About Malta Jurisdiction

Malta, a small European country situated south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, was the first EU member state to regulate Remote Gaming. Established in 2001, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority is a single regulatory body that is responsible for the governance of all gaming activities in Malta including Amusement Machines, Broadcasting Media games, Casinos, Commercial Bingo Halls, Commercial Communication games, the National lottery, Non-Profit games and Remote Gaming. Since being created, the LGA established the following mission statement:

„To regulate competently the various sectors of the lotteries and gaming industry that fall under the Authority by ensuring gaming is fair and transparent to the players, preventing crime, corruption and money laundering and by protecting minor and vulnerable players.”

In 2001 Maltese government enacted the Lotteries and Other Games Act, which aimed to bring all gaming activities, with the exception of land-based casinos, under one comprehensive legislative instrument. The Act vested the Authority with a wide array of powers, thereby providing the necessary tools to implement effective regulation.

The remote gaming sector is the most dynamic and the fastest growing gaming sector in Malta and is regulated under the provisions of the Remote Gaming Regulations. In March 2005, the Malta Remote Gaming Council was launched. This Council brings together all remote gaming licensees, giving them a great opportunity to meet new challenges backed by the inherent advantages of collective effort. LGA also launched an on-line forum aiming to create an on going discussion between all stakeholders, ISP providers, legal and financial representatives in the Malta remote gaming industry.

Malta Licences

There are four different licences granted by the LGA. The first type of licence is for gambling companies providing games that use a random number generator to determine winners. The second type of licence is for sports betting businesses. The third type of license is for gambling advertising companies operating from Malta. The fourth type of licence is for businesses that manage remote gaming operations.

A licence is granted by the Authority for a five year period. On the expiration of such term a licence, it may be renewed for further five-year periods. A licence granted by the Authority may impose conditions relating to, inter alia: the proper operation of interactive games; the protection of players; the prevention of money laundering; exigencies of public interest.

Any company applying for a Malta license must have their software tested 6 months prior to opening for business. Companies must also adhere to a strict code designed to protect players, as well as pay 2,000 Maltese Lira (Lm) fee for a license and 3,000 Lm (or 0.5%) in taxes per month.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

The Lotteries and Gaming Authority handles all gambling issues for Malta-licensed gaming companies. Players who are experiencing any problems with an online operator licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority can contact their Players' Support Channel via email at [email protected].

Summing up

The LGA has the following aims and objectives:

• protecting minors and vulnerable persons;

• safeguarding players' rights; promoting responsible gaming in a safe environment;

• ensuring the integrity of games and gaming devices;

• keeping gaming free from criminal activities;

• consolidation of all the regulatory functions relating to gaming activities;

• operating a successful and a fully integrated Authority;

• supporting the industry and technological innovation;

• providing authoritative and accessible information;

• providing a one-stop-shop for licensing.

The activities of the LGA include:

• conducting research on various aspects of gaming;

• granting licences relating to gaming and lotteries;

• monitoring licensed gaming;

• collecting gaming taxes on behalf of the Government;

• supporting good causes;

• ensuring that the sector contributes to the country's development.

For more information visit the LGA’s website at http://www.lga.org.mt/lga/home.aspx

Online casinos with a licence granted by the LGA Malta:

• 7 Sultans Casino

• Betfair Casino

• Betsson Casino

• Betway Casino

• Casino Club

• Casino UK

• CasinoEuro

• Cherry Casino

• Cinema Casino

• Crazy Vegas Casino

• Diamond World Casino

• GoWild Casino

• InterCasino

• Luxury Casino

• Mr Green Casino

• Mummy's Gold Casino

• Redbet Casino

• Roxy Palace Casino

• Ruby Fortune Casino

• Spin Palace Casino

• Sun Vegas Casino

• VIP Casino

About Alderney Jurisdiction

Alderney, the third largest of the British Channel Islands, is approximately 8 miles from France and 60 miles from mainland Britain. Alderney is self governing dependency of the Crown, but it is not part of the United Kingdom, nor is it part of the European Union. Alderney has its own government, legislature and company laws and operates with modern banking, insurance and investment laws.

