo, license number displayed prominently, official-looking seal. I deposited €200, played for a week, requested withdrawal. Then silence. Support stopped responding. The website disappeared three weeks later. My money vanished with it.
When I finally checked the MGA database, that license number belonged to a completely different company. The badge was copied from a legitimate casino’s footer. A convincing fake that cost me €200 and a valuable lesson.
Now I verify every license before depositing anything. The process takes under two minutes and has saved me from multiple suspect platforms. Established casinos like 32 Red—operating since 2002 with dual licensing from the UK Gambling Commission and Gibraltar—display verifiable credentials because they have nothing to hide. The 5000+ game library and 24/7 support mean nothing if the license isn’t real.
Why Logos Mean Nothing
Any website can display any image. Right-click, save, upload. The Malta Gaming Authority logo, UK Gambling Commission seal, Curaçao badge—all freely available online. Scam sites copy these graphics constantly.
The logo itself provides zero assurance. What matters is whether the license number connects to actual regulatory records. That connection requires verification you must perform yourself.
Common trick: Some fake casinos display real license numbers belonging to other operators. The number exists in the database—just not for that website. Always confirm the company name matches.
The Verification Process
Each major regulator maintains a public database. Here’s how to check the most common licenses:
UK Gambling Commission: Visit the official UKGC website, navigate to “Public Register,” search by company name or license number. The record shows the operator’s legal name, license status, and any regulatory actions. Legitimate UK-licensed casinos appear with full details including their operating company name and license validity dates.
Malta Gaming Authority: The MGA website has a “Licensed Operators” section. Search the license number or company name. Results display the license type, status, and authorised gaming services.
Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner: Their public register lists all licensed operators with company details and license categories.
Curaçao: Trickier to verify. The Curaçao Gaming Control Board recently improved their registry, but older “Curaçao eGaming” licenses through master license holders are harder to confirm. Extra caution warranted here.
What to Check Beyond the Number
Finding the license in the database isn’t enough. Verify these details match:
Company name. The legal entity on the license should match the operator information on the casino’s terms and conditions. Mismatches indicate problems.
License status. Active, suspended, or revoked? Some scam sites display licenses that were valid years ago but have since been terminated.
Gaming categories. Some licenses cover sports betting but not casino games, or vice versa. Confirm the license authorises what the site actually offers.
Effective dates. Licenses expire. An expired license offers no player protection.
Red Flags During Verification
Warning signs that suggest fake or misleading credentials:
The license number returns no results. Either the number is fabricated or you’re searching the wrong regulator’s database.
The company name doesn’t match. The license belongs to someone else.
The website claims multiple licenses but only one verifies. Why lie about the others?
No license information appears anywhere on the site. Legitimate operators display licensing details prominently—usually in the footer.
The “license” links to a generic image rather than the regulator’s actual website.
Provider Verification as Secondary Check
Game providers also indicate legitimacy. Major developers like PragmaticPlay don’t license their games to unlicensed operators—the reputational risk is too high. Seeing established providers in a casino’s lobby suggests some level of vetting occurred.
However, this isn’t foolproof. Some scam sites display provider logos without actually hosting their games, or they use pirated software. Provider presence supports legitimacy but doesn’t replace license verification.
Building the Habit
I verify licenses the same way I check restaurant reviews before booking—quick, automatic, non-negotiable. The two minutes spent prevents the weeks of frustration chasing lost deposits.
My verification checklist:
- Find license information on the casino website
- Note the license number and claimed regulator
- Visit the regulator’s official website directly (not through casino links)
- Search the license number
- Confirm company name, status, and dates match
Five steps. Two minutes. The only reliable protection against copied logos and fabricated credentials.
That €200 lesson taught me something expensive: trust badges are just images. Database entries are evidence.
