Regulated

A set of rules created to supervise, control or restrict the exchange of financial instruments.

A regulated market provides protection for the investor (consumer) so that basic information is fully disclosed.  Despite the complications regulations inspire, many governments believe the protections are necessary to run a legitimate market place.  Examples of regulated markets include the forex and binary options broker under SEC and FINRA.  European firms may or may not be regulated, or governed, under a specific set of rules or restrictions.

Financial industries are not the only ones that are regulated in the United States.  For example, the pharmaceutical industry, the fur industry, the airlines and the gambling industry are all regulated to varying degree.