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) was established in May 2000. The Commission is independent and non political, and its mission is to ensure and maintain the integrity of the electronic gambling industry in Alderney. The Commission seeks to ensure that all electronic gambling on Alderney is conducted honestly and fairly; the funding, management and operation of electronic gambling on Alderney remains free from criminal influence; and electronic gambling is regulated and monitored so as to protect the interests of licensees' customers as well as the young and vulnerable.

Alderney Licences

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission issues licenses to casino, poker, sportsbook, and lottery companies wishing to operate from within its borders. Since 2006 the Commission allows for businesses to set up mirror companies in Alderney while actually housing their main operations in another country.

The Commission issues the following types of licences and certificates:

• a category 1 licence

• a category 2 licence

• a core services associate certificate

• a foreign gambling associate certificate

• a hosting certificate

• a temporary eGambling licence

• a key individual certificate.

In order to obtain licensing in Alderney, a gambling company must first undergo an investigation by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and pay a fee of £10,000 to cover the investigation process. In order to obtain licensing, the company must prove that it can operate reasonably and fairly. The gaming software used by the company must also pass compliance testing. Finally, the last step to obtaining a license is paying an annual fee of £70,000.

When you’re looking for an online casino to play at, you shouldn’t take into account only games offered at the casino’s website. According to the Alderney Gambling Control Commission the following components should be present on a well-operated site:

• the predicted return to player which is displayed for every game on an AGCC-regulated site,

• a clear identification of the regulator and their jurisdiction, probably with a logo,

• customer service contact data,

• terms and conditions for all play (an outline of the disputes process),

• secure payments process.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

If you are experiencing any problems with an online operator licensed by the Gambling Control Commission, you can acquaint with its formally documented player complaints procedure, which is accessible via their website.

Summing up

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission regulates the eGambling industry, to ensure that it is conducted honestly and fairly, remains free from criminal influence and that it does not cause harm to the public at large, individual persons and families. If an online casino is licensed in Alderney, you can be sure that you and your money will be safe there.

For more information visit the AGCC’s website at http://www.gamblingcontrol.org/index.php

Online casinos with a licence granted by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission:

• JackpotCity.com

• Skybet Vegas

• Blue Square Casino

• Boyle Casino

• Totesport Casino

• Virgin Casino

• Getminted Casino

• Live Roulette

• Paddy Power Casino

• Stanley Casinos

• PKRCasino

• Grosvenor casino

• Eurobet Casino

• Games Xtra

• At The Races Casino

• Foxy Flutter

• Kerching Casino

• Tila Casino

• Mirror Casino

• Winner Channel

• Challenge Jackpot

• GCasino

• Mecca Games

• METROplay

• Mr123 Casino

• Sky Vegas

• Zedbet

• Gala Casino

• Littlewoods Casino

• Spin and Win Casino

About Gibraltar Jurisdiction

Gibraltar is a peninsula covering a land area of about six square kilometres. It is situated at the southern tip of Spain, overlooking the strait to Africa. Gibraltar is an overseas British territory, but is mainly ruled by their own internal government.

Gibraltar has strict regulations in place that ensure gaming companies must be totally legitimate before attaining licensing there. All gambling operations in Gibraltar require licensing under the Gambling Act 2005. Remote Gambling licences are issued by the Licensing Authority. The Gambling Commissioner, who appointed under the provisions of the Act, is granted powers to ensure that licensees conduct their operations in accordance with their licenses and in such a manner as to maintain the good reputation of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Licences

Gibraltar licences are generally difficult to obtain. The Licensing Authority will only consider licensing well-established companies with a proven track record in gambling, licensed in a reputable jurisdiction, of good financial standing and with a realistic business plan. What is more, casino operators have to pay annual gaming tax. For internet casinos gaming tax is currently levied at 1% of the gaming yield or gross profit up to £425,000.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

In case of any disputes with casino operators, players can take complaints to the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. Complaints about operators must follow the process set out in The Gambling Commissioner’s advice to complainants. Complaints must be submitted in writing, by email, using the prescribed form (Complaint Resolution Request Form) to [email protected].

