A Look Into "Licensed" Bitcoin Casinos

[CoinsOrDie]

There's been some bitcoin casinos that claim to have licenses and this thread is investigating each claim. See below:

bitcasino.io
License Status: verified (sublicense)
Registrant Organization: mbet solutions NV
Physical Address: CMS Trust N.V., Wilhelminalaan 13, Willemstad, Curaçao
Lucense number: 8048/JAZ2013-008*
Server Location: Ireland
Other domains: mbet.io/coingaming.io/mbitcasino.com
Yet another casino that claims to be the first licensed Bitcoin casino. And they actually give license number, except it's not valid for their main domain bitcasino.io, only mbet.io/coingaming.io.
* The license number is supposedly confirmed by "gaminglicenses.com", which appears to be authorized by curacao-egaming.com as per the terms of mbet.io. However it appears curacao-egaming.com is more of a service for setting up mailbox companies than a government entity. The Curacao Internet Gaming Association does NOT list mbet solution NV or any of its domains as members. Clarification from mbet solutions on their license would be appreciated.
Clarification from bitcoincasino.io:

Antillephone N.V., holder of a Master Gaming License #8048/JAZ of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is entitled to issue sub-licenses, certifies that mBet Solutions N.V. holds a sub-license under License #8048/JAZ 2014-008 for use as of 20 May, 2013.

My comment: Antillephone N.V. is indeed listed as a real license holder on the actual Curacao Internet Gaming Association website so this explanation appears to be plausible. http://www.ciga.an/policy.htm does not seem to mention sub-licensing and has not been updated since 2002, so the actual regulation if any is still unclear. I give my props to bitcasino.io for going for the license and being communicative about it.

verajohn.com
License Status: verified
Registrant Organization: Plain Support S.A.
Physical Address: Northfields, Apartment 2, Suite 6, Independence Avenue, Mosta, Malta.
License number: LGA/CLl/552/2009
Server Location: Malta

This site claims to be the first licensed online casino that takes Bitcoin with license LGA/CLl/552/2009 issued by the Maltese Lottery & Gaming Authority.

I tried to look this up and the parenting company Dumarca Gaming Ltd is listed on http://www.lga.org.mt/content.aspx?id=86975

They are licensed as "Class 1 on 4":

Class 1 - a remote gaming licence (eg. - casino type games, online lotteries) whereby operators manage their own risk on repetitive games. It is also possible to have a Class 1 on 4 licence whereby the Class 1 licensee operates its games on the software and in certain cases through the equipment of a Class 4 licensee;

Class 4 - a licence to host and manage remote gaming operators, excluding the licensee itself, whereby software vendors provide management and hosting facilities on their platform.  In essence this is a business to business (B2B) gaming licence.

There's a Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority FAQ at http://www.lga.org.mt/content.aspx?id=247518
My comment: Appears to have a proper license and operates a real money casino with Bitcoin just being one of the deposit/withdraw methods.

coinbet.cc
License Status: not verifiable
Registrant Organization: Domains By Proxy, LLC
Physical Address: N/A
License number: N/A
Server Location: Costa Rica

Coinbet also claims to be the first licensed Bitcoin casino.

"CoinBet Interactive Gaming S.A." appears to be a real Panama registered company, but a quick search gives no results from independent sources that it exists.

While looking up the supposed Costa Rica gaming license of CoinBet, I was also unable to find anything. In fact, it appears any Costa Rica company may operate casino business without a license:

Costa Rica is a popular place to establish online gaming business. Although there is no specific gambling license for gaming activities, corporation may execute online gambling or online casino activities under a “data processing license”. To obtain this license the corporation must have a physical location in Costa Rica.

CoinBet does NOT give out a physical address on their about page:

Where is CoinBet Interactive Gaming S.A. located?
CoinBet maintains its legal formation in Panama, holds its gaming licenses and permits in Costa Rica, and currently has eleven offices on three different continents.

CoinBet claims that it can offer games to U.S. players because Bitcoin is not considered legal tender:

Wagering laws may vary from country-to-country and state-to-state. Offering real money online gambling for U.S. residents is a huge and disruptive move from CoinBet , but since the ever popular cryptocurrency; bitcoin is not considered “legal tender” and isn’t recognized as a legitimate form of currency by the U.S. government, that also means that in legal terms- online gambling with Bitcoin is not an illegal event under the Wire Act or Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

But Calvin Ayre points out that CoinBet advertise for the U.S. market but still claims in their terms that they don't take USA players.

