International Betting Regulators – Comparing All Offshore Licenses in 2026
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Curaçao has long been home to some of the most well known international and offshore iGaming regulators, giving licensed entities access to markets across the globe. Over the last five years, the international climate has shifted dramatically, with new regulatory bodies forming in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
This guide is geared toward players looking for a bookmaker with an international, offshore, or remote betting license. We will look at all offshore betting regulators, examining their unique features, reputations, and where you can find licensed brands. We’ll start with a quick overview of each regulator, then get into more detail below. Use the table of contents if you’re interested in a single regulatory body, and if you’re based in Europe, we recommend checking out our European Betting Regulation page.
International Betting Regulation: A Quick Comparison
This guide is written from the perspective of players looking for their next bookmaker. We rank trust by considering player protections, issue resolution, and the requirements bookmakers must meet to acquire each relevant license. Global access refers to the number of markets in which a licensed entity can operate. All of these regulators stipulate restricted GEOs, and some leave much of the legal access up to individual bookmakers.
| Regulator | Global Access | Trust Score | Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan Gaming | High | 5/10 | 2005 |
| Curaçao Gaming Authority | High | 7/10 | 1999 |
| Estonia Tax and Customs Board | Low | 9/10 | 2008 |
| Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner | Medium | 9/10 | 2005 |
| Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission | Medium | 9.5/10 | 2010 |
| Kahnawake Gaming Commission | High | 6.5/10 | 1996 |
| Malta Gaming Authority | High | 8/10 | 2001 |
| Tobique Gaming Commission | High | 6/10 | 2023 |
Anjouan Gaming
Safety Score: 5/10
License Register: Yes, available through Anjouan Gaming’s License Register page. Here you can find basic company information, license status, and registered domains.
Established: 2005 via the Anjouan Computer Gaming Licensing Act 2005
Short Summary – Anjouan Gaming
Generally speaking, players should view Anjouan Gaming licensed bookmakers as less trustworthy than MGA or Curaçao licensed options, even though they offer a similar level of global access. The Anjouan Gaming license typically comes at a cheaper price point and with fewer regulatory requirements than the regulators mentioned above. The organization also allows a lot of autonomy for licensed entities when it comes to ensuring each brand complies with gaming laws in the regions where it operates. That being said, the license does offer some security, and it was even recognized as a lawful regulatory authority by gaming organizations in England, Wales, and Canada in 2024.
Curaçao Gaming Authority
Safety Score: 7/10
License Register: Yes, both online and land based licenses can be found on the CGA’s License register Curaçao Gaming Authority page. Unfortunately here you can only find company and license information – there is no record of licenses URLs.
Established: 1999 via the Mutual Evaluation Report of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Short Summary – Curaçao Gaming Authority
Players have long seen the Curaçao gaming licence as one of the least restrictive in the iGaming space, but recent changes have added more legitimacy to the framework. Previously, operators could obtain a master licence under which countless brands could operate with minimal oversight. That master licence model has now phased out and been replaced, which has shaken up the market and pushed some less legitimate bookmakers to exit. Licence requirements and compliance measures still are not among the strictest, but the CGA is no longer the cheapest option when it comes to offshore gaming licences.
Estonia Tax and Customs Board
Safety Score: 9/10
License Register: Yes, available through the e-MTA List of legal gambling operators page. Here you can find a transparent list of all licenses and relative company information, along with all registered URLs. The e-TMA also keeps a blacklist of online bookmakers and casinos that are not accessible within Estonia.
Established: 2008 via the Gambling Act which was passed on 15/10/2008
Short Summary – Estonia Tax and Customs Board
The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (e-MTA) issues an online gaming licence with one of the more unique setups in Europe, and some markets outside Estonia (Finland, for example) may accept it or rely on it in certain contexts. The licence is also relatively accessible, with particularly competitive tax rate for licensed entities. As a result, some brands hold an e-MTA licence even if they do not actively target Estonian players, using it as a basis to serve other European regions.
For players, keep in mind that the e-MTA licence mainly focuses on Estonia, and cross-border availability depends on each country’s rules and the bookmaker’s own geo-restrictions. While the licence has a distinct setup, it does not offer the same level of international reach as regulators such as Anjouan, the MGA, or Curaçao.
Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
Safety Score: 9/10
License Register: Yes, you can find all license holders on the Gibraltar Government’s Remote Gambling page.