Summing up

Gibraltar belongs to the group of top tier jurisdictions, because of the strict requirements that companies have to meet in order to obtain a licence of this jurisdiction. Therefore, casinos under this jurisdiction are generally honest and friar.

For more information visit the Gibraltar Government’s website at http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/

Online casinos with a licence granted by the the Licensing Authority of Gibraltar:

• 21 Nova Casino

• 32 Red Casino

• 888 Casino

• Bet365 Casino

• BetFred Casino

• BetVictor Casino

• bwin Casino

• Carnival Casino

• Casino Elegance

• Casino Fantasy

• Casino King

• Casino Las Vegas

• Casino Treasure

• Club Dice Casino

• Dash Casino

• EuroGrand Casino

• Everest Casino

• Gaming Club Casino

• Jackpot City Casino

• JackpotJoy Casino

• Joyland Casino

• King Neptune's Casino

• Ladbrokes Casino

• LesA Casino

• Lucky Ace Casino

• Lucky Nugget Casino

• Magic Box Casino

• Mansion Casino

• Noble Casino

• Party Casino

• River Belle Casino

• Swiss Casino

• Tower Gaming Casino

• William Hill Casino

 

 

About the Isle of Man jurisdiction

The Isle of Man is an island located in the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland. It is a British Crown Dependency, but it has their own government and is not considered part of the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man Government actively encourages the development of gambling and e-gaming business on the island. After the crash in the e-gaming market in the early 2000’s, when the Isle of Man was left with no gambling companies, the government has done everything possible to bring gambling operators back to the country. In 2001, the Isle of Man Government was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to introduce legislation specifically designed to benefit gambling and e-gaming firms and fully protect customers. Following further recent changes, the licensing and regulatory controls are now more responsive to the needs of the gambling and e-gaming industries. Today, the Isle of Man is considered a basic model for online gaming in countries that either seek their licensing or wish to implement their own infrastructure and promote e-gaming.

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, which is part of the Treasury Department, was established in 1962 and is fully independent body, committed to player protection. It regulates all gambling on the island, dealing with licence applications from companies looking to move their business to the jurisdiction. The Commission also provides full assistance to licensees to help them conduct their online gaming activity within the regulations.

Isle of Man Licences

Since the downslide in 2002, the government has taken steps taken to attract new gambling operators. Now the Department of Trade and Industry oversees the licensing, and the previous $2 million USD security bond has been renegotiated, making licenses much more affordable for smaller operators. What is more, the Isle of Man improved their regulations and laws, and now no income tax is taken out of the e-gaming sector. These changes have prompted even more business, and while there are a few operators licensed in the Isle of Man, they are among the most successful online gaming venues around.

In order to apply for a license, operators must first request an application from the Gambling Supervision Commission and pay a non-refundable fee of £1,000. Then a thorough inspection process takes place, wherein each prospective operator is rigorously checked for credibility. Applicants must prove fairness of their games, keep enough money reserved for payouts whenever requested, and be regarded as a reputable gaming provider. The operators licensed in the Isle of Man have to pay an annual license fee of £35,000, and a 1.5% tax on gross gaming yield up to the amount of £20,000,000. The corporation tax is 0% so long as the site does not accept bets from the Isle of Man residents.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

The Gambling Supervision Commission is statutorily charged to ensure that gambling is conducted honestly and fairly, remains free from criminal influence and exploitation and does not cause harm to the public interest, individuals and families. If a complaint arises with a Mann-licensed operator , players should, first of all, contact the licence holder about their grievance. If they are dissatisfied with the response and have exhausted all avenues with the casino operator, they can contact the Commission by email at [email protected]. To speed up the query, player are asked to fill in the Complaints Form and send it to the Commission.

