With countries around the world tightening online gambling regulations, many players are now finding that what has worked for them for years is no longer allowed. This is especially the case for those used to playing at bigger, more established casinos that have chosen to follow the new regulations in order to keep their licences.
Not too surprisingly, we're seeing lots of players asking about online casinos with no licences. This is obviously pretty murky territory, and that's exactly why we put together this guide to help you figure things out.
First things first. We want to make it very clear that it's not a good idea to play at online casinos that are absolutely unlicensed. Licences help to make sure that the casino is not going to run away with your money right after you make your deposit, that the games are fair, and that your information is protected.
What most people mean when they say they are looking for an online casino with no licence, is that they are looking for a casino that doesn't hold a licence from their home country and is therefore not restricted by those specific regulations, say the regulations to the UK licence from the UK Gambling Commission for British players. However, the casino can be licensed from elsewhere.
We'll talk more about the different kinds of casino licences to look for, as well as other important things to know if you're looking for a casino that's free from strict regulations.
For those in France, Spain, and the United States, online gambling has long been a heavily regulated area and players from these countries have few casino sites and games to choose from. In the last few years, other countries that used to be much more relaxed about online casinos have started tightening their regulations.
In the UK, online casinos can no longer accept credit cards, max bet caps have been lowered and there is also some discussion in regulating how fast slots can spin. In Germany, not only is there now a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euros, but there is also a 1 Euro max bet limit. Jackpots and live dealer games are also no longer allowed.
It's easy to see why more and more players are now looking for new places to play. If you want to get into action quickly, we've put together a list of some reputable casinos that don't have such restrictions but are still trustworthy and safe places to play.
In terms of security, data protection, and payouts, these casinos are all comparable to regular licensed casinos. The biggest difference is that these sites are just more liberal in letting players decide for themselves what their limits should be. They also tend to be more accommodating to players looking for privacy, meaning they don't necessarily have a strict account verification process. That's why they are also known as No KYC Casinos.
Games and Slots at Casinos with No Licence
Depending on which country you are in, the new regulations may mean you can't access live casino games or jackpot slots at your regular casino haunt. Switching to a casino with a different licence will mean that you can find your favourite games again. While the new game restrictions will differ between country, what many of them have in common is reducing the max bet allowed.
For slot players, the new max bet rules at regular casinos may mean they can no longer access Bonus Buy slots. These are the games that let you jump straight to a game's bonus features if you play with a higher bet. With the limit on max bet, you won't be able to place a high enough bet for the Bonus Buy feature. For those who prefer to cut through the base game and go straight to the bonus rounds, playing at a casino without a licence that has these restrictions is a definite advantage to their gameplay.
Game Payouts: RTP at Casinos with No Licence
If you're looking at a reputable casino with no restrictions on bet limits from licensing regulations, then the RTPs to the games will be the same as casinos with licences from the UK or elsewhere that have lowered bet limits. We compare some the RTPs to some of the most popular slots at casinos that have different licences and bet limits below.
Slot
Casino
Licence
Limits
Max. Win
RTP
Mega Moolah
Curacao
$0.25 - $6.25
$12,000
88.12 %
Curacao
$0.01 - $6.25
$12,219.75
88.12 %
Malta
$0.25 - $6.25
$12,000
88.12 %
Legacy of Dead
Curacao
$0.01 - $20
$100,000
94,51%
Malta
$0.01 - $20
$250,000
94,51%
Curacao
$1-50
$250,000
96.58%
Crypto Casinos - an Alternative to Casinos with No Licences
In the last couple of years, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become more mainstream. Casinos specialising in cryptocurrencies have sprung up and some have started to establish a reputable name for themselves. Bitcoin casinos tend to dominate the scene, as this is still the best known crypto, but you will find that a lot of these sites bank in other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Dogecoin.
What Alternative Licences can Online Casinos have?
