How to check a casino's licence yourself
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Gamblerfy editorial team
A licence "badge" or number in a casino's footer proves nothing on its own — anyone can paste a logo onto a page. The only thing that counts is whether that number appears, active and matching, on the regulator's own public register. Here's how to check it yourself in about two minutes, before you deposit a cent.
Step 1: find the licence number
Licensed operators are required to display their licence number, almost always in the website footer or on the terms & conditions page. The format tells you the regulator:
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC): a remote licence looks like
XXXXX-R-XXXXXX-XXX. - Malta Gaming Authority (MGA): looks like
MGA/B2C/NNN/YYYY. - Other regulators (Gibraltar, Isle of Man, various US state regulators, Ontario's iGO/AGCO, Brazil's SPA, Curaçao, and more) each have their own format and their own register.
If you can't find any licence number at all, that's your answer — stop there.
Step 2: look it up on the regulator's register
- UKGC: go to the Gambling Commission's public register of businesses and search the operator name or licence number.
- MGA: use the MGA authorisation portal, choose "Licensee Check", and enter the name or number.
- Any other regulator: find the regulator named in the footer, go to its official website (not a link the casino gives you), and use its licensee search. Always navigate to the regulator directly.
Step 3: confirm three things match
- Status is active — not lapsed, surrendered or suspended.
- The company name matches the operator behind the casino (check the "about"/T&Cs for the legal entity).
- The licence covers your activity and region — some licences are B2B (software only) or don't permit players from your country.
If any of those don't line up — or the number simply isn't in the register — do not deposit.
A licence is the floor, not the ceiling
A valid licence is the minimum bar, not a gold star. On the UKGC register you can also see fines and sanctions against an operator; a casino that keeps getting penalised for player-protection failings is a warning sign even with an active licence. Pair this check with our bonus red flags checklist and the fact that a legitimate casino will always run proper ID verification (KYC) before paying out — a site that skips KYC isn't being generous, it's being careless.