Gambling licenses

Gaming License Requirements

Licensing authorities want to see the proof of the operator’s financial stability, competence, and the ability to protect their clients.

This is what regulators usually check:

• the owners, directors, and key employees;
• financial reports, sources of income, and financial sufficiency;
• business plans, products, markets, and management structures;
• anti-money laundering procedures;
• ownership transparency;
• technical standards, certification, and security measures;
• accounting and reporting procedures;
• players protection and age verification measures;
• fraud prevention and cooperation during audits and inspections.

Application is often supplemented with documents that confirm the person, criminal record certificates, games specifications, internal policies, rules and terms.

Each regulator has their own set of requirements. Getting familiar with them before applying saves time and helps avoid delays.

How to Get a Gaming License

Obtaining an online casino gambling license is a multi-step process. After choosing the appropriate jurisdiction and creating the necessary corporate structure, the company must prepare an internal control system, collect a package of documents, and submit an application to the regulator.

After this, the regulator conducts a comprehensive check (due diligence), which usually includes an analysis of the origin of funds, a check of the business reputation of the owners and management, a financial audit, and an evaluation of the technical infrastructure.

If the application is approved, the operator receives the license, pays the necessary fees, and can start activity after fulfilling all regulatory requirements. In the future, the company must regularly report to the regulator, undergo checks, report important changes in business, and renew the license in a timely manner.

If, however, the issuance of the license is refused, in most cases the applicant can eliminate the identified deficiencies and re-submit the documents or, depending on the rules of the specific jurisdiction, appeal the decision.

Step 1. Select a jurisdiction

The first stage is to decide on a country or jurisdiction that best meets your business goals, target markets, and budget.

During the choice, it is worth considering:

• regulatory requirements;
• the gambling licence cost and maintenance expenses;
• tax regime;
• the list of required documents;
• approximate timeframes for application review.

Jurisdictions with strict regulation, in particular individual EU countries and US states, usually involve a more expensive and longer licensing procedure. At the same time, such a license provides a higher level of trust from players and partners.

Instead, other licensing jurisdictions offer a faster and more affordable way to enter the market, although the level of international recognition of such licenses may be lower.

Step 2. Register a company

In many jurisdictions, to obtain a license, it is necessary to create a local legal entity.

Usually, this involves:

• company registration;
• appointment of directors or other officials in accordance with legal requirements;
• obtaining a legal address;
• fulfillment of requirements regarding the placement of servers or other technical infrastructure, if they are established by the regulator.

Step 3. Prepare the required documents

At this stage, a full package of documents is formed, which usually includes:

• business plan;
• financial forecasts;
• information about owners and managers;
• confirmation of funding sources;
• description of the platform and business processes.

In some countries, documents also need to be notarized or translated into the official language.

Step 4. Develop compliance policies

It is necessary to prepare internal policies and procedures regarding:

• anti-money laundering (AML);
• identification and verification of customers (KYC);
• responsible gaming.

Such documents usually cover procedures for verifying the age of users, customer due diligence, setting deposit limits, player self-exclusion, as well as information security rules, personal data protection, and internal control.

Step 5. Submit the application

When all documents are ready, the application is submitted to the regulator together with the payment of established fees.

The package of documents usually includes:

• documents verifying the identity of owners and key employees;
• confirmation of residential address and results of background checks;
• financial statements and documents regarding the origin of funds;
• corporate documents and registers of shareholders;
• business plan and financial forecasts;
• technical documentation of software and testing certificates;
• contracts with platforms, game providers, and payment partners;
• internal security and compliance policies;
• properly completed application forms.

An incomplete package of documents, lack of necessary certification, or formatting errors are among the most common reasons for delay in application review. That is why, before submission, it is important to carefully check all requirements of the regulator.

Step 6. Regulatory review

After submitting the documents, the regulator conducts a comprehensive analysis of the application.

Usually, it includes:

• verification of owners and management;
• assessment of the financial condition of the company;
• analysis of internal control procedures;
• verification of technical solutions.

Regulatory authorities may request additional documents or clarifications, and in certain jurisdictions—conduct interviews or official hearings involving key individuals of the company.

The duration of consideration depends on the specific jurisdiction and the completeness of the submitted materials and can range from a few weeks to several months.

Step 7. Obtain the license

If the regulator makes a positive decision, the company receives a license number or certificate, and information about the operator is usually entered into the official register.

Before starting work, it is necessary to pay the initial license fees. In some countries, final checks or testing are also conducted to make sure that the operator is completely ready for launch.

After obtaining the license, the company must continue to fulfill all regulator requirements: regularly submit reports, undergo audits, pay mandatory fees, and renew the license in a timely manner.

Most gambling licenses are issued for a specific term and can be renewed provided that the operator continues to meet all legislative requirements.

It is worth remembering that obtaining an online casino gambling license is not just a matter of paperwork, but a comprehensive process of building a regulatory compliance system. High-quality preparation, a properly prepared package of documents, and timely interaction with the regulator significantly increase the chances of successful licensing.

