You are definitely right, this days, personally value partnerships more than licenses, it takes a casino with good reputation and seriousness in their business to partner with other big and reputable companies and individuals with significance..
We have many of such casinos on this forum with stake being one I am so sure of, there are others but won't mention names since I am not so sure which and which aside stake.

Partnerships is another way casinos can build their reputation as well as truth in the gambling society or community, aside the fact that casino mostly are not allowed to operate with a license, I would say that license means nothing anymore.