Gambling Licence Consultation

Typically 6 to 9 months from corporate setup to licence grant. The fit and proper test alone runs 4 to 8 weeks once submitted.

No - MGA issues separate B2C (operator) and B2B (supplier) licence classes. Operators typically hold B2C, platform vendors hold B2B.

Operators need a registered Maltese office, a key official resident in Malta and adequate Maltese-resident staff for compliance and management functions.

Setup and application fees range from €25,000 to €100,000 depending on vertical scope. Annual licence fees run €25,000 to €35,000. Corporate setup and legal costs add further.

Typically 4 to 6 months from initial submission to licence grant, assuming a clean fit and proper review.

The Isle of Man charges 1.5% gross gaming revenue tax, which is among the most competitive rates for a Tier 1 jurisdiction.

Yes - operators must maintain a registered office and key operational staff on the island to satisfy GSC substance requirements.

Gibraltar charges 1% gross gaming yield tax, one of the lowest effective rates among prestige jurisdictions, capped at £425,000 per year.

Gibraltar-licensed operators serving UK players must also hold a UKGC licence. Gibraltar no longer provides automatic UK market access post-Brexit.

Typically 4 to 6 months from initial consultation to licence grant, with beneficial owner fit and proper review being the longest step.

Category 1 covers B2C operators offering gambling directly to players. Category 2 covers B2B providers supplying gambling software or platforms to other operators.

No - Alderney has zero corporate tax, zero gaming tax and no VAT, making it one of the most tax-efficient Tier 1 jurisdictions.

Typically 3 to 6 months from application to licence grant, depending on complexity of beneficial ownership structure and completeness of submission.

The 2024 LOK law replaced the old master-sublicence system with direct CGCB-issued licences. Operators now hold a licence directly from the regulator rather than via a master-licence holder.

Under the LOK framework, typical processing runs 2 to 4 months from complete application submission to licence grant.

Most offshore-friendly PSPs accept Curacao. Tier 1 European processors and some crypto payment gateways may require additional due diligence or a supplementary Tier 1 licence.

Curacao-licensed operators can serve most emerging markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The licence is not accepted in UK, most EU member states or US regulated states.

Yes - the Kahnawake Gaming Commission has regulated interactive gaming since 1999 under First Nations sovereignty. It is one of the longest-established offshore regulators.

No - Kahnawake does not authorise operations in US regulated states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Michigan. It is used for offshore-facing operations.

Typically 3 to 5 months from application submission to licence grant, depending on complexity of the background check process.

Setup and application costs run $8,000 to $25,000. Annual renewal fees are $8,000 to $12,000, making it the most affordable actively-used offshore jurisdiction.

Anjouan works with crypto-friendly PSPs and some offshore processors. Tier 1 European payment providers typically require a Curacao or EU licence.

AOFA typically issues licences within 2 to 3 months of a complete application. This is among the fastest processing times of any active jurisdiction.

No - Costa Rica issues a general data processing permit, not a gambling-specific licence. It functions as a corporate wrapper for operators who hold a substantive licence elsewhere.

In practice, a Costa Rica permit alone will not satisfy most payment providers, game studios or major market access requirements. It is typically paired with a Curacao or other primary licence.

Corporate setup and permit can be completed in 1 to 2 months, making it the fastest jurisdiction on this list.

Estonia charges 5% gross gambling revenue tax, substantially lower than most EU member states which apply 20% or higher.

Yes - EMTA issues separate activity licences for games of chance (casino), sports betting (toto), games of skill and lottery. Operators must hold the relevant licence for each vertical.

e-Residency allows non-resident founders to incorporate and manage an Estonian company digitally, simplifying the corporate setup phase of the licence application.

The bank guarantee protects Romanian players in the event of operator insolvency. It is held by ONJN for the duration of the licence and must be maintained annually.

Romania charges a 16% flat tax on net gambling revenue for Class 1 remote operators, plus participant-level taxes withheld on player winnings.

No - the ONJN Class 1 remote gambling licence authorises operations in the Romanian market only. Operators targeting other EU markets need separate licences per country.

AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) is the regulator that issues registrations. iGaming Ontario (iGO) is the Crown agency that contracts with operators and manages the regulated market framework.

AGCO strongly prefers applicants who hold a recognised Tier 1 licence such as Malta MGA, UKGC, Gibraltar or Isle of Man. It is not a hard requirement but significantly accelerates approval.

Ontario is the largest regulated iGaming market in North America. Since opening in April 2022, the market has exceeded CAD $60 billion in wagers annually across casino, sports betting and poker.

No - Ontario registration authorises operations in Ontario only. Other provinces such as British Columbia and Quebec have separate regulated frameworks.

Both are Canadian First Nations gaming regulators, but Tobique is newer and based in New Brunswick. Tobique positions itself with modern digital-first processes and is building operator relationships.

Typically 3 to 4 months from complete application submission to licence grant, reflecting the TGC's focus on responsive processing.

Tobique is positioned for Americas-focused operators serving offshore markets. It is not accepted in US regulated states or Canadian provincial frameworks such as Ontario.