Type “How to find a good gambling website” on Google, and one of the most common answers that come up is to check for licensing. Not just any permit but a license from a trusted regulator such as the UKGC or the MGA.
Why does a trusted gambling license matter so much to players? Gamblers love their money even when they lose it to casinos and bookmakers often. They see a license as a mark of trust, transparency, and proper company management.
Additionally, a trusted license can be synonymous with the following pointers of an overall great casino or sportsbook.
A Safe and Secure Website
Both the UKGC and the MGA require license applicants to install standard security certificates. For starters, each operator must have a website with an SSL certificate to protect players’ data. In the UK, PCI compliance showing your work with safe payment companies is also compulsory.
On the flip side, regulators expect operators to have strict data protection policies. More importantly, they expect these companies to act in the best interests of gamblers. That way, players feel safe to spend money on a website licensed by the UKGC than an unknown betting website.
They also know the UKGC or the MGA will come to their rescue if an operator becomes rogue. It has happened in the past, with some brand name companies paying up to €8 million in fines for not protecting players.
Great Range of Games
Whether a player likes to bet on sports or play slots, they prefer gambling operators that offer a great variety of games. A sports punter wants to compare hundreds of matches from a vast number of sports before choosing a game.
Similarly, a slot player will usually compare software providers and their games before they pick a machine. Sometimes gamblers visit a website when they already have a preference. They might want to play slots from Blueprint Gaming or Barcrest.
If a casino has games from these providers and features a proper license, they become customers instantly. If a player doesn’t trust a site’s license, they might not use its services even if the casino has games the player loves.
Transparent Bonus Policies
Bonus policies are a hot topic these days. Everyone is concerned about falling for marketing tricks that lure you with seemingly great bonuses only to reveal exploitive terms afterward. Of course, operators who use casinos licensed in the UKGC or the MGA aren’t worried.
The worried people are those who gamble on just about any website. They have no one to turn to when a sportsbook defrauds them. That’s because not every casino regulator intervenes when there’s a dispute between players and operators.
With trusted regulators, casinos must have clear bonus policies displayed next to their bonus offers. That way, there’s no chance of a gambler claiming an offer without vividly understanding its terms and conditions.
An example of casinos with clear bonus policies can be found at CasinoHipster.com. These operators show you their welcome packages. And they also reveal the minimum you can deposit, wagering requirements, and the maximum you can withdraw.
Respected Payment Companies
As we mentioned earlier, the UKGC requires gambling operators to be PCI compliant before operating in the UK. This helps protect the data of players who use Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, or any other debit card for payments.
There are more requirements operators must meet before they get a license in the UK or Malta. For example, a company must provide personal and financial records of all its executives.
UKGC uses this information to weed out company employees that have committed fraud in the past. They also use it to make priorities of which operators to license first if there’s a long waiting list.
All the same, players use sportsbooks with trusted licenses because they are confident in their payment systems. They know their money will be safe, and their financial data will be protected with high standards.
Reliable Customer Service
Customer service has little to do with licensing. But in the gambling business, there’s a correlation. Think about it. Operators that work with shoddy regulators don’t have to worry about fines and suspensions.
They can scam their players and get away with it. So, why work hard to satisfy their customers through quality customer service? In contrast, companies that hold the UKGC or MGA licenses have higher standards to meet.
They might not get fined for providing poor customer service. But they risk frustrating their players and, in turn, losing them. Where a complaint regards a serious payment issue, poor customer service could force players to ask for intervention from regulators. And not many brand name operators want trouble from the UKGC or the MGA.
Protecting Vulnerable Players
Let’s face it. Every gambler gets tempted to bet more than they should. Some people actually bet way more money than they have, leading to debts, family, and social problems. Due to that, players prefer to use casinos that help them when they need assistance.
And what casinos are committed to helping problem gamblers? Operators licensed by trusted regulators. By law, UKGC casinos are required to have tools to detect and identify people that need assistance.
They have programs players can use to limit their betting amounts. They also have measures to verify gamblers’ income sources and options to close their accounts when necessary.
Summary
There’s a reason everyone looks at licensing information before they use online casinos. And that’s because a regulator can help determine what to expect from a company. A trusted regulator such as the UKGC does plenty of legwork to ensure players use gambling services safely.
In contrast, a shady regulator does nothing to protect players when sportsbook or casino become rogue. Against that backdrop, a license also tells you what games, payment methods, bonus policies, or quality of customer support to expect from a company. In turn, you can save your time when finding a casino to join.