Jurisdiction assessment
Licence scope, official fees, timelines, local requirements and market-access limits for your plan, side by side.
Licensing & Payments
Gaming licences, from jurisdiction choice to renewal
Choose where to be licensed, file a complete application and keep the licence in good standing after approval. For B2C operators and B2B suppliers.
- Jurisdictions compared
- 8
- Licence types
- B2C · B2B
- Covers
- Application → renewal
Who this is for
New B2C operators
Launching a casino, sportsbook or poker product and choosing a first licence.
B2B suppliers
Platform, game and technical providers that need their own licence or recognition to serve licensed operators.
Existing licensees
Adding a jurisdiction, preparing for renewal or responding to new licence conditions.
Everything the regulator will ask for, in one file
Entity set-up
Company formation in the licensing jurisdiction, coordinated with the rest of your group structure.
Offshore entitiesApplication file
Corporate and ownership records, personal and financial evidence, AML/KYC policies and forms, checked for consistency before submission.
After approval
Renewals, regulatory reporting, supplier checks and complaint-handling arrangements such as ADR.
Compare jurisdictions
Every figure comes from the regulator, government or official gazette, linked in each row. Rows with an official warning are marked in red.
| Jurisdiction | Licence | Timeline | Official fees | Local requirement | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EstoniaEU · EstablishedChecked 28 Oct 2026 | An activity licence for each game type (games of chance, toto, games of skill), plus a remote-gambling operating permitB2C | By law: activity licence within 4 months of a complete file (max 6); operating permit 2 months (max 4) | One-off state fees: activity licence €47,940 (games of chance), €31,960 (toto) or €3,200 (skill); operating permit €3,200. Ongoing cost is gambling tax | Limited company registered in Estonia or the EU; gambling must be its sole activity | For: Activity licence has no expiry; remote gambling tax 5.5% of stakes minus prizes (2026), legislated to fall to 4% by 2029 Against: €1,000,000 share capital for games of chance; operating permits last up to 5 years; licences from other EEA states are not recognised |
Isle of ManBritish Crown Dependency · EstablishedChecked 28 Oct 2026 | Online gambling licences under the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001 — Full, Network Services, Sub-Licence and Software SupplierB2CB2B | Typically 10–12 weeks after the GSC accepts a complete application | Application £5,250 (one-off). Annual: Full £36,750; Network Services £52,500; Software Supplier £36,750; Sub-Licence £5,250 | Manx company with at least two Island-resident directors and a resident Designated Official (or a local Operations Manager) | For: A Full Licence covers both B2C and B2B; the regulator publishes a typical processing time Against: Resident directors and officer; player and gameplay servers on the Island; player funds in an Island bank |
MaltaEU · EstablishedChecked 28 Oct 2026 | Gaming Service Licence (B2C) and Critical Gaming Supply Licence (B2B), valid 10 years; verticals approved as Game Types 1–4B2CB2B | No processing time published | Application €5,000 (one-off). Annual: B2C €25,000 (€10,000 if Type 4 only); B2B €25,000–€35,000 by revenue. B2C also pays a revenue-based compliance contribution | Any company established in the EU/EEA may apply; Key Function holders must be MGA-certified natural persons | For: Open to EU/EEA companies; one licence can cover several approved verticals; 10-year term Against: B2C minimum share capital €40,000–€100,000 per game type; compliance contribution on top of the fixed fee Revised gaming tax for players in Malta took effect on 1 October 2026 (Legal Notices 84 and 86 of 2026). |
CuraçaoCaribbean · Reformed 2024–25Checked 28 Oct 2026 | B2C online gaming licence and B2B supplier licence issued by the Curaçao Gaming Authority under the 2024 National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK); indefinite termB2CB2B | By law: two review phases of 8 weeks each, each extendable by 4 weeks | Application €4,592 (one-off) plus €150 per UBO. Annual: B2C €47,450 (€24,490 licence + €22,960 supervisory); B2B €24,490 | Company incorporated in Curaçao; B2C needs a resident director and critical data on a Tier-IV server in Curaçao | For: Licences have no fixed term; decision deadlines set in law; separate, lower-cost B2B supplier licence Against: B2C annual fees €47,450; local key staff and office required from 1 April 2027 The master/sublicence system ended on 15 October 2025. The licensing portal was replaced in October 2026 after unauthorised access; expect delays. |
