How to Check a Casino Licence in 2026

Checking a casino licence is one of the most important things to do before depositing money. A licence tells you which regulator oversees the operator, what rules apply to the casino and where you may be able to complain if something goes wrong.

For Irish players, the process is slightly more complicated in 2026 because Ireland is still moving from its older gambling framework to the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, or GRAI. Betting licensing has already moved to GRAI, while gaming licensing is still transitioning from Revenue.

This guide explains how to verify a casino licence properly, how to tell whether a licence claim is genuine and what to check when a casino is licensed outside Ireland.

Quick answer

Do not rely only on a casino logo or footer badge. Find the legal operator, identify the regulator, check the licence number and confirm the casino domain in the regulator’s official register.

Why should you check a casino licence?

A gambling licence is not simply a marketing badge. It links a casino to a legal company and a regulator.

Depending on the jurisdiction, a licensed operator may be required to follow rules covering:

• identity and age verification,
• anti-money-laundering checks,
• protection of player funds,
• responsible gambling tools,
• game integrity,
• withdrawal procedures,
• advertising and promotions,
• complaint handling.

A licence also gives players a way to verify whether the casino is operating under the regulator it claims to use.

This is especially important because fake or copied licence claims do exist. The Malta Gaming Authority, for example, has repeatedly published warnings about websites that falsely claim to be MGA-licensed or impersonate legitimate operators.

How to check an online casino licence

You can usually complete a basic licence check in a few minutes.

• Find the casino’s legal information Scroll to the bottom of the casino website and look for the company name, registered address, licence number and regulator.
• Identify the regulator Check whether the casino claims to be regulated by GRAI, MGA or another gambling authority.
• Open the regulator’s official register Do not rely on a screenshot or copied licence badge. Search the regulator’s own website.
• Search by company or domain Use the legal company name, licence number or casino URL where the register allows it.
• Check the status The licence should be active or licensed, not suspended, expired or revoked.
• Check the website domain Make sure the casino URL you are using is actually connected to the licence.
• Check the type of gambling A betting licence does not automatically cover casino gaming. Confirm that the authorised activity matches the service you are using.

Step 1: Find the company behind the casino

Brand names and legal company names are often different.

For example, a casino may have a short commercial brand name while its terms and conditions identify a completely different company as the operator.

Look for wording such as:

The legal company name is more useful than the casino brand when checking a licence because regulators normally license companies rather than marketing names.

If a casino does not clearly identify the company operating it, treat that as a warning sign.

How to check a GRAI licence

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is Ireland’s new gambling regulator.

In 2026, GRAI already handles licences for:

• remote betting,
• in-person betting,
• remote betting intermediaries.

GRAI’s Operator Portal has been accepting applications for these licence categories since February 2026.

However, gaming licensing is still in transition. Revenue confirmed in July 2026 that it continues to licence gaming until responsibility transfers to GRAI.

Important for casino players

A casino available to Irish players should not automatically be described as “GRAI licensed”. In 2026, the licensing position depends on the activity and the stage of Ireland’s regulatory transition.

GRAI also maintains information about existing licences and states that, until the relevant sections of the Gambling Regulation Act are commenced, existing licensing bodies continue to operate for gaming licences, gaming permits and lottery licences.

Does a GRAI Notice of Intent mean a company is licensed?

No. This distinction is important.

GRAI publishes a public list of businesses that have submitted a Notice of Intent to Apply. That list shows that a company has started the application process.

It does not, by itself, prove that the operator has already been granted a licence.

When checking a company, do not treat:

• a licence application,
• a Notice of Intent,
• a pending application,
• or an old Revenue licence

as automatically equivalent to a current GRAI licence.

How to check an MGA casino licence

The Malta Gaming Authority is one of the most common regulators you may see when browsing European online casinos.

The MGA provides a public Licensee Register where users can search by:

• licensee name,
• authorisation status,
• website URL,
• gaming service.

This makes it possible to verify both the legal operator and the domain.

The register also provides a Dynamic Seal of Authorisation for licensed operators. This can show:

• the legal company,
• licence number,
• licence status,
• authorised game types,
• approved service providers,
• approved alternative dispute resolution bodies where applicable.

The MGA specifically advises players to confirm that a website is genuinely authorised rather than relying on a licence claim shown by the casino itself.

Why checking the casino domain matters

One of the most common mistakes is verifying the company but not the website.

A legitimate gambling company may operate several authorised websites. That does not mean every website using the company’s name is genuine.

When the regulator provides domain information, check that the exact URL appears under the licence.

This matters because the MGA has identified websites that impersonated licensed operators and falsely used references to MGA authorisation.

Check whether the licence is active

A regulator’s register may show several possible licence statuses.

If a licence has been suspended, revoked or cancelled, do not assume that an old licence number still proves the casino is currently regulated.

Check what the licence actually covers

Not all gambling licences authorise the same activities.

