There is no doubt that sports betting has proved its worth as a way of making money online. Millions of players are registered on betting sites every year, so security measures are urgently needed to regulate the sector. This is why control and sanction bodies and gaming licences have been set up all over the world. After consulting this guide, you will be able to understand the various bodies that protect you throughout your adventure in sports betting and other online gambling.
The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority is to be welcomed, as Irish tipsters can turn to a body if necessary. Nonetheless, the Authority is the subject of much criticism, as it tends to weaken the sports betting system in Ireland. The main reason for this is the high level of taxation imposed on operators operating under the GRAI licence. To this end, bookmakers are calling for taxes to be levied on gross gaming revenue rather than on punters' bets. In other words, the GRAI must stop collecting heavy taxes on the backs of punters. This is one of the main reasons why thousands of Irish tipsters prefer to bet without the constraints of the GRAI by turning to outside bookmakers.
In addition to the GRAI licence, which regulates online gaming in Ireland, there are other licences that operate at international level. These include the Curaçao eGaming licence, the Malta Gambling Authority licence, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority licence and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission licence.
Present in the sports betting industry since 1996, Curaçao's licence has been opened up to several international online gaming operators. The very first feature of this licence issued by the small island of the West Indies is the low level of its tax rates and its validity across the entire betting market.
Curaçao's main task is to authorise several online gaming professionals to offer their services to the betting community. To this end, it offers a single licence covering several types of gambling activities: casinos, lotteries, sports betting, stock exchanges, games of chance and games of skill.
The Malta Gaming Authority, also known as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, is the regulatory body for gaming on the island of Malta. Its main objective is to regulate gaming activities and gambling services. The body was set up following the boom in the online gaming industry in 2001. In addition to granting licences to gaming companies, the MGA is also responsible for protecting minors and ensuring the reliability of the games offered by its partners.
Likewise, the body ensures that all online punters have access to equal playing conditions and that gaming machines have integrity. Finally, the MGA ensures that capital invested in sports betting or any other game of chance is safe and that its licensees comply with the law.
Gibraltar is one of Europe's overseas territories. It has had an online gaming regulator since 1998 and its jurisdiction is well known in the sports betting world. Originating from the United Kingdom, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority licence is responsible for coordinating betting activities in the country and within the European Union in general. That said, all providers operating under the Gibraltar licence can potentially be considered legal. Indeed, even after granting its licence, the body still carries out a number of investigations to ensure that the online gaming operator meets the criteria that would make it reliable on the market. The special feature of its licence is that it authorises people aged 18 or over to bet online and those aged 16 or over to play lotteries without real money.
Of Canadian origin, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is the regulatory authority for online casino games and sports betting. Set up in 1996, its board of directors is made up of a maximum of 3 members who must work together for a 2-year term. The regulator is empowered to assist bookmakers and other operators in offering secure online gaming services to the entire community. To this end, its commission acts lawfully; as proof, it was taken to court in July 2007 when it refused to grant authorisation to an operator. Fortunately, the Quebec Superior Court ruled in favour of the KGC. To find out whether your bookmaker is under the supervision of the KGC, you need to scroll down its website and check for the official KGC logo.
In addition to the international licences that enable several online gaming operators to offer quality services to the community, there are certain authorities that act at local level. Among the best known are the Gambling Commission in Belgium, the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom and the LJAr in Switzerland.
Established on 7 May 1999, the Gaming Commission coordinates all sports betting and online gaming activities in Belgium. It acts on 3 main levels to ensure an uncompromising gaming environment. Firstly, the Commission provides information to the government and parliament. Secondly, it is responsible for managing the licences of real and online casinos, and all the staff of gambling companies, suppliers and game repairers.
Finally, the Belgian Gaming Commission is empowered to control and sanction any operator who fails to comply with the laws in force. It is chaired by a magistrate who sits alongside 6 ministers. The main concern with this commission, however, is that it collects information from online punters. This partially compromises the confidentiality clause that generally governs the sports betting sector worldwide.
The Gambling Commission in the UK has been responsible for the management of gambling in the UK since its creation in 2005 following the passing of the Gambling Act. It is responsible for monitoring and regulating the activities of gambling businesses. To carry out its mission, it forms partnerships with the bodies that grant gambling licences.
The other thing you need to know about the Gambling Commission is that it is also responsible for regulating the national lottery. This gives it access to information about players who take part in gambling activities under its supervision. Will this ever be a cause for concern?
Legislation on online gambling will be introduced in Switzerland on 1 January 2019. It replaces the law on gaming houses, which was established in 1998. The main purpose of this legislation is to protect the population against the potential dangers of gambling. In other words, it aims to provide support for punters who are likely to fall prey to gambling addiction. Secondly, it provides for the net profits from lotteries and betting to be used for state purposes. Finally, the gross proceeds from casino gambling are to contribute to old-age insurance and aid for the disabled and surviving dependants.
The best bookmakers without a GRAI licence who accept Irish: