Crypto Gambling and crypto casino licenses
Crypto casinos are not required to hold a license. That's the first thing you should know. That's because of the grey area they are working in. As crypto legislation around the world is still in its baby shoes.
However, independent of that, even crypto casinos are responsible for ensuring players safety, try to avoid problem gambling, and preventing financial crimes.
As with most other areas in life, if something is not enforced, companies don't really feel the need to do it.
That's where crypto casino licenses come in. Although crypto gambling platforms are not required to have a license, in most cases the crypto license actually gives players more safety, and casino more reliability.
List of licensed crypto casinos
| Casino | License | Offer | Wagering | Terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Gaming | Curacao | Get 100% up to $1000 from your first deposit. And repeat it up to two more times. | 60 x | Min deposit $25, use bonus code TGCASINO. Wagering requirement is 30x, but applies to both deposit and bonus. WR has to be met in 30 days. | Go to casino |
| Betcoin | Curacao | Get 100% up to 1 BTC first deposit bonus and 25 free spins | 50 x | Wagering requirement most likely 50x. Bonus need to be claimed by contacting the customer support. | Go to casino |
| SuperSlots | Panama (but we haven't been able to verify that info anywhere) | Get 400% bonus up to $4000! Just make your first crypto deposit with bonus code CRYPTO400 | 48 x | Wagering requirement is 48x (bonus + deposit). Use bonus code CRYPTO400. Max win cap is 10x or $10,000. | Go to casino |
| 1xSlots | Curacao | Get up to 1500 EUR and 150 free spins with your first four deposits | 35 x | Wagering requirement is 35x. This bonus is not available for crypto accounts. | Go to casino |
| Wild Casino | Panama | 300% match up to $3,000 on your first crypto deposit, 150% from next four crypto deposits. | 45 x | Use promo code CRYPTO300 for first deposit. Use CRYPTO150 code for your next four deposits. Wagering requirement is 45x (bonus+deposit). 10x bonus winning cap applies (max $10,000). | Go to casino |
| Betonline Casino | Panama Gaming Commission | 100% match bonus up to $1,000 | 14 x | Minimum deposit $25. Use bonus code CRYPTO100. Wagering requirement 14x only. Bonus is valid for Betsoft games only. | Go to casino |
| Sportsbetting.ag | Licensed and regulated by Panama Gaming Commission | New players can claim a 100% match bonus up to $1,000 on their first deposit using cryptocurrency. | 14 x | Min deposit $20. Use bonus code 100CRYPTO. The bonus is subject to a 14x wagering requirement. Maximum withdrawal is 10x the bonus amount. | Go to casino |
| Wolfy Casino | Curacao eGaming | 150% bonus up to 200€ | 0 x | New users only. No wagering requirement. Use Wolfy Casino crypto welcome bonus WELCOME150 to activate the bonus. | Go to casino |
| Vegaz Casino | Curacao | 150% up to 300€ on first deposit plus 150 free spins. | 0 x | No wagering requirements! But you need to use bonus codes which can be used in our review. | Go to casino |
| Fortune Panda Casino | Licensed and regulated by the Government of Curacao | Accept Fortuna Panda welcome bonus by using their bonus code CRYPTO150. | 0 x | This bonus has no wagering requirements. | Go to casino |
| Haz Casino | Curacao | Haz Casino offers a 200% crypto welcome bonus of €200 for cryptocurrency users. | 0 x | One bonus per player, minimum deposit of €20 for each offer, max bet is €5, wagering requirement of 40x bonus amount, free spins are valid for 7 days after activation, and a maximum cashout of 10x deposit amount. | Go to casino |
| Horus Casino | Curacao | Get 200% up to 200€ wager-free crypto deposit bonus. | 0 x | The bonus is only available to new players and can only be claimed once. The minimum deposit to receive the bonus is €20. No wagering requirements. Winnings cap 5x bonus. Crypto deposits only. | Go to casino |
| Cloudbet | Curacao | Get a 100% bonus up to 5 BTC on your first deposit. | 60 x | Only available for new players. Min deposit 0.01 BTC. Wagering requirements must be met within 60 days. Wagering requirement is measure in Welcome bonus points, so the wagering requirement is sort of flexible. Bonus gets released in increments. | Go to casino |
| Punt Casino | Licensed and regulated by the Curacao eGaming | Get up to $1500 (or potentially unlimited amount) in bonus funds from your first deposit of at least $20. | 80 x | Wagering requirement is 40x and that applies both to bonus and deposit. It's a sticky bonus, so before withdrawing, bonus amount will be deducted. This means that bonus amount is not cashable. Punt Casino bonus code is WELCOME150. | Go to casino |
| CryptoLoko.com | Curacao | Get a massive 505% up to $2000 welcome bonus on your first deposit. | 30 x | Minimum deposit of $30 BTC required. Wagering requirement is 30x. Winning cap 13x. Bonus expires in 15 days. Other terms might apply. | Go to casino |
| Winz.io | Licensed and regulated by the Government of Curacao | You can get 50, 150, or 300 free spins depending on your deposit size (BTC 0.0008, 0.002, or 00.4). | 0 x | Free spins are available on selected games only. There are no wagering requirements or winning caps! Use bonus code SLOTS. | Go to casino |