Established: 2005, via the Gambling Act 2005 (Act. No. 2005-72)
Short Summary – Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
Players widely consider the Gibraltar remote gambling licence one of the most respected international gaming licences. Operator requirements and player protections are among the best in the industry, and it is no surprise that some of the most reputable bookmakers, including bet365, operate under this framework. As you might guess, it’s far more exclusive than Curaçao or Anjouan, and only 54 companies currently hold a licence.
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
Safety Score: 9.5/10
License Register: Yes, available on the GSC’s Online Gambling Licensee Register page. Here you can find company information along with all approved URLs for B2B and B2C organizations.
Established: 2010, via the Gambling Supervision Act
Short Summary – Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
We view the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) licence in a similar light to Gibraltar. The licence is expensive, exclusive, and offers some of the strongest player protection tools of a remote gambling regulator. If GSC licensed bookmakers are available in your region, they are our top recommendation.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Safety Score: 6.5/10
License Register: Yes, the KGC keeps a list of a licensed brands and URLs on their Permit Holders page.
Established: 1996, via the Kahnawake Gaming Law (MCR No. 26 / 1996-97)
Short Summary – Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Mohawk community of Kahnawake in Quebec, Canada operates the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC). First Nations groups in Canada play a distinct, sometimes debated role in overseeing certain gambling activities, and recent years have brought renewed scrutiny to that setup. Many lawmakers view the framework as outdated, as it was never designed for today’s online gambling landscape. Federal, provincial, and First Nations groups continue to debate the issue, with interest increasing since Ontario opened the first provincially regulated competitive iGaming market in Canada on April 4, 2022.
Nonetheless, players generally view the KGC as a fairly safe remote iGaming regulator that offers reasonable player protections.
Malta Gaming Authority
Safety Score: 8/10
License Register: Yes, the MGA’s Licensee Register page keeps an updated source of all licensed brands along with a modern URL checker tool. Unfortunately there is no clean list of licensed entities and URLs.
Established: 2001, initially established as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA), then rebranded to the Malta Gaming Authority on 14/01/2015.
Short Summary – Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence is one of the most recognized in the world. In our opinion, it is the top offshore regulator due to a strong combination of player protections and international reach. MGA licensed operators accept players internationally, and many players see them as one of the most respectable options in European and global grey markets. Although it is not without its flaws, self-exclusion can be a sticking point if you want to exclude yourself from all MGA licensed brands, as that broader, regulator-level exclusion requires an in-person application in Malta.
Tobique Gaming Commission
Safety Score: 6/10
License Register: Yes, available on the License Holders page directly on The Tobique Gaming Commission website. Here you can find company names and basic license information. Unfortunately there is no register of approved URLs.
Established: 2023, via the Tobique Gaming Act.
Short Summary – Tobique Gaming Commission
The Tobique Gaming Commission is operated by the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada. It operates in a similar fashion to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, but on a smaller scale. The licence provides mild player protections, along with reasonable requirements for operators around game fairness and disclosure, the gaming products offered, and responsible gaming tools.
FAQs About International Gaming Regulators
Which online betting licenses are recognized internationally?
Many players see the Curaçao Gaming Authority, Anjouan Gaming, and the Malta Gaming Authority as some of the most international regulators because they offer broad regional reach, and many licensed brands accept players across the globe. Of these regulators, our preference is Malta, as it generally provides the highest level of player protections.
What is an international gambling license?
An international licence is one that bookmakers use to serve players across many regions, often beyond the regulator’s home jurisdiction. In practice, access still depends on local laws and the bookmaker’s geo-restrictions. Some examples of international gambling licenses include the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Why has the Curaçao gaming license become more legitimate in recent years?
Curaçao’s licensing system has shifted away from the older master-licence model, which allowed many brands to operate with limited oversight. The newer framework has phased out some lower-quality operators, even if Curaçao is still not among the strictest regulators.
Do First Nations regulators like Kahnawake and Tobique offer player safety?
Yes, players generally view these regulators as reasonable international options. Kahnawake often stands out as fairly safe with solid protections, while Tobique operates on a smaller scale and typically offers milder protections, with requirements around game fairness and disclosure, plus responsible gaming tools.
Does an e-MTA (Estonia) licence offer the same global reach as MGA, Curaçao, or Anjouan?
No. The e-MTA licence has a unique setup and can serve as a base for reaching parts of Europe, but it mainly focuses on Estonia and does not offer the same level of international reach as the MGA, Curaçao, or Anjouan.
