Alderney

Given the speed of development of gambling on the Internet, the question of reliability and transparency of this business is very relevant. Really remote gambling causes quite a lot of doubts, so players should be confident in online casinos. This confidence is guaranteed by a gambling license. There are quite a few different organizations that regulate and license the activities of online gambling establishments. But each of them has its own pros and cons.

Today we offer you an overview of the Alderney jurisdiction, it is generally accepted that licenses obtained in this jurisdiction provide players with the highest level of protection of their rights and the integrity of the gaming process.

Alderney: Casino with licenses

The Current Licenses & Certificates section provides information about companies, including online casinos and pokie machine developers, licensed in Alderney. Users can see the category of license and the official address of the site where the licensed company is located. This section also provides information about the suspension of the license.

More than 30 companies are licensed by Alderney, and more than 50 online casinos operate under this gaming license.

Alderney review

Alderney is an island in the Channel Islands and a Crown Estate of the British Empire. It has an area of only 7.9 square kilometers and a population of barely over 1900. The main currency is the Alderney pound, equal to the British pound.

Naturally, with such limited opportunities for economic development, the island's government has made the only right decision to generate revenue - the territory of Alderney is perfect for doing business due to the offshore zone's tax benefits and other advantages.

The Gambling (Alderney) Act was drafted and passed in 1999, and a special commission was set up in May 2000 to oversee and regulate gambling.

To operate in the jurisdiction, companies must obtain one or more types of licenses, depending on their line of business:

• Category 1 allows players to register and verify themselves in casinos, create contractual relationships with them, and manage gaming funds.
• Category 2 (Category 2) permits the management of a gaming platform located within an approved hosting center.
• Core Service Provider Associate Certificate is issued to gaming providers. Confirms that their games meet the Commission's requirements.
• Category 2 Associate Certificate allows you to accept and provide services to customers of a company with a Category 1 license. For example, to provide financial transactions in a casino.
• Hosting Certificate is issued to the owners of the premises where the gaming equipment of licensees and associate certificate holders is located. Hosting Certificates are required for premises where gaming equipment is located if they are located in Guernsey.
• Temporary eGambling License allows the provision of gambling services in full but for a limited period of time. If the organizer of gambling provides services for more than 60 days in six months, he must apply for a full license.
• Key Individual Certificate is required for a person holding a key position in the company providing gambling services.

The jurisdiction's licensing costs range from £17500 to £400,000. It is worth specifying that the annual fee for a gaming license depends on the company's net income. And the cost is quite adequate. For example, companies with a net income of less than 500,000 pay 35,000 pounds sterling, and companies with income from 5 to 7.5 million pay 130,000 pounds sterling. The processing time for applications takes up to 70 days.

Licensing authority

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission is a non-political and independent organization dedicated to regulating gambling within the state. It consists of a Chairman and three members.

The main objective is to protect and enhance the reputation of Alderney as a regulatory jurisdiction. To do so, the Commission adheres to the following basic principles:

1. All electronic gambling must be conducted fairly and honestly and in accordance with good governance.
   The regulator licenses not only online casinos but also pokie machine manufacturers. In obtaining a license, software developers must prove that their product operates with impeccable integrity. For this purpose, test trials are conducted in independent laboratories, and the corresponding certificates are issued.
2. Financing, management, and operation of electronic gambling remain free from criminal influence.
   A number of laws aim to combat money laundering. Also, when inspecting companies receiving licenses, the Commission must ensure that none of the managers and staff are involved in crime.
3. Electronic gambling is regulated and monitored to protect the interests of the young and vulnerable by the approval to work with other agencies in the development of gambling activities regulated by the Commission.
   Bills are developed and implemented to protect the public from the harmful effects of gambling, especially on minors.

The Commission is adopting the experience of other jurisdictions in this area. For example, Alderney works closely with the British Gambling Commission, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Control.

By adhering to these principles in its work, the AGCC has achieved a high reputation among players as a good licensee. Of course, in part, this all sounds rather pathetic and implausible. Let's evaluate the results of the Commission's work in a more down-to-earth way. There are several aspects that not only inspire confidence among players but also attract companies to obtain a gambling license.

Why do companies get an Alderney license? First of all, it is quite justified and relatively low cost of gambling license. And of course the absence of taxes.

Why do players value the Alderney Commission? AGCC always conducts a pretty thorough review of player applications. It's worth noting that one of the requirements for licensees is the segregation of operating costs and customer funds. Simply put, players' money is kept separate. That is, they are protected as much as possible from various force majeure circumstances.

While evaluating the procedure for handling player complaints, the Casinoz team was surprised by such a "meticulous" approach. Let's describe the most important characteristics (rules) when dealing with appeals from casino customers to the regulator.

When a dispute arises between the player and the casino, the player must initially send a request to the institution. If the gambler is unsatisfied with the casino's decision, he or she can file a complaint with the Alderney Commission using a particular form on the regulator's official website.

When receiving the player's appeal, an employee of the Commission contacts the client and the casino and proposes ways of resolving the issue. If no agreement is reached, the complaint is referred to the Commission's director. According to the regulator's regulations, the director must conduct a detailed analysis and decide on the dispute. If the parties agree, the decision is final.

Generally, up to this point, the complaint-handling procedure is quite similar to the process adopted in other respected jurisdictions. However, the most interesting part begins if the casino or player disagrees with the director's decision. In this case, the complaint is sent to a hearing. We warn that the process is quite costly from a financial point of view, and it should be resorted to if one of the parties is fully convinced of its rightness and has the necessary evidence. At the end of the complaint hearing, the losing party must fully reimburse the client, licensee, and commission. It should be noted that the Commission's review of complaints is quite adequate, and all nuances are considered.

Requirements for licensees

There are a few basic requirements for a company to obtain a license:

• A license applicant must register the company in Alderney and publish notice of the application in the local newspaper, the Alderney Gazette.
• Prepare a business plan.
• Provide a list of the individuals and entities involved in the business.
• Provide certificates for the games used.
• Provide a list of current and potential partners of the company.
• List the services the company intends to provide.
• Pay the application fee.

The application process is conducted in several steps. Initially, the committee reviews the application form submitted by the company. Next, a meeting is scheduled to review the business plan and other documentation.

If a positive decision is received from the Commission, the company will not be able to start its activities immediately. It will need to approve:

• Internal Control System. A document that outlines all relevant internal procedures. The company should familiarize itself with regulations number 175 through 187 to compile such documentation.
• Gaming Equipment This applies to all equipment that is responsible for gaming. The equipment must be independently tested, although previous testing may be considered.
• Licensee's capitalization status. The company's assets must always be 25% greater than the company's total liabilities to players and other organizations.
  

After all procedures are completed, the company (online casino) can accept players in its establishment.

Conclusion

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission is a rather serious organization that imposes high requirements on licensed companies. Moreover, great attention is paid to protecting the interests of the player. That is why Casinoz believes that this jurisdiction's license is currently one of the best guides when choosing an online casino.