If you like playing casino games, then you would have probably heard that casinos obtain licences. These licences are essential if a casino is to operate within the legal framework.
A government agency usually referred to, as the Gaming Control Board or Commission is responsible for regulating and monitoring casinos. They are charged with the duty of enforcing the general gaming law and ensuring accountability, transparency and fairness in the casinos under its domain.
The name of the commission varies from one jurisdiction to another, and they are usually effective in a defined geographical area. Different types of licences can be acquired in the online gambling industry. In this article, we will provide you with an explanation of what a casino licence is and how it works.
- Casinos must acquire a licence before they can be legal to operate.
- The Gaming Control Board of each region is responsible for issuing casino licences.
- Players can file a complaint against a casino to the Gaming Control Board.
Gaming Control Boards and Casino Licences
The Gaming Control Boards are charged with promulgating rules that direct how the gaming activities will be in a jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has an enabling act that specifies the rules for gaming activities. The legislature passes this enabling act and sets the policy concerning gaming activities.
The rules provide all the detailed requirements that a gaming establishment must satisfy to operate smoothly under the law. Additionally, the rules cover several activities such as licensing, casino games rules, accounting systems, and auditing.
In most cases, Gaming Control Boards or a division that branches out from it enforces these rules. The board will also be responsible for deciding cases and complaints brought to them by the gaming community concerning a casino within its domain.
Part of the responsibility of the gaming control boards is to deny or grant gaming establishments licences. Before an establishment such as a casino can apply for a licence, it must possess honesty, good character and integrity.
The application for a casino licence will require the establishment to provide information such as the owner’s information, current worth and several others. In addition to this information, the form may also require other details such as criminal records, employment history, and previous business relationships.
The application is then subjected to investigation before the board decides whether to issue the licence or not. Casino licence application process is tedious primarily to dissuade people who intend to use the licence for organised crimes and other illegal activities.
What is Included in a Casino Licence
A casino licence is simply a permit used to certify that a casino is compliant with a set of rules, and adhere strictly to the best-practices of gambling.
The rules specified in the enabling act involve underage gambling, self-exclusion, technical standards, alternative dispute resolution, anti-money laundering, information for players and many others. Playing on a licensed casino assures you of your security and protects you from game rigging that is very common with illegal casinos.
The licence of a casino can be suspended or revoked by the control board at any time if the casino infringes the conditions set in its licence act. You can check the casinos that have been blacklisted or suspended on the website of most gaming control boards.
Licence Fees
Before a casino can apply for a casino licence, it is required to pay some money. The cost of applying for a casino licence varies from region to region. Once a casino is licenced, it can be penalised based on the law for breaking any of the rules specified in the enabling act.
Casino employees are also required to have a licence before they can work in the casino. Some of the well-known gaming control boards are the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority.
As a player, you must know the gaming control boards of the casino you are using. This assures you that you are not using an illegal casino, and you can always file a complaint concerning a casino directly to the board.
Summary
A casino licence is required for every casino whether land-based or online to function legally. The gaming control boards of each region or state are responsible for issuing casino licences and enforcing the rules governing it.
You should always check if the casino you are using is licensed, because playing in an illegal casino is illegal, and it puts you at risk of being defrauded. The gaming control board has the authority to revoke or suspend the licence of a casino that has violated the rules that govern the licence.