Casino Licensing: What Licences Protect You
A casino licence is both legal permission to operate in a jurisdiction and a contract with the regulator to maintain specific player protection standards. Licensed operators must segregate player funds, maintain audited RNG systems, comply with responsible gambling requirements, and submit to dispute resolution processes. Unlicensed operators have none of these obligations.
US State Licensing Authorities
| State | Regulator | Live Online Casino? | Licence Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) | Yes | njconsumeraffairs.gov/dge |
| Pennsylvania | PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB) | Yes | gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov |
| Michigan | MI Gaming Control Board (MGCB) | Yes | michigan.gov/mgcb |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery | Limited | delottery.com |
| West Virginia | WV Lottery Commission | Yes | wvlottery.com |
| Connecticut | CT Department of Consumer Protection | Yes | portal.ct.gov/DCP |
How to Verify a Casino Licence
- Scroll to the bottom of the casino website; the licence number and regulator logo should be displayed in the footer
- Click the regulator logo, which should link to a live verification page on the regulator's official website
- Visit the regulator's website directly and search for the operator by name or licence number
- Check that the licence is active, not suspended, revoked, or expired
- Verify the licensed entity name matches the casino you are playing at (some operators hold licences under parent company names)
Offshore licences (Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, Curaçao) offer some player protection but lack the direct enforcement mechanisms of US state licences. A US-regulated licence is the gold standard for US players.