A company may hold a licence for:

• sports betting,
• casino gaming,
• poker,
• bingo,
• lotteries,
• betting exchange services,
• or several of these activities.

This is particularly relevant in Ireland during the GRAI transition.

A business may hold a GRAI betting licence while its casino product falls under a different licensing arrangement. Never assume that one licence automatically covers every product on the website.

What if the casino does not have an Irish licence?

Irish players will find many online casinos licensed in other jurisdictions.

IrishCasinoHEX reviews both locally regulated and international casino brands. The absence of a current Irish gaming licence does not automatically mean we exclude the casino from review.

Instead, we check:

• which regulator actually licenses the casino,
• whether the licence can be verified,
• who owns and operates the site,
• whether Irish players are accepted,
• withdrawal conditions,
• payment methods,
• bonus rules,
• responsible gambling tools.

Players can compare international operators in our European online casino guide or browse the full list of online casino reviews.

Casinos reviewed by IrishCasinoHEX

The following are examples of brands reviewed for Irish players. Their appearance here does not mean they all hold the same licence or a GRAI gaming licence.

Online casino reviews for Irish players

Always verify the individual licence

Casino ownership and licensing can change. Check the current operator and regulator before depositing, even if you have used the casino previously.

How to spot a fake casino licence

Fake licence claims can range from obvious copied logos to more convincing attempts to imitate legitimate operators.

Common warning signs include:

• the licence number does not appear in the regulator’s register,
• the company name does not match,
• the casino domain is missing from the licence,
• the licence badge links to a non-official website,
• the regulator’s name is misspelled,
• the licence status is suspended or cancelled,
• the casino claims a regulator has authority that it does not actually have.

A genuine-looking footer is not proof of a licence.

Check licence seals carefully

Some regulators provide clickable verification seals.

These can be useful, but only if the link goes to the regulator’s official domain.

For example, an MGA Dynamic Seal should resolve to an official MGA authorisation page. The MGA’s own verification pages explicitly warn users to make sure the address begins with its official authorisation domain.

A screenshot of a licence seal has no verification value because it can easily be copied.

Check the operator’s regulatory history

A valid current licence is important, but it can also be useful to check whether the regulator has previously taken enforcement action against the company.

The MGA, for example, maintains both:

• a Licensee Register, and
• an Enforcement Register.

The enforcement register can show regulatory actions taken against licensed operators.

This does not automatically mean every operator with past enforcement action should be avoided, but it provides useful context when assessing a brand.

Compare the licence with the casino terms

Once you have confirmed the licence, return to the casino’s terms and check whether the same company is named there.

Pay particular attention to:

• the operator’s legal name,
• registered address,
• licence number,
• country restrictions,
• complaint process,
• withdrawal rules,
• identity verification.

If the footer names one company while the terms identify another with no explanation, investigate before depositing.

Why the licence matters when making a complaint

A licence determines which regulator or dispute process may be available if you have a serious problem with a casino.

A sensible escalation process is:

1. contact the casino’s customer support,
2. use the formal complaints procedure,
3. keep copies of all correspondence,
4. identify the regulator covering the operator,
5. use the relevant regulatory or ADR process if the dispute remains unresolved.

If the casino is internationally licensed, GRAI may not be the correct body for the complaint.

This is why checking the licence before depositing is more useful than trying to identify the regulator after a dispute has already started.

Does a licence mean a casino is completely safe?

No licence can guarantee that a player will never have a problem.

Licensing is one part of a broader casino assessment.

We therefore recommend checking both the licence and the practical casino terms.

Other checks to make before depositing

After confirming the licence, review the areas that most directly affect your money.

• Withdrawal limits: check daily, weekly and monthly limits.
• Verification: find out which documents may be requested.
• Payment methods: make sure your preferred method supports withdrawals.
• Bonus terms: check wagering and maximum bet rules.
• Minimum deposit: avoid depositing more than you planned simply to meet a payment threshold.
• Responsible gambling: confirm that limit and self-exclusion tools are available.

You can also compare minimum-deposit casinos, PayPal casinos and Revolut casinos before choosing where to deposit.

Casino licence checklist

How to verify a casino licence – summary

The safest way to check a casino licence is to verify it independently rather than trust the casino’s own claim.

• Find the legal company behind the casino.
• Identify the claimed regulator.
• Use the regulator’s official register.
• Search for the company, licence number or domain.
• Confirm the licence is active.
• Check that the licence covers casino gaming.
• Verify the exact website where possible.
• Check for previous enforcement action.
• Do not confuse a pending application with an active licence.
• Remember that a foreign licence is not a GRAI licence.

For Irish players in 2026, the additional complication is Ireland’s ongoing regulatory transition. Betting licences are already handled by GRAI, while gaming licensing continues under transitional arrangements until the relevant GRAI system is fully implemented.

Responsible gambling

18+. A licence does not remove the financial risk of gambling. Set spending limits and never gamble with money required for essential expenses.