We do not accept deposits or wagers from the USA

BetVIP.com
License Status: not verifiable
Registrant Organization: Domains By Proxy, LLC
Physical Address: Level G, Quantum House, 75, Abate Rigord Street, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX1120, Malta
License number: Is NOT listed by the Curacao Internet Gaming Association
Server Location: United Kingdom

This site claims to be licensed on Curacao, but are not listed on the website of the Curacao Internet Gaming Association. They list a physical address on Malta, but no phone number available and no business entity name is provided.

ball2win.com
License Status: not verifiable
Registrant Organization: Domains By Proxy, LLC
Physical Address: KIYU PTE LTD   2, Ayios Pavlos & Kadmos Street, Wisdom Tower, 3rd Floor, Nicosia 1105, Cyprus
Lucense number: N/A
Server Location: Singapore
Registered address in Cyprus and sever in Singapore and Singaporean phone support number. No license number or other information is possible to find.

bcourtcasino.com
License Status: not verifiable
Registrant Organization: Domains By Proxy, LLC
Physical Address: E-commerce Park Vredenberg, Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
License number: N/A
Server Location: Germany
Claims to be Bcourt Group N.V. registered in Curacao. Not listed by the Curacao Internet Gaming Association and no gaming license number available.

[a1choi]

Thanks for starting this thread!  Please keep it updated as i'm sure we all want to keep tabs on the "licensed" casinos to see if they're not abusing the distinction.

[CoinsOrDie]

Thanks for starting this thread!  Please keep it updated as i'm sure we all want to keep tabs on the "licensed" casinos to see if they're not abusing the distinction.

I have the feeling a lot of people don't care about it since Bitcoin has traditionally been off the books. I was gonna check it either way so I figured I might as well post the findings.

Even for people that don't care about the licenses it might be useful to know which casinos are dishonest enough to have fake licenses.

[zolace]

Well most of these license are easy to get, I say these license are not reputable.  I see only one from Europe thats reputable


Its funny you put Vera and John first and a newbie, meaning your trying to promote them

[b!z]

Great thread. Thank you for finding the information and organizing it all in one place.

[bitcasino.io]

Hey,

It's cool that someone started this thread, so let me explain unclear information regarding our service (coingaming.io and it's products):

mBet Solutions NV owns and operates the brand www.coingaming.io which provides B2B gaming platforms. mBet Solutions NV also owns the B2C facing brand www.bitcasino.io which utilities the gaming platform provided by coingaming.io. mBet Solutions NV holds an active gaming license and is responsible for the game / server integrity, accountability and player protection towards the Curacao gaming commission.

Our gaming transaction servers are hosted at the E-Zone Vredenberg, Curacao as per the gaming license requirements.

An extract from the gaming license certificate includes:

Antillephone N.V., holder of a Master Gaming License #8048/JAZ of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is entitled to issue sub-licenses, certifies that mBet Solutions N.V. holds a sub-license under License #8048/JAZ 2014-008 for use as of 20 May, 2013.

Additional details:
- Official Decree of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles No 8048/JAZ dated 29 November 1996, No 41, signed by the Minister of Justice, laying down the Master License granted to Antillephone N.V, allowing the operation of Games of Chance on the International market via service lines
- The Minister of Justice has given his consent for the use of the Internet as well through No 7228/JAZ dated 22 January 1999

Gaming license validity can be found here: http://www.gaminglicences.com/pages/validate.php?lid=8048-M2105544

---------------

And just to add more clearness: Vera&John is a real-money casino, it can't work without license and bitcoins is just additional banking method what converts coins into real currency. We are working JUST with bitcoins and "officially" we don't need any licences (like everyone else operate). But in the same time our main goal is to protect our players and make their money be in a safe place - just because of that our first goal was to get licence and provide fair service.

[a1choi]

Thanks bitcasino.io!  Great that you guys are taking the proactive stance and going for a gaming license.  you guys could eventually take in real money as an alternate currency too!

[hardshot]

verajohn sucks

[CoinsOrDie]

Hey,

It's cool that someone started this thread, so let me explain unclear information regarding our service (coingaming.io and it's products):

mBet Solutions NV owns and operates the brand www.coingaming.io which provides B2B gaming platforms. mBet Solutions NV also owns the B2C facing brand www.bitcasino.io which utilities the gaming platform provided by coingaming.io. mBet Solutions NV holds an active gaming license and is responsible for the game / server integrity, accountability and player protection towards the Curacao gaming commission.

Our gaming transaction servers are hosted at the E-Zone Vredenberg, Curacao as per the gaming license requirements.

An extract from the gaming license certificate includes:

Antillephone N.V., holder of a Master Gaming License #8048/JAZ of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is entitled to issue sub-licenses, certifies that mBet Solutions N.V. holds a sub-license under License #8048/JAZ 2014-008 for use as of 20 May, 2013.

Additional details:
- Official Decree of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles No 8048/JAZ dated 29 November 1996, No 41, signed by the Minister of Justice, laying down the Master License granted to Antillephone N.V, allowing the operation of Games of Chance on the International market via service lines
- The Minister of Justice has given his consent for the use of the Internet as well through No 7228/JAZ dated 22 January 1999

Gaming license validity can be found here: http://www.gaminglicences.com/pages/validate.php?lid=8048-M2105544

---------------

And just to add more clearness: Vera&John is a real-money casino, it can't work without license and bitcoins is just additional banking method what converts coins into real currency. We are working JUST with bitcoins and "officially" we don't need any licences (like everyone else operate). But in the same time our main goal is to protect our players and make their money be in a safe place - just because of that our first goal was to get licence and provide fair service.

