I think that depends on the license provider. Although reputation is very important but gamblers nowadays are aware how important a license is. I like to ask you a question? Do you know a casino that is popular in the forum ( so we can check) that has a good reputation but doesn't owned a license? If you can tell me one, then I might change my perception about license + reputation which IMO are both important.
To be honest, do you think that all the casino who are license holders are legit and never scam their customers. I doubt this is true as in some cases getting a license is easy and there is no check and balance even if you get the license. So rather than checking the licenses , i will prefer to read the reviews and know about the reputation about the site. If there are good users review about the site, i will play at that site without much worrying if the site holds the license or not.
Yes there are no assurance of having a license is legit casino but at least there are only fewer of those has license that scams players but majority of those who has no licensing are scams and that is proven over the year.
But still stands that having permit does not assure us to be playing in safe gambling sites.