Hotloot Casino review: a Curacao site outside UK rules

Hotloot Casino has no Gambling Commission licence: the register holds no account, domain or trading name for it. Third-party reviews name Famagousta B.V., a Curacao company, as the operator and describe a Curacao licence. This Hotloot review covers what that means for anyone in Great Britain, especially if a dispute or a withdrawal problem comes up.

Famagousta B.V. and the Curacao licence

The operator name and the Curacao licence come from review sites rather than from any GB record. A Curacao licence is issued under the law of Curacao. It does not authorise gambling in Great Britain, where the Gambling Act 2005 requires a Commission licence for any site whose facilities are used here, wherever the business is based.

Listed as non-GAMSTOP: what that tells you

UK review sites list Hotloot among casinos not on GAMSTOP. Every online casino licensed by the Commission must take part in GAMSTOP, so a site outside it cannot be a GB licensee. The Commission has said that such sites often target people who are vulnerable or self-excluded. If you have used GAMSTOP and found yourself drawn back to sites like this, the help routes below are a better next step than another search.

A country block is not a GB licence

Hotloot's site turns some visitors away with a message that reads:

"Due to legal reasons we can't accept players residing in the country you are currently in."

A geo-block shows the operator restricts certain countries. It is not a licence, and it gives no GB protection to anyone who reaches the site.

Complaints: why there is no official route

With a GB licensee, a complaint goes first to the operator; if it is not settled within 8 weeks, or a final response is issued, it can go free of charge to an approved ADR provider such as IBAS or eCOGRA. None of that applies to an unlicensed site, and the Commission has no operator to act against. Anyone with a Hotloot account is left with their own records of balances, messages and transactions, and with their bank for any payment they do not recognise.

Our guide to complaining about a UK casino shows how the licensed route works, and how to check a casino's UK licence helps you avoid the problem next time.

Where to get help

Gambling is for over-18s only. GAMSTOP covers every GB-licensed site with a single registration. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free, around the clock. See our responsible gambling page for more.