Types of Online Gaming Licenses

B2C Licenses

A B2C license (Business-to-Consumer) is issued to operators who provide gambling services directly to players. The licensee company itself is the party with which users interact: an online casino, bookmaker, or betting platform that accepts wagers, maintains player accounts, and pays out winnings.

Such a license allows the operator to legally offer gambling for real money within the limits of the received permission. For example, an online casino license gives the right to conduct games on slots, roulette, blackjack, and other casino products. A sports betting license allows accepting wagers on sports events. In some jurisdictions, one license is sufficient for several types of gambling, while in others it is required to obtain a separate permission for each product category.

It is the owner of the B2C license who bears the main responsibility before the regulator. Their duties include:

• verification of customer identity (KYC);
• management of player funds;
• ensuring the fairness of games;
• review of user appeals and complaints;
• compliance with requirements regarding advertising and responsible gaming.

Even if the games are supplied by third-party providers, responsibility for the entire work of the platform remains with the operator. They are the ones responsible to the regulator for violations, in particular, the admission of minors to the game, fraud, or non-compliance with license requirements.

Examples: In the UK, an online casino operator would get an Operating License (Remote Casino) from the Gambling Commission – that’s a B2C license. In Malta, the same company would get a Gaming Service License (B2C) from the MGA. In New Jersey (USA), an online casino needs an Internet Gaming Permit under a casino license via the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement – functionally this is a B2C license to serve NJ players. In Curaçao, historically a “Curaçao eGaming License” was a B2C license that let the operator run all types of games.

Thus, if your business plan is to run a gambling website/app where players gamble directly with you, the license you need is a B2C operator license. This is the license that all the big-brand casinos and sportsbooks prominently hold. Without it, offering gambling to the public is illegal.

B2B Licenses

B2B (Business-to-Business) licenses are for companies that supply gambling-related products or services to B2C operators. These licenses are also often called supplier licenses, software provider licenses, or vendor licenses. A B2B license does not allow you to accept bets from the public; instead, it certifies you to make deals with B2C operators (the ones who have players).

B2B licensees typically include: game developers (studios creating slot games, live dealer services, etc.), software platform providers (companies that offer a complete casino or sportsbook platform which operators can use), and other service providers like odds compilers or lottery systems. For instance, if you built a new innovative slot game and want casinos to offer it, some jurisdictions require that your company holds a B2B license in order for licensed casinos to integrate your game. This ensures that the games meet regulatory standards and the supplier is also vetted for integrity.

Scope and Benefit: By obtaining a B2B gambling license, your company becomes an approved vendor in the eyes of regulators. Licensed B2C operators will be allowed to use your products without jeopardizing their own compliance, since you are a licensed supplier. In some regulated markets, B2C operators are only allowed to use games or software from licensed (or certified) B2B providers. So having that B2B license opens the door for you to sell to the big operators. It’s both a trust mark and often a legal requirement. For example, the Malta MGA’s Critical Gaming Supply license allows a provider to supply any MGA-licensed casino with games; similarly, the UK Gambling Commission requires gambling software providers to hold a Gambling Software License (if they target the UK market) or else UK operators cannot use their software.

Examples: The Malta Critical Gaming Supply License (B2B) and the UK Gambling Software License are prime examples of B2B licenses. Another example is Alderney, which offers Category 2 online gambling licenses for B2B services. As Curaçao reforms its system, it’s introducing B2B supplier licenses so that game providers can be licensed separately from operators. In the US, some states require that platform providers or major vendors register or get licensed as suppliers (often called a “vendor license” or “technology provider license”).

If your business is creating the technology or content for gambling rather than running the gambling service, a B2B license is what you’d pursue. Some companies hold both types: for instance, a company that runs its own casino (B2C) but also licenses its platform to others might hold both a B2C operator license and a B2B supplier license.

Relationship between B2C and B2B: These two license types work hand-in-hand in regulated markets. A regulated ecosystem might require that every aspect of the chain is licensed: the operator (B2C) is licensed, the game software (from a B2B) is licensed, even testing labs are accredited, etc., to create a fully controlled environment. When starting out, decide which side of the business you are on (consumer-facing or supplier-facing) and get the appropriate license. If on the consumer side, your focus is on the B2C operational license; if you’re building software/tools for the industry, look at B2B licensing.

SBSB services

We have supported dozens of gaming launches and license approvals since 2013. Our team handles your entire legal, compliance, and operational setup. We offer the following core services:

• analysis of jurisdictions and selection of the optimal licensing strategy;
• company registration and construction of a corporate structure;
• opening bank accounts and connecting payment providers;
• preparation and submission of license applications;
• interaction with regulators;
• development of AML and personal data protection programs;
• preparation of internal policies and sets of documentation;
• verification and legal support of suppliers;
• consultations on technical compliance and game certification;
• risk management and fraud counteraction;
• staff training, audit, reporting, and support after receiving the license;
• consultations on the White Label model and transitioning to your own license;
• optimization of payment infrastructure and integration of cryptocurrencies;
• audit of personal data protection and a plan to eliminate deficiencies;
• support of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals.

As a result, you receive a fully ready legal and operational model for the launch and legal work of a gambling business.