Online Casino Licenses in Europe
As mentioned several times before, EU casinos need licenses in order to operate on the market properly. While most countries issue their own licenses, the EU also has online gambling guidelines all should adhere to. There are several governing bodies that come from the European Union, providing licenses to international sites valid for other countries. The UK Gambling Commission is the top one, but since the United Kingdom made its exit from the EU, it’s no longer relevant for all casinos.
On the other hand, the Malta Gaming Authority remains one of the top regulators for online gaming in Europe. Not counting the UKGC, it’s the most reputable license an operator can earn and provide services to Europeans. Used by the best EU casinos, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license has strict conditions, and rules gaming sites should follow. Should they fail to follow the rules, they will lose their license.
European licenses for real money gambling sites come in three different types:
Open Licensing
Grants licenses as long as the operator meets specific criteria. MGA is an open license, for instance.
Restricted Licensing
Many countries in Europe fall under this category. The number of licenses per market is limited, but the process allows the registration of gaming companies. These licenses are used in Greece, the Czech Republic, and Belgium, among others.
State-Run Monopoly
In some EU countries, you can only play casino games at government-owned entities. This is the case with Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The government itself grants a license to one operator that offers gambling services to the residents of that country. In that case, offshore (international) casinos are banned, although rarely any country enforce strict laws.
Payment Methods for European Online Casino Players
If you’re looking to play popular casino games for free, you’re in luck. Europe’s online gambling market is full of sites that don’t even require an account to play games for fun. On the other hand, serious players will be looking to play with money. Most casinos accept a variety of payment methods that range from bank transfers to cryptocurrencies.
Every online casino in Europe is most likely to accept EUR via the options listed below.
Credit/Debit Cards
Credit and debit cards are the default payment methods in Euro casinos. They are issued by the majority of banks in Europe. Visa and Mastercard are the top debit/credit cards you can use in European online casinos, allowing you to make easy transactions with no fees.
If linked to a bank account, the money will be taken straight from it. These electronic transfers are very easy to complete and thanks to the widespread use of both cards, depositing and withdrawing is a breeze. Just make sure to check the limits, including the min deposit and withdrawal at casinos.
Visa/Mastercard
The premier credit/debit card duo is not just focused on Europe – they are accepted everywhere around the world. They are the most common payment method for online services and retailers, allowing people to buy nearly everything online with their bank accounts. Visa and Mastercard are the top payment method in many European countries, not just for gambling but for everything else as well.
E-wallets
E-wallets are a new-age digital payment method featured on the majority of gaming sites. They offer a great alternative way to play popular online casino games and deposit with ease. Payment providers such as Skrill and Neteller feature instant deposits and withdrawals with quite low or no fees. Additionally, you don’t need to link them to your bank account, which is a big plus for many players.
Skrill
Part of the Paysafe Group, Skrill is a common payment method you can use at online casinos. Its highlights are fast transfers with almost no fees and accepting various currencies besides EUR, GBP, and USD.
Neteller
Neteller is part of the Paysafe Group as well and a viable alternative to Skrill. Both are very similar, but slight differences in limits and geolocations exist. One notable drawback of Neteller and Skrill is that they’re not often accepted as a deposit method with which you can claim a casino’s welcome bonus.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are the new kid on the block in the online gambling industry. While they’re mostly outlawed in Euro countries, there are still a good number of casinos that accept them, mostly new casino sites. Just make sure that you’re using an online casino Europe site in countries that have legalised cryptos or have no clear laws on them.
The main reason why players prefer cryptocurrencies are the instant transfers. When we say instant, we truly mean instant. They are faster than any other payment option, including e-wallets. It’s all thanks to the blockchain, the exciting technology cryptocurrencies are built on that might end up transforming the gambling industry.
Bitcoin
The world’s first and top cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is the ‘default’ payment option in crypto EU casinos. Its highlights are fast and safe transfers and great limits that serve both new and seasoned players. Make sure to check the min deposit which is often displayed in mBTC, not BTC.
Litecoin
A Bitcoin competitor that’s nearly nowhere its price, Litecoin is a great alternative that’s on the rise. You can use it to make fast transactions and play exciting live casino games from Evolution Gaming. Litecoin is easy to get from exchanges and faster when compared to Bitcoin, although we’re talking microseconds of difference here.
Ethereum
Dubbed the Bitcoin killer, Ethereum is the second-highest cryptocurrency in the world in terms of price. It features functionalities such as smart contracts and slowly but surely rises in value. While it still has a long way to go to reach Bitcoin, it’s a fantastic alternative for investors.
Ripple
Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, Ripple is a stablecoin. It’s not volatile compared to BTC’s price, always keeping a 1:1 ratio with USD. That makes it much more acceptable for Euro players that aren’t that interested in investing in cryptos due to the volatile prices.
European Casinos Summary
If you’re looking for the top-ranked online casinos in Europe, you’re at the right place. We’ve got the best in the business powered by major providers such as NetEnt, Play’n GO, Blueprint Gaming, Microgaming, and Yggdrasil. They feature thousands of online slots and classic casino titles that you can either enjoy for fun or play for real money.