Licence trail checklist: following a casino's paper trail in eight steps

A logo in the footer proves nothing until you walk it to a register and find the same name.

Last checked October 2026Adults onlyWritten by Anderson Alves, editor in chief

The short version

To verify an online casino, copy the licence number and company name from the footer, search that number on the regulator's own website, and confirm that holder, status and licence type match. Then look at the terms, ID rules, support and safer play tools. In Ontario, also look for the operator on the iGaming Ontario list.

Detectives follow trails: a name leads to an address, the address to a record. A casino licence should work the same way. If the trail dies halfway, so should your interest in depositing. Still weighing your options? Have a look at our Canada casino picks for 2026.

The tool below is a personal aid, not a certificate for any operator. Only adults of legal age in their province should gamble.

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Licence trail checklist

Tick only what you confirmed yourself, on the casino's pages and in the regulator's own register.

The footer names the company behind the casino and shows a licence number. I typed that number into the regulator's public register myself and the company name matched. The licence is active and covers online casino games, not some other activity. If the site targets Ontario, it appears on the iGaming Ontario list of registered operators. The terms are written in clear English or French and explain bonuses and withdrawals. ID checks (KYC) and withdrawal caps are explained before any deposit. Limits, time-outs and self-exclusion can be switched on inside the account. A real company address and a way to contact support are listed, and I could check them.

Tick the boxes that apply, then press Count my ticks.

What does the walk to the register look like?

Scroll down to the footer and copy the licence number and the company name exactly as printed.
Open the regulator's website by typing the address yourself, never through the casino's own link, and use its search box.
See whether holder, status and licence type agree with what the casino claims.
Treat a seal that leads nowhere, or to a plain picture, as a warning.
For Ontario, compare the brand with the registered operators listed on the iGaming Ontario website.

Which names will you bump into?

Four families of names turn up most often.

AGCO and iGaming Ontario: the regulated Ontario market, where operators are licensed by the AGCO and registered with iGaming Ontario.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission: a regulator based in a Mohawk territory that licenses offshore sites serving Canada. It is not a provincial licence.
Malta Gaming Authority: a European regulator behind many international brands.
Provincial lotteries: government-run platforms such as PlayNow, Espacejeux and PlayAlberta.

Sources are the AGCO, iGaming Ontario and Kahnawake Gaming Commission websites listed in the sources block below.

What can a ticked box not promise?

A licence tells you somebody official is watching. It says nothing about quick payouts or friendly bonus terms. Outside Ontario, many offshore brands serve Canadians under foreign or Kahnawake licences, which leaves you in a legal grey area. The note on who watches the tables in Canada sets the scene.

And after the checklist?

When an operator passes, read its bonus and withdrawal terms, then try a small deposit. The full licence tracing note adds finer points. When the trail breaks, keep your money where it is.

Adults only: 19+ in most provinces, 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Gambling costs money and can become a problem. Keep to a budget you set in advance. We write for information only; nothing here is legal or financial advice.

Questions readers ask us

Is it lawful to play at a casino licensed abroad?

That depends on your province and on the operator. Ontario licenses private operators, whereas elsewhere provincial platforms are the licensed option and offshore sites sit in a grey zone. Players are rarely penalised in practice, but your protection is thinner. Check official sources and seek legal advice if unsure.

What is the iGaming Ontario list?

It is the public list of operators and websites registered to offer online gambling in Ontario under AGCO standards. A site aimed at Ontario players that does not appear on it falls outside the regulated market. The list is published on the iGaming Ontario website.

Are licence seals on a site enough?

No, because images are easy to copy. The dependable step is to take the licence number to the regulator's own website and confirm holder, status and type. If you cannot find the number, or the company name differs, treat the casino as unverified and think twice.