Casino Licences Explained: Curacao, Anjouan, Malta (MGA) and the UK (UKGC)

Key takeaways

• A gaming licence is a regulator’s permission to operate under conditions. The strength of those conditions, and of enforcement, varies widely between jurisdictions.
• Malta (MGA) and the UK (UKGC) are established, publicly documented regimes. Curacao has been reforming its framework. Anjouan’s regime is newer and described mostly by commercial providers.
• A licence does not by itself authorise service in every country. Check the stated licence on the regulator’s own register.

What a licence is

A gaming licence is issued by a regulator, either to the operator that runs the casino or, in some systems, to a supplier of platform and games. In exchange the licensee accepts rules and oversight.

For a business building on crypto casino software, the licence also shapes the product: which verification, reporting and game-testing features the platform must support.

What regulators typically require

Requirements differ, but common themes are:

• Fit-and-proper checks on owners and directors.
• Anti-money-laundering controls and customer verification. See KYC and AML at crypto casinos.
• Player protection: age checks, limits, self-exclusion and complaint handling. See our responsible gambling page.
• Game integrity, often through independent testing. See RNG certification.
• Reporting, record keeping and, in stricter regimes, segregation of player funds.

How hard each regulator checks and enforces these points is what separates one licence from another.

Four licences compared in broad terms

Jurisdiction	Regulator	Broad character
Malta	Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)	EU-based regime under Maltese gaming law, with detailed compliance duties and a public licence register
United Kingdom	UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)	A licence is required to offer gambling to UK customers, with strict conduct and consumer-protection rules
Curacao	Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) after reform	Long-used by international operators, now moving to a single regulator and a new law
Anjouan	Anjouan authorities (names vary by source)	Newer offshore licence mostly described by licensing agents

This table is a simplification. Rules change, so read the regulator’s own pages.

Curacao and its reform

For many years Curacao licences were issued through a small number of master licence holders, with sub-licences granted to operators. Press and legal-industry coverage reports that Parliament approved a new national ordinance on games of chance in December 2024. It moves licensing under a single authority, the Curacao Gaming Authority, with separate categories for operators and suppliers, stricter compliance requirements and a public register.

Reports also describe a transition period for holders of older licences, with extensions announced. We have not verified the current end dates or the number of licences migrated, and those details can change. Check the regulator’s publications for the present position.

Anjouan

Anjouan is an autonomous island within the Union of the Comoros. Licences marketed as Anjouan gaming licences are promoted by many consultancies, which describe company incorporation, due-diligence and compliance requirements. Because most descriptions come from commercial sellers, and sources differ even on the name of the issuing body, we do not state specific requirements. Issuers of such licences have also stated that a licence is not a universal authorisation to operate in every country. A player or business should confirm the issuer and licence directly with the named authority.

Malta and the UK

The MGA licenses operators under Maltese law and publishes a register of licensees. The UKGC regulates gambling in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005 and requires a UKGC licence for operators serving customers there. Both regimes are widely documented and publish enforcement actions, which makes them easier to research than newer systems.

How to check a licence

1. Find the licence number and issuing body in the operator’s footer or terms.
2. Look it up on the regulator’s own website, not through a link provided by the operator.
3. Check that the company name and domain match.
4. Read which markets the licence and terms exclude.

If any step fails, treat the licence claim as unverified. Our software provider list notes the licences that providers say they support.

This article is information, not advice to gamble. You must be 18 or older.

FAQ

What is an online gaming licence?

A permission from a regulator to offer gambling services under stated conditions. The conditions usually cover ownership checks, player protection, game integrity, anti-money-laundering controls and reporting.

Does one licence let an operator accept players from any country?

No. A licence does not override local law. Many countries require operators to hold a local licence to serve their residents, and the licence issuer itself may restrict which markets are allowed.

Did Curacao change its licensing system?

Yes. Curacao passed a national ordinance on games of chance that moved licensing to a single regulator, the Curacao Gaming Authority, replacing the earlier master-licence arrangement. Transition arrangements applied to existing licences, so check the current status with the regulator.

How can a player check a licence?

Find the licence number and issuer stated by the operator, then look for it on the regulator's own public register. If it cannot be found there, treat the claim as unverified.