Summing up

After the e-gaming crash, the Isle of Man relaxed requirements in order to attract new business. However, the standards have gotten stricter in recent years, and the jurisdiction is proving they are serious about fair gaming. Due to the improvements and implementation of a Gambling Supervision Commission, you don’t have to worry about depositing at a casino licensed in this jurisdiction.

For more information visit the Gambling Supervision Commission’s website at http://www.gov.im/gambling/benefits/aboutgcc.xml

Online casinos with a licence granted by the Gambling Supervision Commission:

• 188BET Casino

• Bella Jackpot Casino

• BetInternet Casino

• Camasino Casino

• Casino Magic

• Casinover Casino

• Dublinbet Casino

• Global Live Casino

• Lucky Live Casino

• Mamut Games Casino

• PokerStars Casino

• Rogers Casino

• SBOB Casino

• Scratch Games Casino

• Sunmaker Casino

• Trada Casino

• Winners Island Casino

• Wisniewski Casino

 

 

About the United Kingdom Jurisdiction

The United Kingdom is one of the world’s major political powers as well as a highly developed country from an economic standpoint. However, in recent years more and more casino operators in the United Kingdom are moving their operations to other countries, which offer lower taxes.

The Gambling Commission, which was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain, is an independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Gambling Commission is already one of the strongest gaming organisations in the world. It seeks to ensure that crime is kept out of gambling, that gambling is fair and open, and that children and the vulnerable are protected. The commission is currently trying to make offshore locations adhere to the same standards and tax laws that the UK features.

United Kingdom Licences

The Gambling Commission license operators and individuals providing the following activities in Great Britain:

• arcades

• betting

• bingo

• casinos

• gaming machine supply and maintenance

• gambling software supply

• lotteries and external lottery managers

• remote gambling (including betting online, by telephone, or via any other electronic communication device) using British-based equipment.

In order to operate a gambling business in the UK , a company must submit an application to the Gambling Commission, which will review it and decide if the company is fit to operate out of Britain. When considering the suitability of an applicant The Gambling Commission has regard to the following elements:

• the identity of the applicant,

• financial and other circumstances of the applicant,

• the honesty and trustworthiness of the applicant,

• the experience, expertise, qualifications and history of the applicant,

• criminal record of the applicant.

What is more, the companies must also pay the comparatively high annual taxes that the UK imposes. Annual taxes in the United Kingdom are 15% on profits, and this is a major reason why many companies choose to operate elsewhere.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

The Gambling Commission takes all complaints very seriously. If you wish to complain about the way a gambling business is being run, which may indicate a threat to the licensing objectives of the Gambling Commission, you should follow the complaints procedure set out at their website.

Summing up

Although The Gambling Commission is already one of the strongest gaming organisations in the world and it guarantees fairness of gaming and player protection, many companies, such as Ladbrokes and William Hill have moved their operations from the country due to high taxes. Nevertheless, if you wonder whether to deposit money at a casino licensed by the Gambling Commission or not, you can be sure that the casino operates in a fair and open way.

For more information visit the UK Gambling Commission’s website at http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/

Online casinos with a licence granted by the UK Gambling Commission:

• Guru Play Casino

• All Slots Casino

• 32 Red Casino

• Captain Cooks Casino

• Yukon Gold Casino

• Ladbrokes Casino

• William Hill Casino

• Club UK Casino

• Grand Mondial Casino

• Casino Share

• Vegas 7 Casino

• Aztec Riches Casino

• All Jackpots Casino

• Betfred Casino

• Circus Casino

• Grand Duke Casino

• Ruby Fortune Casino

• UK Casino Club

• 888.com Online Casino

• Getminted Casino

• Sky Vegas Casino

• Jackpotjoy

• Mecca Games Casino

• Smart Live Casino

• Play United Casino

• Cirrus Casino UK

• Europa Casino

 

 

About the Antigua Jurisdiction

Antigua is an island located east of Puerto Rico in the West Indies. Together with the island of Barbuda, which is right beside Antigua, it is considered a part of British constitutional monarchy. Antigua was one of the first places in the world to license and regulate online gaming. In the past this popular tourist destination did not impose strict restrictions on gambling companies and it was risky to deposit money in casinos licensed in Antigua, however, recently Antigua finally started promoting fair gaming and player protection.

