In this article you will find such information:
- list of European online casinos available to Poles;
- details of the Euro games in South Africa;
- advantages and disadvantages of European online casinos.
Legal European casinos-licenses
The European gambling industry is made up of a number of regulators, the most stringent of which are the Malta Gaming authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
If casino operators do not comply with the rules that regulators require of them, then in this case they can often be punished with a fine, and sometimes even there is a risk of losing their license. The rules and regulations that have been imposed by the authorities guarantee the safety of both the operator and the players.
In order to improve gambling for players, each licensed operator will have different tools at their disposal. Many of them will include a self-exclusion feature that will allow you to opt out of playing at any of the casinos covered by this license. They also cooperate with the authorities of the country if something suspicious happens in the casino, which makes online gambling safer for everyone. When you find a casino with a license plate and license number, you can check all this in the Register of the relevant licensing authority.
There are many different regulatory bodies in Europe - we have given a brief introduction to some of the most common EU casinos that you can find while playing. here we have some of the biggest online casinos and then we are given other casinos that you can find in Europe.
| Regulatory Authority | Abbreviation | Country | Location | Information on the authority |
| The Alderney Gambling Control Commission | AGCC | Alderney, Channel Islands | St. Anne's House, Queen Elizabeth II Street, Alderney, Channel Islands | The Alderney Gambling Control Commission, based in Guernsey, ensures that online casinos operating under its licence are fair and secure. The commission was established in 2000. this body also allows players to self-exclude themselves from casinos operating under the same license. |
| The United Kingdom Gambling Commission | UKGC | United Kingdom | Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham | The UKGC, one of the strictest and most respected gambling commissions in Europe, monitors all casinos that operate in the UK or offer services to players from this country. Every casino offering its services to players in the UK must have a UK license number, which is easily visible on the website. |
| The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission | GSC | Isle Of Man | St Georges Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas | The GSC has been in operation since 1962 and aims to supervise all gambling-related activities that take place on the Isle of Man, as well as the casino operators who are registered there. Its purpose is to keep the gambling industry crime-free, protect young people from exposure to gambling, and ensure that casinos operate fairly and players receive their real winnings. |
| Malta Gaming Authority | MGA | Malta | Malta Gaming Authority, SCM building, 02-03, floor 4, SmartCity, Malta | license used by most casinos that want to offer services to European players. It is one of the strictest authorities that seeks to protect minors, promote a responsible gaming environment and keep crime away from online gambling. |
| Spelinspektionen | (Eng. The Swedish Gambling Authority | Sweden | Finningevägen 54A, 645 42 Strängnäs | Any casino operating under the license of the Swedish Gambling authority is very trustworthy. This authority ensures the legality and integrity of casinos operating in Sweden, which means that no crime can penetrate their activities and that the casino must comply with strict legal requirements. |
Specific features of the gambling market in the countries of the European Union
Each country is at a different stage in the formation of the gambling market, so all the features of the gambling market in each country should be discussed and evaluated separately. Our author Milan Rabszski has seen with his own eyes the situation in each of the countries described below:
- France-in France, different authorities regulate different gambling sectors. These include Pari-Mutuel Urbain, Francaise des Jeux and ARJEL. All casinos that want to offer their games exclusively to the French must have licenses issued by aRJeL.
- Germany-the Interstate gambling treaty, which was introduced in 2012, allows organizations to offer their gambling services. This treaty was abolished in 2013. Now gambling is monopolized by the German government. This may change, however, as Berlin has approved gambling regulations and they should be implemented as early as 2023.
- Spain - to be able to apply for a license in Spain, you must meet a number of conditions. Most casinos are licensed by the Spanish National Gaming Commission. Spaniards can legally play online gambling.
- Italy-the legislation in Italy is liberal and therefore Italians have a wide selection of online casinos. Most casino games and bets are allowed.
- The Netherlands-Kansspelautoriteit is the governing body that oversees gambling. However, playing at online casinos for Dutch players is illegal. In 2019, the Senate approved the operation of European casinos and their licenses in the Netherlands.
- Portugal - in this country online casinos are completely legal. All casinos are licensed and regulated by the government Regulatory and inspection Services of Games and Tourism of Portugal.
- Ireland-gambling in Ireland's virtual casinos is also legal, but they must apply to the UK Gambling Commission to obtain a license.
- Austria-in Austria, gambling is regulated by the Glücksspielgesetz. Only casinos with an Austrian license can offer gambling services to those citizens, although other European casinos are not prohibited.
Online casinos in the EU - legal or not?
The answer to this question will be: you can't say yes or no for sure. The European Union consists of many countries, so, we look from the perspective of each country and read the information about updates. online gambling is legal in most European countries.
One more question has always bothered our editors: is it worth trusting European casinos? After conducting a deep analysis, we will answer you honestly that it is worth it, but only to those that have a license from the authorities that we mentioned in this article. So, it is always important to check gambling sites yourself and above all to look for license information.
Wagy:
- unfortunately, not all casinos are legal.;
- not all European casinos can accept the currency in which you want to withdraw your winnings or make a deposit.
Advantages:
- each European online casino has different characteristics. So, you have the opportunity to check and compare gambling sites.
- if the casino you are playing at is licensed by The MGa or the UKGC, then you can be sure that you are playing at one of the best and safest online casinos in Europe.