| Wild.io | Government of Curaçao under the gaming license 8048/JAZ | Get up to 150% bonus worth up to 10 BTC and up to 1400 free spins! | 40 x | Match bonus (110%-150%) depends on the size of your deposits, and maximum bonus can be received with 4 deposits. Wagering requirement is 40x and you have 7 days to finish it. | Go to casino |
| Betadda | Curacao eGaming | BetAdda has great time-limited offers all the time | 0 x | Many of their offers come with just 15x wagering requirement. No special welcome offer as such. | Go to casino |
| Empire.io | Curacao | 100% bonus up to 1 BTC | 40 x | Available within 10 days after the registration. Claim by depositing BTC, USDT, ETH, Doge, TRX, BUSD, LTC, XRP or BNB. Then activate "Welcome to Empire - 100% Reload bonus". Max bet 5 EUR. Wagering 20x (bonus + deposit). | Go to casino |
| sportsbet.io | Curacao eGaming License | Sportsbet.io offers regular casino and sporting promotions | 0 x | No traditional welcome offers, but there are daily promo offers as well as daily price boosts for sports. | Go to casino |
| Bitcasino.io | Curacao eGaming | Bitcasino.io offers new players 20% cashback up to 10 000 USDT. | 0 x | Available for new users only. First 7 days. Opt-in is required. Cashback calculated based on net losses. Minimum cashback 10 USDT, maximum 10 000 USDT. | Go to casino |
| Livecasino.io | Curacao eGaming | Get up to 20% cashback | 0 x | Cashback is 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% based on how much you wager per month and your net losses. | Go to casino |
| Mystake Casino | Curacao eGaming | Mystake Casino offers a 170% welcome bonus up to EUR 1000 for new players who deposit with cryptocurrency. | 60 x | Wagering requirement 30x. But both bonus and deposit needs to be wagered. The maximum bet amount is €/$5 while wagering the bonus. The bonus wagering requirement has to be met within 30 days. Bonus is for slots only. See the website for full terms. | Go to casino |
| Wild Coins casino | Wild Coins Casino operates under a license from the Government of Curacao. | Get up to 3.5 BTC and 400 free spins from your first three deposits! | 40 x | Min deposit 0.001 BTC. For first deposit use bonus code WILD1. | Go to casino |
| Celsius Casino | Malta Gaming Authority | Get a 100% bonus up to €300 on your first deposit and 200% bonus up to €200 on your second deposit. | 80 x | The bonus is subject to a 40x wagering requirement (bonus + deposit). Maximum bet with bonus funds is €5. Bonus is valid for 7 days after activation. | Go to casino |
Although most crypto casinos don't require you to complete the regular KYC procedure, they still collect, and maintain, certain data to ensure some sort of compliance - for example they store your crypto wallet address, and your email, and try to monitor all risks associated with your wallet.
Local laws
While at this point in many places, in many jurisdictions, one can operate a crypto casino without any license at all, in many others they either need a local gambling license, or at least some sort of gambling platform license.
Most popular crypto casino licenses
So what are the most common, most popular, most used crypto casino licenses? Which countries are giving them out and do they actually do their due diligence before giving your the license?
Curacao Gaming License
Curacao gaming license is by far the most popular crypto casino license provider in the world. Also known as the Antillephone Gambling License.
There are multiple reasons for that, such as
- The simplicity of getting the license
- The low cost of getting the license
- The speed of getting the license (the processing time can be just up to 6 weeks)
- The scope of the license (it's possible to get a universal permit that applies to all different types of games)
- The tax the gambling companies need to pay (normally not above 2% of net profits)
While compared to say, UKGC license, Curacao is definitely considered way weaker casino license, casinos that hold Curacao license are still fairly secure, as they have oversight and they must comply with all Curacao regulations,
Companies that opt for Curacao license, need to
- Hire a local CEO
- Open a merchant account
- Obtain certificates to confirm the fariness of their games.
- Have at least one server physically in Curacao
- Comply with local responsible gambling regulation
- Not allow anyone younger than 18 play
Anjouan Gaming License
Anjouan Gaming License isn't as well-known as Curacao license, but at this point it could be considered one of the cheapest, with the least bureaucratic licensing process. And this of course, makes getting the license super fast.
What does Anjouan Gaming License offer to the casinos?
- Super fast processing of the license (Time for issuance is around 2-3 weeks)
- Low cost (0% gaming tax and 0% VAT on all revenue)
What requirements does the operator need to fill?
- Anjouan licensees must put in place the proper procedures to identify at-risk players
- They must maintain the financial ratios set forth by the Gaming Board
- The operator must adhere to AML regulations
Kahnawake Gaming License
Kahnawake Gaming License has recently gained popularity as well.
What does Kahnawake Gaming License offer the operators?