Antigua is governed by an appointed Governor General, who represents the British Monarchy. The Antigua government consists of three departments: legislative, judicial, and executive. The island has its own laws that include a relaxed view towards gambling. Antigua and Barbuda have been very proactive in regulating the offshore gaming. The Division of Gaming is the regulatory body under the Financial Services Regulatory Commission responsible for regulating offshore gaming industry in the jurisdiction of Antigua and Barbuda. The jurisdiction’s regulatory regime focuses on money laundering prevention, player protection and industry enhancement.

Antigua Licences

In the past it was easy to obtain a licence in this jurisdiction, but currently Antigua has tightened up licensing requirements. A company wishing to operate an online casino is required to be incorporated under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda. Once incorporated, a prospective licensee must then obtain a licence. In order to be considered for a licence a company must complete an application as well as a Business Entity Information Package and submit them to the Commission. Each key person, director, partner and chief executive officer of the company must also complete a Personal Information form. Finally, a non-refundable fee of $15,000 US dollars is to be submitted for conducting investigation and assessments of the applicant. If approved, the company must pay a $70,000 licensing fee plus 3% in annual taxes.

What is more, all gaming companies licensed in Antigua are required to establish clear internal procedures regarding “know your customer”, as well as have their accounts audited by external auditors who also have to certify their solvency, safety and soundness, player protection and compliance with the regulations of Antigua and Barbuda

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

In case of any complaints involving companies operating out of Antigua and Barbuda, players can apply to the Directorate of Offshore Gaming, which will review the complaint and investigate it if necessary. The jurisdiction’s online complaints page is currently offline for maintenance, and players are asked to email any complaints to [email protected].

Summing up

Although in the past Antigua was not regarded as a top tier jurisdiction, recently it is becoming more and more interested in promoting fair gaming and player protection and it strives to tighten up licensing requirements.

For more information visit the Directorate of Offshore Gaming’s website at http://www.antiguagaming.gov.ag/

Online casinos with a licence granted by the Directorate of Offshore Gaming:

• Bodog Casino

• Casino Bellini

• Casino Del Rio

• Casino Tropez

• Europa Casino

• iWager Casino

• Linesmaker Casino

• Mapau Casino

• Players Only Casino

• Sport Fanatik Casino

• Sportsbook Casino

• Titan Casino

• Winner Casino

 

About the Curaçao Jurisdiction

Curaçao is an island forming part of the Netherlands Antilles, situated north of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. Curaçao is a territory of the Netherlands, however, because of Curaçao's distance from other European countries, they are able to operate their own government. Curaçao has been issuing e-licenses since 1996, that is longer than most other jurisdictions. Nowadays, Curaçao is known as one of the most commonly used online gambling licensers, since they offer good conditions to Internet gaming companies, for example, a low company tax rate of only 2% on net profits.

The Curaçao Internet Gaming Association (CIGA) is responsible for gaming activity in the country. CIGA members comprise two groups: operators, who directly engage in online gaming activities within the island of Curacao, and non operators, that is, companies representing support activities such as banking, insurance, trust management, software, office rental etc.

Curaçao Licences

All CIGA membership agree to comply with the following basic rules:

• to operate under an Internet gaming license issued by the Netherlands Antilles,

• to maintain a complete audit trail of individual wagers and transactions for each customer,

• to avoid the creation and dispersal of any false or misleading advertising and marketing,

• to refuse any and all wagers from individuals under 18 years of age or residents of the Netherlands Antilles,

• to make their gaming programs and systems available to independent, third party review within a reasonable amount of time,

• to maintain adequate financial resources to pay any and all winning wagers on demand,

• to assist with the betterment of consumer confidence within the online gaming industry.

