Online Casino Licence: Ways of Obtaining and Advantages
It is impossible to effectively manage any iGaming project without a relevant permit. The document provides access to the legal environment and confirms the reliability of entertainment brands.
You can order a licence from the Online Casino Market studio. Our experts have in-depth knowledge of international legislation, about 100 successful cases, and the same number of satisfied clients.
Why Certification Is So Important
The issuance of permits is one of the forms of government regulation of the gambling sector. With a necessary certificate, entrepreneurs can legally manage digital platforms, as well as develop and scale the business.
Licensing has many advantages:
- cooperation with banks on favourable terms (quick account opening, getting credit under the minimum percentage);
- connection of popular payment services;
- installation of certified software (games, security systems, and CRM services);
- positioning as a prestigious and respected brand;
- high level of trust among players and B2B partners;
- accelerated entry into the international market.
The main thing is that the permit allows operators to legally work in the country that issued the document.
Casino owners can accept bets from users, interact with banks and software providers, as well as participate in sponsorship and advertising projects. Companies without a licence cannot do this. Besides, such enterprises are persecuted by the authorities. They may be subject to fines, confiscation of property, and ongoing legal proceedings.
It is much easier and more profitable to work honestly, so it is impossible for businessmen to achieve success without certification.
About the Situation in the Modern Market
The entertainment industry is developing differently depending on the country. Among the influence factors, we can name the cultural background, traditions, religion, economy, legal system, and technology penetration level.
At the moment, the following picture can be observed in the global casino niche:
- 79 regulated markets. These are jurisdictions where the online and offline placement of bets is legalised. Some of them (for example, China) recognise the work of only land-based enterprises in separate areas, and others (such as Sweden, Ukraine, or Georgia) allow all types of gambling activities.
- 46 unregulated sectors. These are regions that do not prohibit the management of iGaming platforms but also do not establish clear regulation of the industry. Residents of such countries can freely visit offshore sites operating based on a .com domain address. A striking example of such a jurisdiction is India.
- 70 prohibited markets. Here, all types of games for real money are illegal, which is most often due to religion and cultural characteristics. Basically, these are territories with a predominantly Muslim population: Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Pakistan, Morocco, and others.
It is worth noting that the world is witnessing the gradual legalisation of gaming. Today, even those countries in which such entertainment has been banned for many years are choosing a new benchmark. A great example is Ukraine.
The local government allowed the work of offline and digital casinos in the summer of 2020. Thanks to this, there were huge revenues to the budget in the form of taxes and licence fees. They were redistributed to the needs of insurance and the social sphere. This contributed to the economic growth and also helped to eliminate side business.
Where to Obtain a Permit in 2024
The most obvious choice is offshore zones. They attract entrepreneurs due to the ease of launching and scaling of a project, low taxes, a well-developed community, and a stable regulatory framework.
Online Casino Market specialists have prepared a list of 10 regions with the most favourable licensing conditions.
Curacao
This is a very prestigious country in the field of gambling regulation. The local commission has been granting permits since 1996. The region has unrivalled authority in the market. Firms with a Curacao certificate are trusted by players and B2B partners from all over the world.
In 2024, large-scale changes are planned in the regulation of the entertainment niche on the island. The key innovation is the procedure for issuing licences.
The commission will issue 2 types of documents:
- for bookmakers and online casino owners;
- for iGaming software vendors.
The new order eliminates the sublicense system that has existed in Curacao for more than 20 years. Thanks to this, the market will become accessible to beginning entrepreneurs and small startups.
Curacao also plans to streamline the work of blockchain casinos. Business owners will be able to accept bets and pay prizes in digital assets, invest in ICO projects, etc.
Costa Rica
The island state issues permits for B2C and B2B companies. The cost of filing an application starts from $40,000. Brands are also required to transfer an annual fee of $10,000.
Benefits of certification in the country:
- Entry into the international market. It is possible to accept bets from users who live in Europe, Asia, and South America. Moreover, operators have access to the US sector, which no other licence provides.
- Absence of taxes. Costa Rica has no levy on GGR, dividends, or withdrawn capital.
Panama
This is one of the largest offshore zones in the world. It is characterised by low taxes and minimal requirements for starting and promoting a business. Entrepreneurs are exempt from paying taxes if they only accept bets from foreign players.
Licensing costs in the country:
- $40,000 (one-time fee for consideration of the application and audit of the business);
- $20,000 (annual renewal of the document);
- $100,000 (a financial guarantee that must be in the entrepreneur’s account before submitting an application).
