Can Unlicensed Casinos Sometimes Be a Good Thing?

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Contrary to popular belief, you don’t technically need a licence to go into business as an online casino. In fact, the vast swathes of the online casino market comprises gaming sites with no formal licensing or any regulation whatsoever.

All of which can seem like an entirely negative thing on the surface. For the most part, discussions regarding unlicensed casinos have a tendency to focus on the negatives. And without beating around the bush, there are quite a few of them. 

But at the same time, there’s a growing contingency of players who are actually setting their sights specifically on unlicensed casinos. Such demand has resulted in the emergence of specialist sites like Casino Utan Svensk Licens, which exist specifically to point people in the direction of such casinos.

You can click here to learn more about Casino Utan Svensk Licens, which caters primarily to the Swedish gaming market.

To pretend all this isn’t going on right under our noses would be counterproductive and pointless. Instead, it’s more productive to question why it is that the popularity of unlicensed online casinos is skyrocketing worldwide.

Not just in Sweden, but elsewhere – why is it that people are proactively seeking unlicensed casinos in so many places?

The Potential Benefits of Unlicensed Casinos

For some, there are the benefits to doing business with unlicensed casinos that are undeniable. One of which is the fact that they do not have to adhere to the same administrative rules and regulations as their licensed counterparts.

For example, this means that things like bank ID verification and extensive general verification of ID may not be necessary, in order to sign up. They may also have entirely different limitations placed on things like deposits and withdrawals, along with the currencies (and cryptocurrencies) they accept.

Meanwhile, there’s the fact that some players in certain jurisdictions are completely banned from accessing certain online casinos. At least, online casinos operating in those territories that are licensed and regulated.  Subsequently, this is less of an issue where unlicensed casinos are concerned, which are free to accept players from anywhere they like.

Speaking of which, the recently introduced self-exclusion (and mandatory exclusion) systems in the UK and elsewhere can make it impossible for excluded individuals to play at online casinos for a specific time. Though this only applies to licensed and regulated online casinos – unlicensed sites are still open for business.

There are even those who claim that the most generous bonuses, promotions and loyalty schemes they’ve ever accessed online have come courtesy of unlicensed casinos. Whether or not this is the case is open to debate, but it nonetheless suggests that unlicensed casinos can offer equally generous incentives as their counterparts.

The Potential Downsides of Unlicensed Casinos

Where these plus points apply, it’s relatively easy to understand the potential appeal of unlicensed casinos. If you have a fantastic gaming experience and get more for your money, you’ve all the justification you need.

But at the same time, there are also several significant disadvantages that accompany unlicensed online casino gaming. Whether or not they outweigh the potential benefits is a judgment call, but they must nonetheless be considered carefully before deciding which way to go.

First and foremost, licensing is considered a mark of quality and responsibility on the part of the online casino. It’s only upon meeting a long list of complex and intensive criteria that an online casino can qualify for licensing with one of the world’s most respected authorities. None of which applies with unlicensed online casinos, which do not have to pass any specific quality checks whatsoever.

Licensed casinos are also bound by law to follow an equally long list of rules while in business. Rules like the fairness and randomness of their games, the appropriateness of their terms and conditions, the security of their site and payment systems and so on. Where a casino abides by all these rules, you know you’re in for a safe and enjoyable experience. If they are unlicensed, there are no such guarantees.

Critics also argue that online casinos that welcome players that are currently on exclusion for any reason are inherently irresponsible. They believe that when a player enters into a period of exclusion for any reason, they should not be able to continue gambling under any circumstances. With unlicensed online casinos, this rule rarely applies.

Lastly, the fact that unlicensed casinos do not fall under the watch of any specific regulator or legislator means they can technically do what they want and get away with it. If they decide to disappear overnight and take your winnings with them, there isn’t a great deal you can do about it. Though this isn’t something that tends to happen often in the real world, it is nonetheless a risk that can be eliminated entirely by playing exclusively at licensed and registered casinos.

The Bottom Line…

Reaching a fair and balanced conclusion on the whole debate isn’t as easy as you might think at first. On one hand, you could say that yes – doing business with unlicensed casinos brings a variety of additional risk factors into question. But if you genuinely find yourself getting a better deal from unlicensed casinos and having a fantastic time, why wouldn’t you continue using their services?

Just as long as an online casino is not breaking any applicable laws and is operating in a responsible way, some would argue that licensing or otherwise isn’t a big deal. On the flipside of the coin, others will tell you that licensing is the first and most important ‘stress test’ to perform when choosing where to play online.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide. But whichever way you go, be sure to consult as many independent customers reviews and recommendations as possible, before signing up.

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