Online casino license
New casino sites to play real money
Whether you are an individual or company and wherever you’re based in the world, we can support throughout the four key stages of gambling licenses, requirements, cost, application and ongoing compliance. Costs of gambling licensing varies across jurisdictions – find out the cost of the gambling license necessary for your business.
Gambling licenses
Online gaming license | egaming licence | remote gambling
Gaming and gambling licenses
Harvex provide a full stack solution to online gaming, egaming, betting & remote gambling licenses. We offer options for both fiat (GBP, USD, EUR, AUD etc) and cryptocurrency (bitcoin, ethereum, EOS) or a mixture.
Whether you are an individual or company and wherever you’re based in the world, we can support throughout the four key stages of gambling licenses; requirements, cost, application and ongoing compliance.
Gambling license requirements
There are many types of gaming, egaming and remote gambling licenses – make sure you select the correct one.
Gaming license cost
Costs of gambling licensing varies across jurisdictions – find out the cost of the gambling license necessary for your business.
Applying for A gambling license
Ensure your gambling license application is correct and the entire process is efficient.
Ongoing gaming compliance
Make sure you stay compliant with the rules of the gambling license, with aspects such as reporting and geo-blocking countries.
Gambling license check
Firstly you need to assess whether you need a gaming, egaming, betting or remote gambling license and whether the restrictions of the license are suitable for your business.
Types of gaming license
There a few igaming licensing hotspots around the world and assessing these upfront is essential. The type of license you require will depend on a wide variety of factors, the category of gaming, gambling or betting, the jurisdiction you and your customers are based in, and the currencies (including cryptocurrencies) you plan to accept as payment. Each licensing authority has a different list of positives and this will influence the decision.
Through our extensive experience and knowledge of the sector, harvex will work with you to find the correct type of gambling license. We are connected with all the main licensing authorities, including sub-licensors.
Categories
There are a wide range of categories, including online poker, bingo, slots, roulette, casinos, sports betting, sportsbooks, lottery sites, plus many more. It is important to align your online gaming license with your activity.
Cryptocurrency | bitcoin gaming licence
Harvex can also arrange the appropriate licencing for crypto gambling operators. This type of license is unique and brings a specific set of requirements. Harvex can support with licensing for your related category.
Gambling license UK
Isle of man (IOM) licenses
Gaming licenses malta
Gaming glibraltar license
Kahnawake gaming license (canada)
Curacao gaming license
Channel islands licenses
Antigua and barbuda license
Dutch gaming license
License costs
The costs vary between the different jurisdictions. Some licenses are viewed more favourably with regulators in other international jurisdictions, reducing the number of countries of which users need to be restricted. This process is known as ‘whitelisting’. As a result, these licenses command a premium for registration.
Harvex can inform you of the exact costs involved, prior to starting the process.
Applying for A gambling license
Once you decide where to register your online gambling company, you’ll need to file a formal application. In some cases this is obtaining a license from the regulator, in others it would be obtaining what’s know as a ‘sub-license’ from approved and regulated license holders. In either case, the application process can be supported by harvex.
Igaming regulation
Complying with the rules of the license issuing regulator is, of course, essential. During the application process, the regulation will be explained and an applicant will need to confirm they will adhere to the guidelines. Harvex will work with you to ensure you select a license that regulates your online igaming business suitably.
Crypto casino
The application process for online gambling with crypto as a payment method has an enhanced level of due diligence. The application may be slightly longer, however it is possible to obtain a licence to cover punters using cryptocurrency.
Gambling | gaming company incorporation
A potential gambling license holder may be required to incorporate a company in the jurisdiction in which they are applying for the license, irrespective of where the license holder is geographically based themselves. With the connections harvex have, this process is usually fast. We can then applying for an online gaming bank account.
As a result, harvex can oversee the entire process of opening a gambling or gaming company for you, including completing and filing all paperwork. To date, harvex have opened companies in over 50 countries.
