Are Unregulated Online Casinos Really Unregulated?

Have you ever thought about online casino regulations? Probably not. You’re not alone. When you’re gambling online, the casino rules are not something that you think about often. You want to enjoy your game.

Knowing the difference between regulated and unregulated casinos can save you many heartaches and money. There are so many online casinos available at the moment, and new ones pop up all the time so you will be spoilt for choice.

Looking to see if the casino is regulated is an excellent first step when deciding between casinos. There are cases where you may not be able to enjoy games at a regulated casino. Your only option might be an unregulated casino. But what does that mean?

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What Is a Regulated Casino?

Regulated Casino

Regulated casinos exist in provinces that allow online gambling. These governments have structures in places that casinos need to adhere to. These guidelines are there to protect the citizens who decide to gamble online. They’re a good thing for the online gambling community, although they can be restrictive.

Below Is a Few of the Regulations Placed on Online Casinos:

  • A rigorous licensing process including background checks, strict criteria the casino has to follow, and fees to obtain and renew the licence.
  • Consumer protection laws which consist of account segregation to ensure all players’ balances can be paid out if the casino fails.
  • There have to be social responsibility regulations to keep gamblers from becoming addicts, such as setting a limited budget. There also has to be support readily available to gambling addicts.
  • Identity verification. This is extremely important and ensures that you are of legal age to play at an online casino.
  • Geolocation confirmation. This is how they confirm that you fall within the casino’s jurisdiction and are legally allowed to play there.
  • Software audits that are done regularly by a third party ensure that the games are fair, pay-out when they should and that players can withdraw their funds.

What Are Unregulated Casinos?

Unregulated Casinos

Unregulated casinos (also known as offshore casinos) don’t require any of the above-mentioned regulations. Simply put, unregulated casinos operate with players from areas where it is not licensed or approved. Does this make unregulated casinos irresponsible? Not necessarily. This is very much a grey area. There is no single governing body that regulates the entire world’s casinos.

Every country and sometimes even the individual province, is responsible for setting up its regulations. This, unfortunately, means that some countries have less strict rules than others. And yes, there are those casinos that take advantage of this by trying to cheat their players. These casinos usually don’t last very long.

Why would you use an unregulated casino? In some countries or provinces, it is illegal to gamble online. Suppose your country doesn’t make provisions for online casinos, and they are unlawful. In that case, you may have to search for an unregulated or offshore casino to enjoy your favourite games.

Are Casinos Really Unregulated?

Yes, and no. It depends on each casino, where they’re located, and the regulations for that area. Licences and restrictions are only in effect within that country’s borders. Meaning if a licensed and regulated casino from Malta accepts players from the USA, they would then be an unregulated casino to those players.

Casinos operating out of Costa Rica and Belize don’t have stringent regulations. However, they do require a licence, and acquiring these licences cost a lot of money. These can be seen as riskier to join because there is no real regulating government checking up on these casinos.

Using unregulated casinos is risky. Make sure to check their rules carefully, along with their reviews and how long they have been operational. That should give a good idea of which ones you can trust.

Players still have to be careful. There are offshore casinos that aim to take advantage of less strict regulations. They use the weakness in the rules to line their own pockets. They don’t care about the players. That’s why it’s essential to only use trustworthy casinos.

People who aren’t allowed to gamble online and don’t have access to regulated casinos can use unregulated casinos. Operators licensed in Malta and the UK have an excellent track record and are some of the most respected ‘unregulated’ casinos. Their countries expect them to follow strict rules in the areas that they operate.

How Does This Affect Canadian Players?

In Canada, some provinces have put structures in place to regulate online gambling. These provinces include British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. If you’re situated in another region where they have not yet regulated online casinos, don’t despair. You don’t have to miss out. It’s not illegal for you to gamble at an offshore casino.

Online Casinos in Canada

In Conclusion

Most unregulated casinos have to follow some form of regulation, which depends on where they are situated. For some countries, this can mean you need to apply and pay for a licence, which may not seem like much of a reliable system. There’s usually a procedure in place that has to be followed.

Are you looking for a regulated or unregulated casino? Remember to check their reputation before playing so you can have a good experience.

Lucas Goldberg
Lucas, a seasoned site editor at CasinoCanada, boasts a decade-long journey in the gambling industry with a focus on providing players with meticulous reviews and insights of online games and casinos.
Site Editor
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Digital Media, and Journalism, PlayTech Analytics career, communication with users through high-quality gambling content.
Expert in:
  • iGaming Content
  • Bonus Incentives Theory
  • Trend Analysis
Reviewed by Head of Content:
Dmitry Rogalchuk
Last updated on: 20.02.2024

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