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Gibraltar gambling licenses

Gibraltar gambling licenses

A big chunk of Gibraltar’s economy is thanks to its online gambling regulation and licensing, and it’s no surprise, as they have a population of around 30,000 people while licensing hundreds of casino operators from around the world. The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) was founded in 2005, and has since become one of the most common, if not the most common licensing body in the world. Gibraltar itself has been regulating online casinos since 1998. Here is everything you need to know about this industry staple.

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About the Country

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory that governs its own affairs with nearly full autonomy aside from a few aspects, like foreign relations and defense. It is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula just below Spain, sitting scenically on the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Probably its most notable tourism draw is the Rock of Gibraltar and its nature preserves, which are brimming with Europe’s only wild monkey population, Barbary macaques, which are known to approach people, climb on them, and be generally friendly.

The Gambling Regulation for Operators Overview

Not only does Gibraltar license to operators from around the world, they are home to many top casinos, whose headquarters are based within their borders. This is part of the reason they are such a dominating force in the industry, but it’s also their strict oversight and the heavy importance they put on fairness and true randomness with the operators they license. They charge a mere 10% tax on net earnings, which is higher than places like Curacao, but lower than the UK. You would think that as a result, operators would still choose to go with Curacao, who charge a 2% tax on net revenue. However, the amount of respect garnered with a license from Gibraltar, whose strictness is near unmatched and blows Curacao’s out of the water, can potentially make the higher tax rate pay for itself. Plus, the fact that some operators are literally based in the country makes it a requirement rather than an option. If you are approved by Gibraltar as an operator, the gambling community will take notice.

What It Means to the Players

Being a Gibraltar licensed casino is a highly coveted title, because it is often good enough of an indicator for a player to make a deposit. They have structures in place that give players a place to go to file complaints, and they constantly monitor and perform regular audits on the operators they license. If you see the Gibraltar licensing seal on a casino homepage, it is often enough to garner confidence that they are a trusted place to place bets. We find the best places for Canadian players in particular, which includes the option to bet in Canadian dollars and have banking methods for both deposit and withdrawal that Canadian players have convenient access to, but if you are researching gambling sites solo, the Gibraltar seal is a great thing to see.

How Many Sites Do They License

We could not find an exact number, as is the case with most, if not all, licensing bodies, but it is assuredly public information if you were so inclined. It seems that there are at least a hundred online casino operators licensed in Gibraltar, and some are among the most famous online gambling sites in the world. To name a few, Bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes, and William Hill are four sites licensed with Gibraltar. In the industry, they are absolutely top-of-the-line, respected, trusted, and extremely popular with players on a staggering international scale.

Conclusion

Again, seeing Gibraltar as the oversight, regulating, licensing body is a good enough sign for a player to feel confident in the safety of their personal information, the fairness of the games on offer, and the knowledge that you will receive your winnings without any issue. For the Canada online casino community, casinos need to showcase more than just strict oversight, like playing in Canadian currency, convenient deposit and withdrawal options, great promotions and gaming options, and more, but when you see that seal, you know you’re not in the wrong place.