How to Check if an Online Casino Licence Is Real (2026 Guide)

How to check whether an online casino licence is genuine using regulators’ own registers, and why no foreign licence makes it legal in SG or MY.

Gambling Law Guides

by Authorityslot Team

October 24, 2026 0

EDITOR NOTE – delete before publishing: check (1) the MGA warnings and the advice to use the MGA Licensee Register – https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news/28890/mga-warns-against-unauthorised-gambling-websites and https://focusgn.com/maltese-regulator-warns-of-igaming-sites-impersonating-mga-licensed-operators; (2) the Curaçao register and its statement that it does not guarantee current validity – https://www.gamingcontrolcuracao.org/en/133i348441001; (3) the Isle of Man GSC description – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_Gambling_Supervision_Commission; (4) UK testing description – https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/contact-us/guide/page/how-we-ensure-online-gambling-games-are-fair.

Quick answer: To check an online casino licence, find the licence number and company name on the site, then look them up on the regulator’s own register, reached by typing the regulator’s address yourself. If you cannot find a match, treat the licence as unverified. Even a real foreign licence does not make online gambling legal in Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand.

First: a licence abroad is not a licence at home

Many sites marketed in Asia show a licence from Curaçao, Malta or elsewhere. Those licences, even when genuine, do not cover Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand. In Singapore only Singapore Pools is licensed by the GRA for remote gambling, Malaysia has no online casino licensing system, and online gambling is illegal in Thailand. Checking a licence is therefore about spotting fakes and scams, not about finding a legal option.

How to check a casino licence, step by step

Find the details. A licensed operator should name the regulator, the licence number and the legal company that holds it, usually in the website footer or terms. A logo with no number or company is a red flag.
Go to the regulator yourself. Do not rely on a badge or link on the casino’s page, which can be faked. Type the regulator’s web address or search for its official register.
Search the register. Look for the company name and licence number. Several regulators publish lists: the Malta Gaming Authority has a Licensee Register, the Curaçao Gaming Authority publishes a licence register, and the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission lists current licence holders.
Match the details. The company, licence number and, where listed, the website domain should all match. A real licence for one company does not cover a different brand or a copycat domain.
Check it is current. Licences can lapse or be withdrawn. The Curaçao register itself notes that its overviews do not guarantee the current validity of licences.

Red flags on licence claims

Licence badges with no number or no company name.
A licence number you cannot find on the regulator’s own register.
A regulator that has publicly denied any link to the site. The MGA did this in March 2025 and again in July 2026, naming websites that falsely claimed an MGA licence.
Licence claims that appear only in the brand’s own press releases, with no number given.

What a licence does and does not tell you

A genuine licence can mean	A licence does not mean
The operator is supervised in that jurisdiction	It is legal to use from Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand
Games may be tested (for example, UK rules require testing by approved test houses)	You will win, or that games are fair on unlicensed copies
There may be a complaints route in that jurisdiction	A local regulator will help you

Licence check FAQ

Is a Curaçao licence valid in Malaysia?

No. A Curaçao licence does not authorise online gambling in Malaysia, where online gambling is prohibited under the Betting Act 1953 and the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Can a casino fake an MGA licence?

Some websites have falsely claimed MGA licences, and the MGA has publicly named such sites. Check the MGA’s Licensee Register directly.

What if I cannot find the licence on the register?

Treat it as unverified. Do not rely on the badge or on assurances from agents.

Getting help

If you think you have been scammed: in Malaysia, call the National Scam Response Centre on 997 (24 hours) as soon as possible, contact your bank and make a police report. In Singapore, call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 (24/7) if you are unsure whether something is a scam, and report to the police through the SPF eServices portal, or call 999 if it is urgent.

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline (Singapore) on 1800 666 8668 (daily, 8am–11pm).

Related guides

Sources

AuthoritySlot does not link to, promote or earn from any gambling operator. This page is general information, not legal advice. Last checked: 24 October 2026.