.casino

Overview

• .casino is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) introduced through ICANN's New gTLD Program.
• The string targets the casino/commerce sector and is categorized under Commerce.

History

• The .casino gTLD was delegated as part of the New gTLD Program and implemented on 19 February 2015.
• On 4 December 2014 it was announced that Donuts (Binky Sky, LLC) won the .casino application after withdrawals from other applicants.
• An Early Access Program (EAP) period for the TLD was scheduled to begin on 27 May 2015.
• Donuts submitted a Public Interest Commitment (PIC) as part of its application.

Usage and Audience

• Intended audience: businesses and services associated with casinos and the regulated gambling/commerce sector.
• The string is explicitly associated with a regulated market sector, which influenced government and advisory body scrutiny.

Registration Rules

• The application for .casino was subject to string contention (marked "Yes").
• Applicants (including Donuts and other contenders) submitted Public Interest Commitments as part of the application process.
• The TLD entered an Early Access Program phase beginning 27 May 2015 (per the application timeline).

SEO and Brand Impact

• The .casino string attracted governmental and advisory scrutiny due to its association with a regulated market sector.
• All applicants for .casino received GAC Early Warnings, noting concerns about consumer protection and insufficient safeguards to prevent consumer harm; such warnings can affect perceived trust and policy expectations around the TLD.

Notable Cases or Examples

• Donuts (Binky Sky, LLC) was the successful applicant after withdrawals by other applicants.
• Former applicants included Famous Four Media (dot Casino Limited), Afilias Limited, and dotBeauty LLC.
• Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission filed an objection against the TLD.
• All .casino applications were issued a GAC Early Warning by Australia's representative and GAC Chair Heather Dryden, citing the regulated nature of the sector and protection concerns.

% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       CASINO

organisation: Binky Moon, LLC
address:      c/o Identity Digital Limited
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)

contact:      administrative
name:         Vice President, Engineering
organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldadmin@identity.digital

contact:      technical
name:         Senior Director, DNS Infrastructure Group
organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldtech@identity.digital

nserver:      V0N0.NIC.CASINO 2a01:8840:16:0:0:0:0:18 65.22.20.18
nserver:      V0N1.NIC.CASINO 2a01:8840:17:0:0:0:0:18 65.22.21.18
nserver:      V0N2.NIC.CASINO 2a01:8840:18:0:0:0:0:18 65.22.22.18
nserver:      V0N3.NIC.CASINO 161.232.10.18 2a01:8840:f4:0:0:0:0:18
nserver:      V2N0.NIC.CASINO 2a01:8840:19:0:0:0:0:18 65.22.23.18
nserver:      V2N1.NIC.CASINO 161.232.11.18 2a01:8840:f5:0:0:0:0:18
ds-rdata:     50410 8 2 ac39e42d7cd1a4212ec2539a9a9bac07a8ab840c97823c6205e9264cb1a024ea

whois:        whois.nic.casino

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: https://www.identity.digital/

created:      2015-02-13
changed:      2023-09-12
source:       IANA