How to choose a licensed bookmaker safely

1. Check the operator is authorised in your country

Online betting is regulated country by country, and an authorisation only covers the country that granted it: an operator licensed in one country is not automatically authorised where you live. Check that the operator is authorised by your own country's regulator, using that regulator's official register. Search it for the company name and the exact website address given in the operator's terms and conditions. A logo or a licence number printed on the site is not proof on its own.

2. 18+ and responsible gambling

Gambling is for adults only. The legal minimum age is set by each country and is 18 or higher depending on where you live: check the rule that applies to you. A licensed operator has to verify your identity and age before you can deposit or withdraw. Before any deposit, check that the site offers:

• Deposit and loss limits that you set yourself.
• Time-outs and reality checks showing the time and money spent.
• A visible link to self-exclusion and to support services.
• A full account history of bets, deposits and withdrawals.

Only ever use money you can afford to lose. No statistic, model or tip can guarantee a result or any winnings. If gambling is causing you problems, contact the free support services available in your country: your regulator's or health authority's website lists them. See also the IASHARK responsible gambling page.

3. Compare odds and margins

Decimal odds convert into an implied probability: 1 ÷ odds. Add up the implied probabilities of every outcome in a market and the total comes out above 100%. The excess is the operator's margin (also called the overround).

Example with round numbers: a two-way market priced 1.90 and 1.90 gives 52.6% + 52.6% = 105.3%, a margin of about 5%. The lower that total, the less the price costs you. A low margin never makes a bet profitable by itself.

• Margins differ by operator, league and type of market, and odds move constantly: a fixed ranking is out of date almost immediately.
• Only compare operators that are authorised in your own country.
• Read the rules on settlement, void bets, maximum stakes and withdrawals, not just the price.

4. Dispute resolution

Before registering, find the operator's complaints procedure and the independent body it has to refer you to. The usual route is:

1. Complain to the operator first, in writing, and keep screenshots of every exchange.
2. Go to the independent dispute resolution body designated by your country's rules if the answer is unsatisfactory or late. Your regulator's website says which body applies and how long you have to wait.
3. Report illegal practices to your country's regulator.

With an unlicensed operator, these routes are generally not available: your country's regulator has no power over a company outside its supervision.

5. Self-exclusion tools

Besides the limits and account closure each operator offers, many regulated countries run a national self-exclusion scheme that blocks access to all licensed operators at once. Your regulator's website explains whether such a scheme exists where you live and how to register.

Self-exclusion only works with licensed operators: one more reason never to move to an unlicensed site.

6. Warning signs of unlicensed sites

• No licence information, or only a foreign licence while your country has its own licensing system.
• The company name or domain is missing from your regulator's register, or differs from the one listed.
• An account can be opened, or money deposited, without identity and age checks.
• Pressure: countdowns, "guaranteed" winnings, "sure bets", unsolicited messages on social networks or messaging apps.
• Advice on getting around restrictions (VPN, accepting players from countries where the site is not licensed, accepting self-excluded people).
• No accessible complaints procedure, vague terms, or withdrawal conditions that change after a deposit.
• Unusual payment methods only, such as transfers to private accounts.

7. Readers in Great Britain and South Africa

The UK and South African editions of IASHARK link to this English guide. If you live in one of these two countries, these are the official references to use.

Sources

Official pages consulted on 14 September 2026. Registers change: always check the live version.

1. UK Gambling Commission: public register
2. UK Gambling Commission: age, ID and financial verification
3. UK Gambling Commission: self-exclusion with GAMSTOP
4. UK Gambling Commission: taking your complaint to an ADR provider
5. GambleAware: get help now (National Gambling Helpline)
6. ASA / CAP: CAP Code section 16, gambling
7. National Gambling Board (South Africa): verified operators
8. South African Government: National Gambling Act 7 of 2004
9. National Responsible Gambling Programme (South Africa)