This page presents a list of some of the better known and firmly established authorities, commissions, and agencies which govern the gambling industry around the world.
Casino Licensing authorities and game testing agencies play a significant role in the gambling industry.
Most legal jurisdictions around the world with have a governing authority to oversee and control the gambling activities within a country or region.
Some Licensing bodies may also be concerned with game testing to ensure the fairness of the games supplied by the many online gambling platforms. But much of this work is done by independent testing agencies such as TST and eCOGRA.
Ultimately, the importance of these agencies for protecting players and society at large cannot be underestimated. Without them, the industry would likely be a shady environment of rogue operators and criminal organisations.
The various authorities worldwide all have different rules and standards, and consequently, provide different levels of player protection. A casino operator that is Licensed by the jurisdiction of Costa Rica, for example, does not necessarily offer the same player protections given to those at an online casino which are Licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
For this reason, it is advisable to know who an online gaming operator is licensed by, and who are the good and not so proper licensing authorities and commissions are within the industry before wagering real money at an online casino or sportsbook.
