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How to Obtain a New Gaming License?
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GBO brings 15 years of worldwide consulting experience to clients planning to start online casinos, betting, and sports betting operations. We provide an all-inclusive service that includes Licensing, Company Setup, Corporate Services, Banking Options, Merchant Services, and Software Solutions
There are about fifty countries and territories all over the world that are now authorizing online gambling operations to be run from their jurisdictions. If you are seriously interested in starting your own profitable gaming company, then you should compare gaming license conditions and stipulations, because they can have a big impact on your initial costs and the final bottom-line profit margin.
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In the table below, we have picked out the most attractive countries and territories from which online gaming services can be sold and we compare gaming license costs, terms and conditions:
| Country | Gaming License Comparison |
| Curacao | Only sub-licenses are available from holders of a Master license. One license covers all types of casino games – slots, poker and other games of chance. |
| License fee is negotiable – let GBO get you the best deal! | |
| Zero GGR. | |
| Malta | Malta gaming license Issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), for a period of 10 years. |
| Provides for slots, poker, roulettes, lotteries, etc. | |
| You must declare which types of games the license is issued for your company registered in Malta. | |
| License costs €25k, plus minimum paid-up capital €100k | |
| 5% GGR | |
| UK | Issued by United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). |
| Regardless of where you are based in the world, you need a licence from UKGC if you are providing facilities for gambling to consumers in Great Britain online (or through any other means of remote communication) or any part of your remote gambling equipment is based in Great Britain. | |
| Requires 3 separate licenses: | |
| Remote betting host real events licence – AKA SportsBetting | |
| Application Fees £2,200 – £19,333 based on turnover | |
| Annual license £2,556 – £471,142 based on turnover | |
| Remote betting host virtual events licence | |
| Application Fees £1,980 – £42,978 based on turnover | |
| Annual license £2,027 – £389,652 based on turnover | |
| Remote betting intermediary operating licence | |
| Application Fees £5,711 – £25,777 based on turnover | |
| Annual license £3,408 – £694,856 based on turnover | |
| Tax is 21% GGR | |
| Kahnawake | Kahnawake Gaming License issued by Kahnawake Gaming Commission – authority for gaming activity within and from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, CA. |
| Application fee US$40K includes first year license. A temporary permit is granted, subject to granting of license (which takes 1 year), plus $5K per nominated Key Person. | |
| Annual License $10K | |
| Only Mohawk Internet Technologies permitted to host the systems | |
| Zero tax | |
| Romania | License issued by the Ministry of Finance’s Gambling Commission, |
| Romania allows gambling (Internet) rooms to permit ground betting, slot machines, sweepstakes, poker, roulette, bingo, blackjack online in the Romanian market. | |
| License issued only if products and services are used from a B2B provider that has a class 2 Romanian license. Operator must install secure mirror servers in Romania. | |
| Application fee €11K | |
| License fee annually €6K – €120K based on turnover | |
| GGR 16% minimum €100K | |
| Greece | License issued by Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC). |
| Licenses are granted for 7 years. | |
| Online sports betting license costs €3 million. Casino games license costs €2 million. | |
| No application fee | |
| Tax is 13% GGR | |
| Antigua | Issued by Financial Services Regulatory Commission’s Division of Gambling. Licenses for land-based casinos extend to online casinos, poker, roulettes, slot machines, video slots, lotteries and other kinds of gambling. |
| License fee is $100K | |
| Tax is 3% GGR |
Further details about the licenses in othert popular jurisdictions are in the following table:
| Country | Model | Gaming types | Reach | License cost | Revenue tax rate | Corporate structure |
| Alderney / Guernsey | GGR | Open | Unrestricted | B2C local company £17.5k year 1, then | min £35k on GGR to max £400k | local company / directors |
| Isle of Man | Free market | open | Unrestricted | Main license £35K per year/5 years
Sublicense Network license 50K |
1.5% up to £20m
0.5% next £20m 0.1% over £40m |
Local company + 2 local directors |
| Spain | Hybrid | no Lotto | Unrestricted | €50.5K initial + €10K / game | 25% GGR | EU company with local .es domain |
| Gibraltar | Hybrid | open | Unrestricted | £30K per gaming type | 0.15% GGR | Local company |
| Montenegro | GGR | Open | Unrestricted | €25K year 1 / 15K annual | 9% GGR | local company |
| Cyprus | Turnover tax | Open | restricted to specific sites & jurisdictions | €30K | 10% | EU company |
| Panama | Free market | open | unrestricted | $40k then $20K per year | 5.5% GGR | local company / directors |
Costs and requirements for gaming licenses in the real world are now public.
Over the years, the online gaming industry has grown by leaps and bounds, becoming a multi-billion-dollar behemoth. But having a lot of money also means having a lot of responsibility, especially when it comes to gaming licenses. It can be hard to figure out the complicated rules for getting a gaming license and how much they cost. This article aims to take the mystery out of these parts by giving valuable information for people who want to start their own gaming business or just enjoy playing games.
Understanding Gaming License Requirements
If a company has a gaming license, it means that it has been approved by a government agency to legally offer gaming services. This includes sports betting sites, online casinos, and other places to gamble. The rules for getting a license are very different from one place to another, but they usually include a careful check of the applicant’s honesty, financial stability, and ability to be fair.
People who want to get a license have to go through a tough application process and show that they follow anti-money laundering (AML) rules, player protection standards, and fair game rules. Also, they have to give detailed business plans that include strategies for the market and predictions for the company’s finances. A person must have no criminal record and a strong IT infrastructure to protect user data.
How Much Different Online Gaming Licenses Cost
Licenses for online games cost different amounts depending on what they need. In general, there are a few financial things to think about:
- Application Fees: A fee that you pay when you send in your application that you can’t get back. This can be anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on where you live.
- Fees for licensing: Once approved, the licensee pays for the gaming license on their own. You can set a fixed price or base it on how much money the company makes. The range of prices is from $10,000 to over $100,000.
- Taxes and levies: Businesses that run casinos usually have to pay taxes and other fees to the government, which can have a big effect on the total cost.
- Operational Costs: Once a license is granted, operators must pay ongoing compliance costs, such as annual renewal fees, auditing fees, and maybe even donations to programs that help people who are addicted to gambling.
In the UK, the initial fee for a gaming license can range from £2,933 to £63,671, plus annual fees. In Malta, a B2C gaming service license can cost €25,000 per year. Curacao, on the other hand, has cheaper options and only needs one license to cover all types of gaming, which is why startups like it so much.
Thoughts on strategy and extra value
Picking the right jurisdiction is more than just a matter of cost. It’s also a matter of strategy. Operators need to think about things like the licensing authority’s reputation, how fast the licensing process is, and the specifics of the regulatory framework. These things can have an effect on how the business runs and the market’s trustworthiness.
Getting a gaming license shows that a business is committed to following the rules and playing fairly, which can greatly increase customer trust and marketability. It also gives people access to a wider range of software and payment processing options that are usually only available to licensed businesses.
Finally, getting an online gaming license can be very expensive, but it is an important investment for the legitimacy and long-term success of a gaming business. Operators not only follow the law by picking the right jurisdiction and following regulatory standards, but they also get a competitive edge through increased customer trust and operational excellence. Lawyers are the best people to talk to if you want more specific information about licensing for gaming in certain areas.