All members have to abide by CIGA Membership Code of Conduct, which sets rules connected with regulatory compliance, consumer privacy and data protection, financial issues, banking and transaction processing, dispute resolution and audit trails, accountability, limiting accessibility by minors, control of compulsive gambling.

In order to apply for a license in Curaçao, a company has to fill out an application provided by the Netherlands Antilles Chamber of Commerce and endure a 6 week-long investigation by the Department of Justice. The company must also pay a 60,000 (ANG) deposit, followed by a monthly fee of 10,000 (ANG) for the first two years of the licensing agreement.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

Unfortunately, although Curaçao has strict requirements for obtaining a licence, they don’t care about disputes between players and casino operators. At CIGA’s website we can read that “currently, CIGA does not have the capacity to handle player complaints against members, however all such complaints will be passed on to the appropriate member; who will be expected to respond in a timely manner.” So if you are experiencing any problems with a casino operator licensed in Curaçao, you won’t get any support from their licensing authority.

Summing up

Curaçao is regarded as a second tier jurisdiction due to the fact that their dispute resolution procedure basically consists of telling the player to settle the problem directly with the casino.

For more information visit CIGA’s website at http://www.ciga.an/

Online casinos with a licence granted by CIGA:

• 3Dice Casino

• Aladdin's Gold Casino

• All Star Slots Casino

• Bella Vegas Casino

• Bingo Liner Casino

• Black Diamond Casino

• Blackjack Club Casino

• Buzzluck Casino

• Casino Grand Bay

• Casino Titan

• Casino Vega

• Casino.Net

• CasinoLuck

• Cherry Red Casino

• City Club Casino

• City Tower Casino

• Club USA Casino

• Cocoa Casino

• Commodore Casino

• Crown Europe Casino

• DaVinci's Gold Casino

• Desert Nights Casino

• Empire Casino

• Fortune Junction Casino

• Giant Vegas Casino

• Gold Betting Casino

• Golden Palace Casino

• Grand Parker Casino

• High Noon Casino

• Jupiter Club Casino

• King Solomons Casino

• Lake Palace Casino

• Lock Casino

• Loco Panda Casino

• Lucky Red Casino

• Manhattan Slots Casino

• Omni Casino

• Onbling Casino

• Online Casino Central

• Pantasia Casino

• Paradise 8 Casino

• Pink Lady Casino

• Road House Reels Casino

• Rockbet Casino

• Royal Dice Casino

• Rushmore Casino

• Sierra Star Casino

• Sloto'Cash Casino

• Slots Jungle Casino

• Slots Oasis Casino

• Slots of Fortune Casino

• Spartan Slots Casino

• Vegas Days Casino

• Video Poker Classic Casino

• Windows Casino

• WinPalace Casino

 

About the Kahnawake Jurisdiction

The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory is an Indian land reserve in Quebec, Canada. The reserve has 48 square kilometers and is situated on the St. Lawrence River just across from Montreal. The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory has an independent government, and therefore, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is the only online gambling licensing authority in North America.

Kahnawake was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to recognize the opportunities afforded by the interactive gaming industry and for over 11 years the Kahnawake Gaming Commission has been continuously licensing and regulating a wide range of interactive gaming sites. Online gaming operators that are licensed by the Commission must be hosted at Mohawk Internet Technologies, a data centre located within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake and managed by Continent 8 Technologies.

The Commission's primary function is to protect players who choose to participate in the online gaming offered by the companies licensed in Kahnawake. The Commission uses a variety of means to ensure that interactive gaming is conducted responsibly, fairly and honestly; and the operators of interactive games treat players fairly; that they pay winners promptly and that all information related to player accounts is confidential.

