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Does an offshore license make a casino legal in the US?
No. In the licensed states, the state list decides. New Jersey says any site not on its list is not approved to offer internet gaming there, and Michigan says only operators it licenses may legally offer online gaming. In September 2025, the Michigan Gaming Control Board said it had ordered six more illegal online casinos out of the state. See whether offshore casinos are legal. This is information, not legal advice.
What do the main offshore licenses require?
The clearest differences we found concern disputes. Only Curaçao and Malta below come from the regulator's own documents. Anjouan and Nevis rest on a single trade report, which we have not checked against the regulators.
| License | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Curaçao | New gaming law from December 24, 2024. Operators must have a complaint form and offer free independent dispute resolution | Regulator |
| Malta | Licensed operators must make complaint and dispute procedures easy to find and refer disputes to an independent body | Regulator |
| Anjouan | A designated dispute provider is a condition of every license | Trade report |
| Nevis | Ordinance introduced in April 2025. Operators must contract with an approved dispute provider, and bear the cost | Trade report |
How do you check an offshore casino license?
Use the regulator's own site, not the logo in the casino's footer:
- Note the license number and company name from the casino's terms.
- Open the regulator's site directly, rather than through a link on the casino. Curaçao publishes a license register, linked in the sources below.
- Confirm that the company and the exact web address match the entry.
- Find out whether the license is active. Curaçao has both indefinite and provisional licenses.
- Read the dispute section of the casino's terms, and note the dispute provider it names.
What can a foreign regulator do for you?
Less than many players expect. The Curaçao Gaming Authority says it will not resolve or make decisions on player complaints about gambling transactions, and it does not mediate in individual disputes. It uses the information for its supervision and enforcement work. The Malta Gaming Authority stopped examining the merits of player disputes on April 1, 2019. See offshore withdrawal disputes for the steps.
Does InsideCasino.us list licensed offshore casinos?
No. We do not review, rank or link to offshore brands, and a valid foreign license is not a recommendation from us. If your state has licensed online casinos, you can check its list instead.
What are the rules in your state?
Each state sets its own online casino rules. Pick a state to see its status, its regulator and the date we last checked it.
Read next: Withdrawal disputes
Sources
Checked November 5, 2026. Regulator rules were read through the sources listed, and they can change. How we research.
- Curaçao Gaming Authority: online gaming regulation
- Curaçao Gaming Authority: license register
- Curaçao Gaming Authority: Player Complaints Policy Guidelines, version 1.1 (June 18, 2025)
- Malta Gaming Authority: Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive notice
- Asia Gaming Brief: offshore jurisdictions close ranks on player complaints (June 21, 2026)
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: authorized internet gaming sites
- Michigan Gaming Control Board: legal vs illegal gaming
- Michigan Gaming Control Board: six more illegal online casinos ordered to exit (September 29, 2025)