How to read a licensing register
A licensing badge in a website footer is not a completed verification. This guide explains how we document a claim before adding it to a review, using the Anjouan register as an example.
Sources last reviewed:
Start with matching fields
The authority says its verification page displays the licensee, licence number, status, domains and validity period. Consult the official register: a certificate image may be outdated or altered. [1]
What do we record?
We record the company name exactly, copy the licence identifier carefully and name the domain listed in the register. We then record status, expiry and our access date. If the domain is absent or the register cannot be loaded, we state that limitation instead of guessing.
What does a match not establish?
The authority says domain inclusion does not establish ownership, and a company listing is not an endorsement of its services. The register can lag behind recent changes; the authority recommends contacting it for time-sensitive checks. [2]
When sources disagree
We retain both statements and their sources: the operator’s account and the registry finding. Finding a record does not erase a contradiction. We also distinguish our access date from the licence issue date or an announced operator transition.
Two examples from our updates
Our Sportsbet.io review corrects the licence identifier after a registry match. Our Thunderpick review adds a registry match while retaining the conflicting licensing references on the operator’s website. The reviews below provide the evidence and limits.
A short editorial checklist
Before publication: does the company match? Is the identifier copied accurately? Is the exact domain listed? Are the dates clear? Have we separated source statements from our interpretation? This checks information; it does not test customer funds, policy enforcement or legality in a particular country.