Kahnawake Licenses

Currently, the Commission issues four types of licenses under its Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming:

1. Interactive Gaming Licence, issued to an approved hosting facility in Kahnawake;

2. Client Provider Authorisation, issued to approved entities that want to provide interactive gaming services from the hosting facility in Kahnawake;

3. Secondary Client Provider Authorisation, issued to approved entities that want to provide interactive gaming services from the hosting facility in Kahnawake but whose primary operations are located in another jurisdiction recognized by the Commission;

4. Key Person Licence, issued to at least one person who performs a managerial function for the entity that holds a Client Provider Authorisation.

The Commission also issues Poker Room Licences under its Regulations concerning Poker Rooms to approved terrestrial poker rooms operating within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.

The first step in the application process for a Kahnawake gaming license is paying a $5,000 CAD application fee. Then a company has to pay $15,000 CAD in order to cover software testing and an investigation of the company. Once the tests have been passed, the company is required to pay $10,000 CAD in annual license fees.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission handles any disputes that arise between players and casino operators. The Commission regulations provide a number of dispute resolution mechanisms to address player complaints, including the possibility of third party arbitration. What is more, the Commission's staff includes a full time Dispute Resolution Officer to ensure that all player complaints are addressed in a timely way.

Summing up

After UltimateBet and Absolute Poker cheating scandal some people have questioned Kahnawake Gaming Commission requirements, but the fact that the Commission ordered UltimateBet to refund $22 million back to players who had been cheated, and issued a $1.5 million fine proved that Kahnawake jurisdiction takes care of players problems.

For more information visit the Kahnawake Gaming Commission’s website at http://www.gamingcommission.ca/default.htm

Online casinos with a licence granted by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission:

• All Jackpots Casino

• All Slots Casino

• Aztec Riches Casino

• BlackJack Ballroom Casino

• Break Away Casino

• Captain Cooks Casino

• Casino Classic

• Casino Kingdom

• Casino La Vida

• Casino Share

• Challenge Casino

• Colosseum Casino

• Desert Dollar Casino

• First Web Casino

• Fortune Room Casino

• Golden Tiger Casino

• Grand Hotel Casino

• Intertops Casino

• Nostalgia Casino

• Phoenician Casino

• Platinum Play Casino

• Play United Casino

• Players Palace Casino

• Quatro Casino

• Red Flush Casino

• Royal Vegas Casino

• SciFi Casino

• Sky Kings Casino

• UK Casino Club

• Vegas 7 Casino

• Vegas Joker Casino

• Vegas Palms Casino

• Vegas Slot Casino

• Vegas Towers Casino

• Vegas Villa Casino

• Villento Las Vegas Casino

• Virtual City Casino

• Zodiac Casino

 

About the Costa Rica Jurisdiction

Costa Rica is located in Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama. Costa Rica is considered as one of the most popular gaming jurisdictions in the world and it is home to hundreds of online casinos. There is however a very clear reason as to why this country is so popular amongst gambling companies. Unlike, territories such as Alderney or Malta, the Costa Rican Government does not have any specific criteria, licensing or regulation setup which operators have to adhere to, to be able to operate from this country. Costa Rica unfortunately is a country where many blacklisted or rogue casinos operate from, since this jurisdiction's main requirement for licensing is that companies pay for a regular business license. The companies that reside within Costa Rica can legally offer online wagers to customers all over the world, as long as they do not accept wagers from residents of Costa Rica itself. This jurisdiction's main requirement for licensing is that companies pay for a regular business license. Most companies licensed in Costa Rica are self-regulated, that is, they are not subjected to the regulations, monitoring and testing in the same way as they would be in other jurisdictions. Due to the lack of legislation and oversight for online gambling, Costa Rica has inevitably become a haven for numerous rogue online casinos.