Thanks for the clarification. Can I find the gaming license requirements somewhere?

[CoinsOrDie]

An extract from the gaming license certificate includes:

Antillephone N.V., holder of a Master Gaming License #8048/JAZ of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is entitled to issue sub-licenses, certifies that mBet Solutions N.V. holds a sub-license under License #8048/JAZ 2014-008 for use as of 20 May, 2013.

Additional details:
- Official Decree of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles No 8048/JAZ dated 29 November 1996, No 41, signed by the Minister of Justice, laying down the Master License granted to Antillephone N.V, allowing the operation of Games of Chance on the International market via service lines
- The Minister of Justice has given his consent for the use of the Internet as well through No 7228/JAZ dated 22 January 1999

Antillephone N.V. is indeed listed as a real license holder on the actual Curacao Internet Gaming Association website so this explanation appears to be plausible. License status changed to "Verified". It's still unclear what is actually needed in order to get a sublicense like this.

[btc88]

found this for curaçao licenses:

http://calvinayre.com/online-gaming-directory/gambling-regulators/south-america/curacao/

http://www.curacao-egaming.com/

http://www.datacentercuracao.com/files/E-Zone%20Legislation.pdf

[CoinsOrDie]

found this for curaçao licenses:

http://calvinayre.com/online-gaming-directory/gambling-regulators/south-america/curacao/

http://www.curacao-egaming.com/

http://www.datacentercuracao.com/files/E-Zone%20Legislation.pdf

These are all third party websites though. But I think I found it here: http://www.ciga.an/policy.htm

But this document appears to be old. Licensees are supposed to pay about $6000 a month and 2% of revenue to the government. The document is from 2002 and doesn't mention the kind of sub-licensing that curacao-egaming.com is offering.

[CoinsOrDie]

Its funny you put Vera and John first and a newbie, meaning your trying to promote them

I would like to, but as I understand this thread would not be allowed in the gambling section if I put affiliate links.

[iGameConsult]

Hey,

It's cool that someone started this thread, so let me explain unclear information regarding our service (coingaming.io and it's products):

mBet Solutions NV owns and operates the brand www.coingaming.io which provides B2B gaming platforms. mBet Solutions NV also owns the B2C facing brand www.bitcasino.io which utilities the gaming platform provided by coingaming.io. mBet Solutions NV holds an active gaming license and is responsible for the game / server integrity, accountability and player protection towards the Curacao gaming commission.

Our gaming transaction servers are hosted at the E-Zone Vredenberg, Curacao as per the gaming license requirements.

An extract from the gaming license certificate includes:

Antillephone N.V., holder of a Master Gaming License #8048/JAZ of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is entitled to issue sub-licenses, certifies that mBet Solutions N.V. holds a sub-license under License #8048/JAZ 2014-008 for use as of 20 May, 2013.

Additional details:
- Official Decree of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles No 8048/JAZ dated 29 November 1996, No 41, signed by the Minister of Justice, laying down the Master License granted to Antillephone N.V, allowing the operation of Games of Chance on the International market via service lines
- The Minister of Justice has given his consent for the use of the Internet as well through No 7228/JAZ dated 22 January 1999

Gaming license validity can be found here: http://www.gaminglicences.com/pages/validate.php?lid=8048-M2105544

---------------

And just to add more clearness: Vera&John is a real-money casino, it can't work without license and bitcoins is just additional banking method what converts coins into real currency. We are working JUST with bitcoins and "officially" we don't need any licences (like everyone else operate). But in the same time our main goal is to protect our players and make their money be in a safe place - just because of that our first goal was to get licence and provide fair service.

While Curacao licensing is a bit tricky (PM, if you would want to know the details) Antillephone N.V. is certainly optimal provider of Curacao sub-license.

[mem]

really nice work

[klooch]

Verajohn does not appear to have bitcoin? Or at least they don't have it listed on their front page along the rest of the payment methods?

[blizeH]

I wonder if the current Dice/Casino sites will make efforts to get licensed?

[Beymond]

I think you should remove coinbet.cc

They have scammed some one over $340k and they are not active any more

[chateaux]

Curacao is definitely a good jurisdiction to license from and we are seeing more and more Bitcoin casino inquiries coming our way. We host around 30+ cryptocurrency casinos. Some are licensed from Curacao, some are licensed in alternative jurisdictions, some use a shared license and some are not licensed at all.

If you are looking to have some form of cover for your casino, why not get in touch:

1. We can assist you with your license setup
2. Provide you with cost-effective hosting
3. Show you alternative ways of getting some form of regulation / licensing at a minimal cost
4. Provide insight into what you need to do for games you may be building in order to ensure they are accepted by the Master License holder

Get in touch: https://curacaowebhosting.com

[game-protect]

Why are Curacao fake sub-licenses a good jurisdiction?

Curacao license scam 1668/JAZ, sub-licenses have no legal basis!

Curacao licensing scam operators | Please add all gaming sites here!