Depending on a player's country of residence, the purpose of a gambling authority is to carry out checks on online casino operators, ensuring they are operating within any laws and regulations that apply within the jurisdiction. Some gambling authorities also operate internationally, independent of any one government and monitor gambling websites for any violations of industry rules and codes of best practice; ensuring games are run fairly and players are being paid any winnings they are owed.
Licences are used by gambling authorities to demonstrate that platforms are appropriately registered and are abiding by any rules and legal regulations they dictate. Players can search for these licences to establish legitimacy before signing up with a new online casino. Government sanctioned gambling authorities will typically have enforcement powers granted to them, allowing them to sanction or shut down any gambling business that isn’t following the rules, ensuring that players are always kept safe.