Costa Rican Licences

Why does so many online gambling companies operate from Costa Rica? Basically, due to the lack of requirements for licensing. The only thing a company needs to do is to pay $5000 for a permanent business license, $5000 for license renewal at the end of the year, and $500 for legal costs. Costa Rica does not have any regulatory authority or organisation dealing with online gambling. Companies are not issued with a gaming license in Costa Rica due to the illegal nature of gambling within this country. However, the companies may be granted the license for offshore gaming operators (called “data processing license”), which is not strictly necessary in order to operate an online gaming operation from Costa Rica, but most companies apply for it in order to appear reputable to their clientele. Gambling companies are not subject to betting or gaming taxes, since taxes in Costa Rica are subject to territoriality and, therefore, any business income with a foreign source is tax exempt. However, since 2010 this is currently under consideration regarding whether a 2% tax on gambling activity should be introduced. There are no further requirements that must be met. The companies don’t have to prove a longstanding reputation within the gambling industry, nor have audited payouts and software.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

When it comes to disputes, if players encounter a problem with one of the casinos based in Costa Rica, they cannot turn to any regulatory authority that handles complaints from customers, because there is no such thing.

Summing up

Contrary to what many Costa Rican based casinos want players to believe, there is no licensing and no regulation of online casinos in this jurisdiction. Costa Rica is home to hundreds of online casinos, many of which have generated multiple player issues. So we advise players to conduct a research before depositing money at an online casino operating out of Costa Rica.

Online casinos operating in Costa Rica:

• 7Spins Casino

• Atlantic Lounge Casino

• BetUS Casino

• Casino Moons

• Cirrus Casino

• Club Player Casino

• Cool Cat Casino

• Golden Vegas Games

• iNetBet Casino

• Island Casino

• JustBet Casino

• Las Vegas USA Casino

• Palace of Chance Casino

• Prism Casino

• Rich Casino

• Rome Casino

• Silver Oak Casino

• Slots of Vegas Casino

• Slots Plus Casino

• Sportbet Casino

• Sun Palace Casino

• The Virtual Casino

• Thebes Casino

• Vegas Casino Online

• Vera&John Casino

• VIP Lounge Casino

• Wild Vegas Casino

• Winward Casino

• World Wide Vegas Casino

 

About Panama Jurisdiction

Panama, officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America. Casinos and gambling have been a big part of the culture in Panama for decades. This small county hosts legal gambling and has 36 gambling houses available to the public.

Panama began offering internet gaming licenses to casino operators wishing to operate within this jurisdiction in October 2002. All internet gaming companies registered within or hosted inside of this jurisdiction must be registered under the Online Gaming Act of 2002. This regulation allows for international wagering to take place online. The official currency of all entities within the jurisdiction of Panama is the USD. Online gaming companies are not subject to foreign exchange control. The online gambling in Panama is controlled by the Panama Gaming Control Board (Junta de Control de Juegos), established in 1947.

Panama Licences

Internet gaming companies registered in Panama enjoy complete tax exemptions. Customs duty concessions are given for imports needed to carry on Internet gaming. As long as the income made from Internet operations is to jurisdictions outside of this country, there are no income tax, sales tax, withholding tax, or VAT tax. Offshore companies, including online gaming companies are not subject to foreign exchange control.

The regulations governing the licensing of electronic games of chance and wagering activities allow master licenses to be granted that are valid for up to seven years upon payment of a license fee of $40,000. The companies also have to pay an annual license fee of $20,000. Master license holders may grant sublicenses, which are also subject to the annual fee. Applicants for a licence must pay all investigative and research costs. Application processing can take anywhere from a few weeks to two months or more, only after all necessary documentation is filled out and submitted.

Resolution of Complaints and Disputes

Unfortunately there is no authority players resort to in case of any disputes with casino operators licensed in Panama.

Summing up

Although Panama has some regulations in place to protect players and ensure fairness of gaming, it is still far too easy to be granted a licence in this jurisdiction. Therefore, casinos operating out of this jurisdiction should not be fully trusted. We advise you to research such casinos before depositing your money there.

Online casinos licensed in Panama:

• Zex Casino

• Ministering Angel Casino

• Magik Money Casino