The term “casino regulator” applies to any official government-approved corporation assigned with making sure casinos are following the correct code of conduct around gambling law and exercising jurisdiction when they do not. Casino regulators have the legal authority to enforce action where needed and can hold casinos liable if they do not comply with their region’s stipulated regulations.

Also referred to as gaming control boards (GCB), these associations exist to protect those within the industry and prevent corruption and exploitation from occurring.

In addition to the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), an official GCB exists in nearly every country in the world. Casino regulations are complex and subject to change across countries, cities, or states, so those who own or operate casinos need to be aware of which regulations apply to them and which do not.

Let’s run through some of the reasons why casino regulators are so important for the safe and legal functionality of recreational gambling.

1. Protecting Player’s Funds and Information

If a casino is not holding the money you gamble with in a secure enough account, that money may be subject to vulnerability. Casinos are required to hold your money in a highly secure account in order to prevent it from being stolen, lost, or hacked.

The information of a gambler in any legal casino also needs protection. Your personal information should not be used for anything other than verification, and casino regulators play a big role in ensuring that it is fully encrypted and secure.

2. Regulating the House Edge

The house edge represents the odds advantage installed in a casino’s game. It is completely legal and anticipated for a casino to have the upper hand, but there is a limit to how high they can make it (this limit varies depending on the laws applied to its location).

If no one is regulating the house edge, a casino may attempt to rig their machines heavily in favour of themselves. This cannot be allowed to occur as all games need to not only be fair when it comes to their determined house edge, but they also need to be transparent.

3. Preventing Corruption

Even the most acclaimed and high profile casinos can be used as vessels for carrying out corrupt or illegal activities such as drug smuggling or supply, prostitution, and money laundering.

Casino regulators aim to identify, eliminate and prosecute such activities in order to uphold the industry and create a safer environment for players and employees to exist within.

4. Keeping the Casino Industry Sustainable

Even though many casinos likely perceive regulators in a negative light, the role that these associations play is designed to uplift and sustain the industry, not weaken it. If any industry is to remain accessible, safe, and fair, it needs to be supervised and overseen by an overarching form of authority.

Through enforcing the above policies (amongst others), the casino industry is made a more enjoyable and sustainable place for everyone – whether they are a recreational player, employee of the establishment, or the owner of one.