Online Gambling Licensing and Regulatory Bodies, Testing and Auditing Organizations, and Reporting/Dispute Centers

This part of our guide will reveal the licensing and regulatory bodies that have proven to be trustworthy. You're looking at authorities in the gambling industry that have evaluated online casinos for years. Responsible gambling, player safety, and fairness are some of the principles that these bodies adhere to.

Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER)

The Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER), established under the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator Act (Act No. 2 of 2017), plays a pivotal role in regulating the gambling and liquor industries in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. This paper critically assesses the effectiveness of MER's regulatory approach, organizational framework, governance, transparency and accountability, strategic direction, and operational activities.

MER's vision of being at the forefront of effective regulation in the gambling and liquor industries is ambitious yet pragmatically necessary. The regulator's mission articulates a commitment to maintaining the integrity of these industries within the province through efficient regulation, a task of substantial complexity given the inherent socio-economic implications of the sectors.

Strategic Objectives and Regulatory Efficiency: MER's strategic objectives are comprehensively outlined, underscoring the desire for systematic, thorough, and accountable regulation of the gambling and liquor industries. These objectives provide a roadmap for assessing the suitability of participants, regulatory efficiency, alignment with national and international policies and standards, research into socio-economic impacts, corporate governance, promotion of responsible gambling and liquor consumption, and the transformation and sustainability of the industries. The broad scope and multi-faceted nature of these objectives present both opportunities and challenges, the successful navigation of which can significantly enhance the effectiveness of MER's regulatory mandate.

Corporate Governance and Compliance: The MER's commitment to the principles of openness, integrity, and accountability aligns with its obligation to the Public Finance Management Act (Act No. 1 of 1999), specifically the provisions in sections 50 and 51. Moreover, adherence to the principles of good governance as stipulated in the King IV Report on Governance for South Africa 2016 further bolsters the MER's legitimacy as a robust and transparent regulatory body.

Socio-Economic Impact and Public Awareness: MER's commitment to research and advising the government on the socio-economic impact of gambling and liquor within the province is commendable. This initiative underpins the regulator's understanding of the far-reaching implications of these industries and their need for effective regulation. Further, through public awareness campaigns, MER's endeavours to promote responsible gambling, liquor trade, and consumption in the Mpumalanga province demonstrate a proactive approach to managing industry-related risks and societal harm.

Promotion of Industry Transformation and Sustainability: The regulator's commitment to promoting transformation and sustainability in the gambling and liquor industries is a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and long-term stability within the sector. Ensuring complete and accurate levies are paid is also integral to the province's economic viability and the credibility of the industries in question.

In conclusion, the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator appears well-positioned to perform its assigned tasks and objectives within its mandate. The clear articulation of its vision, mission, and objectives, coupled with its commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability, bodes well for effectively regulating the gambling and liquor industries within the Mpumalanga province. However, the regulator's ability to deliver on these promises should be the subject of ongoing review and scrutiny to ensure that its practices align with its moral stance.

For more information, visit the MER Website.

Other offshore Regulatory bodies

Malta Gaming Authority

The Malta Gaming Authority, or simply MGA, regulates and rates almost every form of gambling happening on the territory of Malta. This includes land-based gambling activities in casinos and betting offices and covers amusement and slot machines, lotteries, and fantasy sports, as well as online gambling services like B2B and B2C.

Curaçao eGaming

This is one of the most famous and respected licensing and regulatory bodies for crypto-friendly casinos. Dozens of online casinos across the globe hold Curaçao eGaming licenses.

Isle of Man

The tiny self-governing British Crown Dependency has the Gambling Supervision Commission, which started its work in 1962. Besides issuing licenses and regulating brick-and-mortar gambling establishments, it also covers online gambling activities.

With the help of auditors and testing organizations, players can rest assured that the outcomes of the games they play at approved/certified online casinos are fair and random. These organizations are renowned and respected globally as third-party, unbiased companies focused on testing casino games and activities provided by casino sites. They test the games and other related processes like deposits, withdrawals, and registration.

A reputable online casino will share the certificates they got from auditors and testing labs as a token of trust. The following is our list of the most notable companies in this category.

eCogra

eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation) was launched in 2003 when the online gambling industry started booming. Today, this is one of the leading testing agencies internationally. Every operator who will establish a professional relationship with eCOGRA gets in-depth reports.

BMM

Another company that tests online casinos for their safety is the BMM testing lab. BMM also helps operators implement the latest industry standards in their work.

QA Labs

QA Labs (Quality Assurance Laboratories) is another global organization that tests online and brick-and-mortar casinos. Its primary focus is gambling operation evaluation, game mathematics fairness, and payout calculation consistency.

Quinell M Limited

Italy, Malta, and the United Kingdom are the countries where this reputable testing laboratory is present with its offices. With experienced test engineers, this lab conducts testing across various regulatory areas. They don't use sub-contractors to ensure client confidentiality.

GLI

With dozens of clients in 480 jurisdictions globally and over 30 years of experience, GLI is one of the top-notch testing and certification services. Thanks to its team of professionals that test and certify equipment and software, it provides services to the global gaming industry.

Eclipse Compliance Testing

Based in the USA, Eclipse Compliance Testing is an independent game testing facility specializing in North American land-based and online gambling. Unbiased testing, consultation, and certification are its most used services.

Trisigma B.V.

Trisigma B.V. is more than just another testing company dedicated to ensuring the safety of gambling activities. This is also a brand that develops online casino games. You're looking at a testing lab with international accreditations and certifications with partners worldwide to ensure fair gambling results.

SQS Group Limited

This London-based testing company was launched in 1996. So, it makes sense that most gambling operators working with SQS Group Limited come from the UK. Processing, reviewing, and testing games and gambling activities are part of the everyday work of the professionals in this testing company.

SIQ

SIQ represents an accredited company that specializes in testing various gaming devices. They have built a strong reputation and work on enhancing the compliance and safety of slot machines, lotteries, and table games (roulette, blackjack, etc.).

iTech Labs

iTech Labs is among the most famous testing labs internationally. Many online casinos and gambling websites have partnered with this laboratory in the past decade. iTech Labs was founded in 2004.

Gaming Associates

Gaming Associates is one of the first gambling testers, and auditors launched in the early 1990s. Well-known for their reliability and dedication to superior quality, they established a strong reputation among gambling sites, lotteries, and similar websites.

Even though disputes between online casinos and players are not common in licensed casinos, these things can happen. It's best to contact a dispute center whenever you are in a situation like that. Whether your account has been closed without warning or the casino blocks your withdrawal requests, a good dispute center should be able to help you resolve this problem.

IBAS Dispute Site

The IBAS is one of the leading dispute centers. It's known for its impartiality and ability to manage disputes between casino sites and players without taking a side. It has an adjudication panel consisting of experts that evaluate every dispute independently before coming up with a conclusion/recommendation/judgment.