The first non GamStop casinos emerged when the internet began to gain popularity in the 1990s. Even then, a gambling license was a requirement for non GamStop casinos. Scratch cards and speciality games off GamStop also started to appear during this time, adding more diversity to the early online offerings. However, legislation was still lacking in many places. The first jurisdictions with such licenses were primarily small island states seeking an easy way to tap into an additional revenue stream. The microstate of Antigua and Barbados was the first in 1994; Belize followed in 1995. These countries still offer gambling licenses. Nevertheless, they have been overtaken in popularity by countries that impose strict requirements on non GamStop casinos and monitor their operation.
As a result, non GamStop casinos no longer resemble the Wild West; instead, the offerings are regulated. Your money is better protected, and you have a fair chance of beating the casino. Strict regulators like the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission therefore have a reputation to uphold.
A license with still few regulations is the Costa Rica casino license . This isn’t actually a real license. You only need registration in the Costa Rican commercial register. This allows a casino to offer online gambling to players worldwide. A casino located here is therefore a casino without GamStop.
Ideal International Casino Licenses
There are many different international casino licensing bodies for non GamStop casinos, some of which are better than others. Reliable issuers of these international licenses include the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission. The best non GamStop casinos usually hold at least one of these licenses. A safe online casino like 21Red is licensed by the MGA. The license information can be found at the bottom of the website in the small print text.
If you play at an online casino licensed in one of these countries, you can assume it’s reliable. Because it’s strictly regulated, the casino will have sufficient financial resources and games will be fair. To obtain a license issued by the MGA or UKGC, an online casino must meet strict requirements. Providers are also regularly checked to ensure they still meet all requirements.
The Kahnawake casino license, like a Costa Rican casino license, is common worldwide. Of all the licenses in this list, the one from this Indian reservation in Canada is the oldest. There are still over a hundred casinos licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC). The rise of local licenses (especially those from Ontario) is currently threatening Kahnawake’s popularity. Whether this license will still be among the most common gambling licenses in ten years remains to be seen. For now, you’ll encounter this license regularly, and you can rely on its reliability.
Other Gambling Licenses
Anyone familiar with the casino world may know that there are other important gambling licenses, such as the Belgian gambling license. Here, the maximum number of casinos is legally set at nine. Therefore, there aren’t many safe Belgian casinos to choose from. Casino bonuses are also prohibited here. The selection of non GamStop casinos and games in them is very limited.
There are also other well-known licenses, such as those from the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. Although these licenses are more internationally oriented than the British or Belgian ones, they are also less popular than the big five described above. This is no coincidence, however. The Gibraltar licensing authority deliberately keeps the number of licenses low to ensure high quality. This makes the Gibraltar license popular, but also very exclusive. It is also questionable whether the Gibraltar license is reliable.
A license that is becoming increasingly popular is the Anjouan license. The requirements for this license are somewhat lower than those of the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Authority, but it still offers security. For example, data privacy and financial solvency are very important to the regulator that issues the Anjouan license. Therefore, we are encountering Anjouan non GamStop casinos more and more often.
Playing at an Unlicensed Casino
It’s possible to play at an unlicensed casino. This can offer several advantages, but always be wary. Pay attention to the online casino’s reputation and whether there are any concerning complaints online. If something goes wrong at this casino, there’s often no independent agency that can help. Common problems include payment issues and unresponsive customer service. Want to be absolutely sure whether an unlicensed casino is reliable?
Advantages of an Unlicensed Casino
However, there are several reasons to play at an unlicensed casino. For one, there’s no single authority that sets rules or imposes restrictions on the online casino. 
This allows the online casino to offer a greater variety of payment methods, often a wide selection of games, and high bonuses. There are also no restrictions on the games or which features are permitted or not.