Almost every crypto casino holds an offshore licence: a licence from a small jurisdiction that lets it serve players in many countries. These licences are real, but they are not all equal, and none of them works like a national licence. Here is what each of the common ones means for you.
Offshore vs National Licences
A national licence, such as those issued in the UK or by European regulators, authorises a casino to serve players in that one country, under strict rules on player funds, advertising and dispute resolution. Players there have strong legal recourse.
An offshore licence authorises the casino to operate from the licensing jurisdiction. It does not make the casino legal in your country, and the rules on player protection are lighter. Most crypto casinos choose offshore licences because national ones either exclude crypto gambling or are limited to one market.
Curaçao
Curaçao has licensed online gambling since the 1990s and is the most common licence among crypto casinos.
- Old system: for years, a few master licence holders issued sub-licences to operators, with little direct supervision.
- Reformed system: a new national gambling law brought licensing under the Curaçao Gaming Authority from 2024. Operators now apply to the regulator directly and must meet stricter requirements on ownership, compliance and complaints.
- For players: the reform improved accountability, and the regulator has a complaints procedure. Recourse is still far weaker than under a national licence.
Anjouan
Anjouan is an island of the Union of the Comoros, and its licensing authority has become popular with newer casinos because licences are quick and inexpensive to obtain.
- Requirements: lighter than Curaçao's reformed regime.
- For players: limited practical recourse. A complaint to the regulator is possible, but there is little track record of it resolving disputes.
Kahnawake
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission operates from the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, near Montreal in Canada, and has licensed online gambling since the late 1990s.
- Requirements: an established regime with its own rules and a formal complaints process.
- For players: better documented than many offshore regulators. It is still offshore: it does not make a casino legal in Canada or anywhere else.
How Much Protection Do You Really Get?
| National licence | Curaçao (reformed) | Kahnawake | Anjouan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it serves | One country | Many countries | Many countries | Many countries |
| Player complaints | Formal, enforceable | Regulator procedure | Regulator procedure | Limited |
| Track record | Long | Reformed in 2024 | Long | Short |
The table is a general comparison of the regimes, not a rating of any single casino.
What to Do With This
- Check that the licence is real. A logo in the footer proves nothing on its own; our guide to verifying a casino licence shows how.
- Read the casino's terms on disputes. They tell you who to complain to if something goes wrong.
- Watch the casino, not just the licence. Payout record, clear terms and responsive support matter as much. See casino red flags.