- Low cost (0% gaming tax)
- Relatively low setup costs
- Relatively quick application processing (2-3 weeks for application processing, and 8-10 weeks for approval)
What does Kahnawake license mean to players?
- The license requires the casino to conduct their business in a fair, honest, and responsible way
- Adhere to AML laws
- Ensures that all players are treated fairly, with transparency
- Requires that payments are made swiftly
- Requires player information confidentiality
Malta Gaming License
Malta Gaming license could be considered one of the best crypto casino licenses (for players) out there. But of course, that also comes at a cost and more requirements for the operators.
What does Malta Gaming license offer to the operators?
- License in EU jurisdiction
- Low taxes (roughly 5%)
- Prestige compared to most crypto casino licenses
Of course, getting the Malta casino license costs considerably more than other crypto casino licenses and it comes with many more requirements, but for players it's only good.
So why is Malta crypto casino gambling license good for players?
Malta Gaming Authority requires players to have the ability to self-exclude. And that feature must be simple and easily accessible.
Players MUST be able to set at least one of the following responsible gambling limits: Deposit Limits or Wagering Limits
Isle of Man Gaming License
Isle of Man has started promoting their gaming license more during the past years, although they legislated online gambling already back in 2001.
What does Isle of Man Gaming License offer the casinos?
- Low tax (Corporate tax 0%, gambling tax 0.1% - 1.5% of gross margin)
- Straightforward application process
- Fairly quick process (12-15 weeks)
Operators need to register a company there, hire at least two local directors, have a local corporate bank account, rent an office, among other things. And of course they need to do everything possible to prevent money laundering.
What does Isle of Man Gaming License offer players?
- The license requires the casinos to guarantee fair games and payouts in full
- Requires software testing to make sure the games are fair
Panama Gambling License
- No taxes
- It's fairly easy to obtain Panama license
- Reasonable time to process application (10 weeks)
What does Panama license offer the players?
- Security. Panama enforces protection of players
- Fairness: Panama enforces far games. Meaning all games need to be certified.
- Payments. Panama has requirements regarding the minimum share capital of the operator, thus making sure they are able to make payouts.
Costa Rica Gaming License
While Costa Rica Gaming License is somewhat known, in reality no such thing exists. In order to obtain "Costa Rica Gaming License" one just needs to register a company and it's done. This means that Costa Rica "license" offers no safeguards to players whatsoever, and it would make sense to stay away from crypto casinos claiming to have Costa Rica gambling license.
Gibraltar Gaming license
Another known gaming license provider is Gibraltar. Gambling License has a solid reputation.
What does Gibraltar Gambling License offer the operators?
- Fairly slow application process (5-6 months)
- Low tax (0%)
What does Gibraltar Gaming license offer players?
- Player protection - casinos MUST offer the option to set their own responsible gambling limits
- Fairness of games - all games must be tested and certified by third parties.
- Casino marketing can not be misleading
- Casinos must always have enough funds to pay out winnings
Why do crypto casinos need licenses
Now, lets put it all together, and look at the operator side of view - why would crypto casinos want a license?
- Crypto casino license allows the casino to operate legally
- It adds credibility and makes the casinos safer in the eyes of the potential players
- They pay close to zero taxes
- They can create relationships with all the biggest game providers which could be problematic otherwise
- They won't be at risk of being shut down or worse (fines, prison) for illegally operating a gambling website
Why should YOU as a player care about crypto casino license?
So what does a crypto casino license actually give you? Why should you care if the crypto casino has any kind of license at all?
- Crypto casino license requires the operator to offer only fair games, and make sure the games are not rigged
- In case of disputes with the casino, you can contact the licensing authority
- The casinos need to have secure payment systems and follow specific protocols to handle both your funds and data
- The license gives you more confidence that the casino will actually pay out, and pay out within a reasonable timeframe
In essence, crypto casino license gives you confidence that the casino doesn't just operate the way they decide today, but they actually need to follow some rules and regulations.
The problems with crypto casino licenses
So let's say the casino has a crypto casino license, what should you still look out for in crypto casinos?
In essence, compared to locally licensed casinos, in my opinion there are two main things to pay attention to:
- Always check the RTP of any game, to make sure it hasn't been set to the lowest possible setting
- Figure out how to gamble responsibly. While all licenses require casinos to have help pages about responsible gambling, most crypto casino licenses do not enforce casinos to allow you to set any responsible gambling limits. So you need to come up with a safe solution yourself.
Let's take it home!
As you can see, while the topic of crypto casino licenses might look like a random one at first glance, it's actually not. Crypto casino license is important for both - the casino operator, and also to you, the player. So before you go and look at that great-looking crypto casino bonus, you might want to confirm the casino has a license first.
I recommend you only play in legal, licensed crypto casinos and above anything else, play responsibly!
I became interested in cryptocurrencies only a bit more than two years ago. Since then I have been in investing in cryptos using different exchanges. And I also launched Cryptolorium.com when I started trading, just to share my crypto journey and my results.