There are actually several reputable authorities that issue online casino licenses. The ones that have the fewest restrictions and are also the most trusted of them are the Malta Gaming Authority and the Curacao eGaming licence. These are longstanding authorities have been around since the online casino industry began. Sometimes, online casinos holding these licenses are known as offshore casinos. Different licences come with different rules and advantages. We break down the Malta and Curacao licences:
MaltaCuracao
Respected authority
Frequent control and auditing
Guaranteed minimum RTP of 92%
High security standards and player protection
Secure transactions on deposits and withdrawals
Trusted licence
Many accept cryptocurrencies
Fewer restrictions for players
Full choice of games
High security standards and quick withdrawals
Below is a more comprehensive list of online casino licensing bodies:
Curacao e-Gaming licence:
Established since 1996, Curacao eGaming is one of the most trusted online casino licences.
Malta Gaming Authority:
Another trusted regulator, although many casinos with this licence also tend to conform to stricter regulations from other bodies.
Kahnawake:
The Kahnawake gaming licence is no longer as common as it used to be, but it was one of the first online casino licensing bodies back in 1999.
Panama:
The Panama licence became available in 2002. It's not considered the best online casino licence available, but at least the site is legal.
Costa Rica:
Many online casinos that accept US players have a licence from Costa Rica. Technically, it's not a specific gambling licence, but a legally recognised gambling company that holds a licence for data processing.
Specific to crypto casinos, the Crypto Gambling Foundation has formed to assure players of a casino's fairness and safety. These casinos give players the data to can verify game payouts themselves, and these games are also known as Provably Fair games. You can think of this as a certificate of fairness to casino games.
Planned Changes to the Curacao Licences
There has been some industry news saying that new regulations will soon be coming to Curacao. Mostly it has to do with more supervision for casinos that focus on Australia and the Netherlands, however, some other proposed changes include:
Licences will become more expensive to obtain
EU players may no longer be accepted
More control on licensees
These changes are not enforced yet, so it remains to be seen what will actually happen and how it will affect players.
1.) Is it legal to play at online casinos without a licence?
Exact regulations will vary by country, but generally speaking it is legal for players to play at casinos that don't hold a licence in their resident jurisdiction. The regulations are normally enforced on the casino operator and not the player. However, you should always check the legality concerning online gambling in the country you are in.
2.) Is it safe to play at online casinos with no licence?
A casino with no licence from your country, say an online casino with no UK licence, can still have a licence from another authority, such as Curacao or Malta. These online casinos are as safe as the most reputable establishments. On the other hand, we strongly advise players to stay away from casinos that have absolutely no licence.
3.) Do casinos with no licence have better bonus and promotions?
There's no hard and fast answer to this, since it's all up to each casino's marketing team to decide what kind of promotions they want to offer. We compare the welcome bonuses offered at casinos with different licences in the table below.
For those who are aiming to cashout their bonus winnings, it's important to take a look at the wagering requirements.
4.) Do offshore casinos with Curacao licences protect my data?
Yes. Offshore casinos with licences from Curacao or elsewhere observe strict data privacy and protection rules. Crypto casinos also have a very high level of privacy, since it is based on a philosophy of anonymity and cryptocurrencies have a high level of security built into their payment system. In a way, these casinos are even more private than regular online casinos that have to submit user information to a national database.
With new online gambling regulations clamping down on deposit limits and bet sizes, many feel that their freedom as casino players is being compromised and are looking for online casinos that aren't affected by these new restrictions.
Thankfully, there are reputable casino sites that are licenced elsewhere that give players both their freedom in play along with security. Crypto casinos are also emerging as a viable alternative.
However, we cannot emphasise strongly enough that it is important to choose a reputable casino. There is a lot of potential for fraud. After reading our careful analyses of casinos without licenses, you should be able to find a safe and secure casino site to play.
No Licence Casinos was tested and reviewed by Christian Webber
Sitting still has never been my strength, and my colleagues say that I don't need a chair because I'm always on the move. My dream to play professional soccer didn't work out, but it turns out mobile gaming is not a bad alternative either. I prefer to be out and about instead of sitting in an office, so mobile gaming has turned out to be the perfect match. I test mobile casinos and their platforms from my phones and tablets so I have a clear idea how they perform on different devices. From performance to the latest mobile promotions, I'm always on top of it all!
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