Malta
This is the centre of European gaming where the capital from most countries of the continent is gathered.
All major providers and manufacturers of specialised solutions (security software and financial services) are licensed in Malta. Such large companies as Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Tom Horn Gaming, Relax Gaming, and many other brands are registered here.
The country offers a transparent licensing procedure. The local commission issues 4 categories of permits depending on:
- the type of activity (acceptance of bids or development of program components);
- the nature of the game (in the live format and based on certified RNG);
- features of the user experience (one-to-one against RNG, poker tournaments, or virtual betting).
To launch an iGaming project, investors are required to pay $107,000 in the form of a commission for opening a business. The cost of hosting databases in local data centres is $5,400 and the annual renewal of the document is $9,000.
Gibraltar
The European offshore zone has the advantage of having a minimal tax burden. Entrepreneurs pay only 1%, which is less than in any other country where entertainment for money is considered legal.
The certificate is issued for 5 years. The entry fee for examination of an application depends on the type of activity (casino, sportsbook, or betting vertical). In practice, operators pay from $30,000 to $90,000. The annual licence renewal will cost $3,000.
Isle Of Man
The jurisdiction is open to innovation in the field of management. Thus, it was one of the first to legalise the work of crypto platforms and issued the world’s first permission to organise a blockchain lottery. The government has an entire department that is dedicated to the opening of business based on decentralised technology.
Benefits of obtaining a licence in the Isle of Man:
- Democratic price. Submission and consideration of the application will cost £1,000. For the annual renewal of the document, it is necessary to pay £30,000.
- Low taxes. The regulator introduced a floating tax rate on GGR, from 0.1% to 1.5% depending on the annual cash flow.
- Temporary permit. It is intended for companies that are urgently moving their business facilities to the island. The certificate is valid for 60 days.
Belize
The region is characterised by strict control of the entertainment niche. The applicant must confirm their financial status, disclose the sources of income, and submit fingerprints.
The advantages of working in the country include a simple taxation system. For brands, there is a single franchise fee. Its cost is $18,000 and another $10,000 must be paid for the annual renewal of the document.
Antigua and Barbuda
One of the oldest jurisdictions has been issuing permits since 1996. The licence gives the exclusive right to operate in the UK market, which is not available to the majority of businessmen.
The cost of running a digital casino in the country is higher compared to many European and Asian markets. Enterprises should pay $100,000 as an entry fee and the same amount for project development.
Kahnawake
The Indian Reservation in the province of Quebec has been granting gaming certificates since 1994.
To receive such a document, operators must:
- host databases on a local MIT server;
- undergo the KYC procedure regarding at least one key person;
- pay a state fee of $40,000.
Alderney
The offshore zone issues 2 types of permits:
- for casino and sportsbook operators;
- for software vendors.
It is also possible to get a certificate for web hosting and the work of associates.
Alderney is one of the few jurisdictions where there is a fixed amount of deductions to the budget. This is $10,000, regardless of the entrepreneur’s income for the reporting period.
The application fee is $30,000.
What Is Needed to Obtain a Licence
Sets of documents vary depending on the chosen country, type of permit, format of activity (online or offline), and other factors.
It is important to attach to the application:
- articles of incorporation (charter, business plan, information on the shareholding structure);
- confirmation of the availability of financial guarantee and sources of funds;
- data on key persons (founders, owners, and directors);
- quality certificates for games, payment software, and security systems;
- confirmation of opening a bank account and registration with the tax service.
The Main Things about Casino Licensing
A gambling certificate is a document that gives the right to legally and successfully work in the selected area.
Key features of obtaining such a permit:
- The advantages of such an action include access to the best software and financial services, as well as rapid growth and scaling of the business. Players and the B2B sector have more confidence in licensed companies.
- In 2024, it is recommended to obtain a licence in Malta, Curacao, Alderney, Kahnawake, Costa Rica, and Gibraltar. Working in these offshore zones is beneficial due to the minimal fiscal burden, well-developed IT infrastructure, and a huge community.
The Online Casino Market studio helps its clients with the acquisition of a permit and quick entry into the market. We will collect a package of documents, write a business plan, accompany you during interviews with the regulator’s representatives, and advise on issues related to taxes and fees.
From us, it is also possible to order such useful services as:
- creation of a turnkey platform;
- installation of White Label resource;
- payment system integration;
- development of HTML5 slots based on individual sketches;
- promotion of iGaming projects, and much more.
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