AnjouanComoros · EmergingOfficial warning | Anjouan gaming licence — B2C (serving players) or B2B (critical suppliers), issued by Anjouan GamingB2CB2B | No guaranteed period published; depends on file completeness and due diligence | Issuance €17,828; annual renewal €17,828; €500 per additional B2C domain | Not covered by the latest review | Official warning Anjouan Gaming operates under the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority. On 8 December 2025 the Banque Centrale des Comores stated that this authority is not recognised in the Union of the Comoros, that no online gambling licence has been issued in the Comoros, and that claims to operate under a Comorian licence not issued by the central bank are fraudulent. For: Published fee schedule, document checklist and process stages; one fee level for B2C or B2B Against: Does not grant access to other markets; suppliers need an Anjouan B2B licence or recognition |
SeychellesIndian Ocean · EmergingChecked 28 Oct 2026 | Interactive Gambling Operator licence, Type 1 or Type 2, issued by the Financial Services Authority under the Seychelles Gambling Act 2014B2C | No processing time published | Application SCR 100,000 (one-off). Annual licence fee SCR 1,500,000 (Type 1 or 2); the same amount on renewal | Company incorporated under the Companies Act 1972; resident designated official; player-registration servers in Seychelles | For: Licence stays valid until surrendered or revoked; rules published in the Official Gazette Against: SCR 1,000,000 paid-up capital plus an SCR 3,000,000 cash reserve held at a Seychelles bank Cabinet approved a new Gambling Bill on 1 May 2025 to create a Seychelles Gambling Commission; no enactment found as of 28 October 2026. |
Mwali (Mohéli)Comoros · Not recognised nationallyOfficial warning | “Gambling Licence” offered by the Mwali International Services Authority (MISA)No licence categories | No processing time published | Not published; MISA's application form requires capital of US$1 million or more | Mohéli-registered company with at least two natural-person directors and two shareholders | Official warning On 8 December 2025 the Banque Centrale des Comores stated that MISA is not recognised in the Union of the Comoros, has no legal authority to issue licences, and that no online gambling licence has been issued in the Comoros. It had already named MISA as a fictitious structure in June 2022. Against: The Comoros central bank names MISA as unrecognised; no fees or timelines are published |
Costa RicaCentral America · No gaming licenceChecked 28 Oct 2026 | No online gambling licence. Law 9050 taxes companies that receive and process electronic-betting data; municipalities issue ordinary business permitsNo licence categories | No processing time published | Annual tax under Law 9050: 57 base salaries (up to 50 employees), 85 (51–99) or 113 (100+), paid quarterly. Municipal permit fees are separate | Tax applies to companies operating in Costa Rica; municipal permits where they are located | Against: No gambling regulator or licence; the tax is not an authorisation to offer gambling Law 9050 (2012) is unamended. It creates a tax, not a licence. Sources (1) |
Checked on 28 October 2026. Where a regulator publishes nothing, we say so rather than estimate.
How a licensing project runs
Scope
Which activities, which markets, which entities. We confirm the B2C or B2B category that matches your actual role.
Compare
Shortlist jurisdictions on scope, official fees, timeline and the people and systems each one requires.
Prepare & file
Assemble records, assign an owner to every document and check names, dates and ownership figures agree.
Maintain
Track condition updates, renewals, supplier approvals and complaint handling after the licence is issued.
Common questions
Which jurisdiction is right for my business?
It depends on your target markets, the products you offer, your budget and your risk tolerance. We compare the options against those factors and recommend a shortlist.
Does a licence let me serve any market?
No. A licence such as Anjouan’s does not override the law of a destination market. Each target market has to be reviewed on its own terms.
How long does licensing take?
It varies. The Isle of Man quotes 10–12 weeks after accepting a complete file; Estonia and Curaçao set legal deadlines; Malta, Seychelles and Anjouan publish none. We plan around document readiness rather than a promised date.
What does it cost to obtain and keep a licence?
Official application and annual fees, company formation, professional and testing fees, and ongoing compliance work. We itemise these for your scope so packages can be compared like for like.
What documents are required?
Typically a business plan, AML/KYC policies, proof of funds, due-diligence information on key persons and corporate documents. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and change over time.
How difficult is it to open a bank account?
It can be hard for gaming and financial businesses. Banks usually expect a clear business plan, evidence of substance and robust KYC/AML controls.
Related guides
Planning a licence application?
Send a short outline of your business, target markets and suppliers. Start with a non-sensitive summary; do not email identity documents.
Email contact@whyfirm.com