Around the world, there are many different laws and regulations regarding online gambling.
Each country’s government has a certain stance towards online gambling activities, so the legal landscape surrounding online casinos, for example, differs from country to country.
Some countries have a far more relaxed attitude toward online casinos than others.
There are many grey areas, but it looks as though as time goes by, more and more countries are opening up to online gambling at online casinos. However, they must be licensed and regulated casino sites controlled by reputable operators with proven track records and outstanding reputations.
Is it legal to gamble at online casinos around the world?
Yes and no. Some governments have completely legalised online casino gambling at licensed and regulated sites, and other countries have made it illegal to play at them.
Some countries do not permit players to gamble in the real money mode at online casinos. However, despite this, there are still no actual laws in place that prevent players from gambling at such sites or will prosecute them for doing so.
Many of the laws today are outdated and were made long before the advent of the Internet.
Therefore, gambling laws are interpreted in many different ways. For example, in some countries where gambling at online casinos is not permitted, there is nothing stopping those players from signing up to an offshore-licensed online casino controlled by a foreign company and operating outside of that country’s jurisdictions. This is what many players do today.
Also, while online casinos may not be legal in some countries, those same countries may allow online sports betting, online lotteries, or online bingo. In other words, it’s still quite confusing in some countries as to what is and isn’t allowed.
For example, in the United States, the only states to have legalised online gambling at casino sites are New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, and West Virginia.
This means that people based in these states can legally play at those state-licensed casino sites. It also looks like more states will follow suit over the coming years. State authorities will have to regulate the industry and issue licenses to operators.
What are the main online casino licensing jurisdictions?
The following are some of the most trustworthy online casino gambling licensing authorities that currently issue licenses to reputable operators. They all have an ultimate list of instant play casinos that are perfectly safe to sign up to:
- Michigan – the MCGB (Michigan Gaming Control Board)
- Alderney – the Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- New Jersey – the NJDGE (New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement)
- United Kingdom – the UK Gambling Commission
- Gibraltar – the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
- Canadian Mohawk Territory, Quebec, Canada – the Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Isle of Man – The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Malta – the Malta Gaming Authority
You will find that many of today’s most trusted online casinos have obtained the necessary licenses from one or more of these renowned licensing authorities.
What are the best online casinos in the world that have obtained licenses by one or more of these major licensing authorities?
There are now thousands of perfectly secure, completely legal, and highly recommended online casinos that are licenced in one or more of these jurisdictions.
Some of the most trusted online casinos today, which many of you may already be familiar with by now, are bet365 Casino, Leo Vegas Casino, Casumo Casino, Mr Green Casino, Slots Magic Casino, Play Frank Casino, 888 Casino, and LeoVegas Casino.
You can learn more about what each of these tried and tested online casinos has to offer by going to the official Ask Gamblers website. This site has more than 1,700 of the latest reviews for today’s best sites.
Other great examples of fully licensed online casinos that are controlled by trustworthy operators are Bet Victor Casino, Energy Casino, 32 Red Casino, 777 Casino, Fun Casino, Trada Casino, Video Slots Casino, TonyBet Casino, and Mr Play Casino.
They are all free to sign up to. They have some lucrative bonuses with fair and realistic wagering requirements for both new and existing players, and they are all powered by some of today’s best industry-award-winning online casino software providers and game development studios.
Final note
Before signing up to an online casino, you may want to start by checking that it’s legal to gamble at online casinos in your country. If you can’t seem to find this information, the best thing to do would be to approach the player support at an online casino you have had your eye on.
Alternatively, more information about legal online casinos by country can also be found on the AskGamblers.com website. Finally, remember to gamble responsibly if you do sign up to a fully licensed and regulated online casino, and, where possible, set deposit limits to help you better manage your bankroll.