Online gaming licenses & services
Online gaming has proven to be an incredibly popular and profitable business model. With the rapid expansion of the industry a number of forward thinking governments worldwide set up regulatory framework to facilitate the licensing of online gambling operations. However, as online gambling is considered a prohibited activity in a number of countries, most online gambling licenses are issued by the governments of ‘offshore countries’.
Generally speaking, obtaining an online gambling license is a complex process involving a variety of due diligence requirements which must be fulfilled, that said, most online betting and online casino businesses have some form of online gambling license.
All legal online gaming businesses must be registered and in compliance in at least one jurisdiction. The most common jurisdictions that online gambling businesses register in are caribbean nations such as antigua and barbuda, costa rica, and curacao and european nations such as malta and the UK.
With more than 21 years of real world experience in the online gaming business our team hold the necessary skills to manage your egaming business with you and guide you through the license approval process.
We ensure our clients are able to operate in the most tax-efficient way while ensuring the structure remains compliant.
We assist our clients in obtaining online gambling licenses in the following jurisdictions:
Over the years costa rica was the preferred jurisdiction for hundreds of online gambling companies operating many hundreds of gambling websites, making it an excellent jurisdiction for start-ups in the online gambling industry. It is still incredibly popular and effective today for those utilizing alternate payment methods such as crypto-currencies i.E. Bitcoin, ethereum, etc. It is low cost and easy as there is absolutely no license of any kind required.
Learn more about registering your own online gambling company in costa rica
A curacao online gaming license is our recommendation for most start ups. The curaçao gaming control board made online gambling a central industry for the island of curaçao, and with doing so expanded the island’s licensing capabilities. At this moment in time the sub-licensing opportunities that exist are both low cost and easy to obtain making curaçao the #1 top jurisdiction for launching a licensed online gaming business.
Learn more about obtaining your own online gambling license in curacao
The isle of man with its comprehensive regulatory framework in place, including but not limited to the online gambling regulation act of 2001, which legalized online gaming operations in the country make it a well respected choice. The isle of man is recognized as one of the most reputable jurisdictions, offering world-class infrastructure and services for operators in the online gaming industry of all sizes.
Learn more about registering your own online gaming company in isle of man
A kahnawake gaming commission online gaming license is a great upgrade from a costa rican gaming company or curacao sublicense. The kahnawake gaming commission have been offering licenses since 1999 and are well respected. The kahnawake online gaming license is both low cost and relatively easy to obtain. 1 license type covers any and all games of chance.
Learn more about obtaining your own kahnawake online gambling license
Malta — following the public lotto ordinance act in 2000, malta the first EU member state to introduce remote gambling regulations and deliver remote gambling services for online gambling.
Learn more about obtaining your own online gambling license in malta
Online gaming licenses & services
It is critical when choosing the jurisdiction to base your online betting, bingo, casino, esports, fantasy sports, sports betting or lotto business that you consider initial licensing costs, ongoing licensing costs, maintenance costs, availability of ancillary services and tax costs and benefits.
The basic premise of licensing online bingo, casino, esports, fantasy sports, sports book betting and lotto businesses was to improve the quality of services delivered to consumers and is now a mandatory requirement for conducting legal gaming business online.
Licensing provides players with a level of trust and as such enhances the chances of success for the business.
Having a proper legal structure and some form of license facilitates availability of:
- Banking – virtually all banks require some form of gambling license in order to set up a bank account for your business ensuring your business is legally compliant.
- Payment processing – you will not be able to set up online gambling merchant accounts and other payment processing accounts to receive payments from customers via bank cards and accounts without some form of license.
Our services
- Online gaming consultancy
- Business plan assistance
- Compliance collation
- Licence application compilation
- Compliance
- Anti-money laundering procedures
- Liaison with payment solution providers, IT hosting facilities and software suppliers
- Establishment of accounts
- Company administration services
- Liaison with regulators, lawyers and auditors
- Local employment assistance and guidance in various locations
- Customer service and support facility establishment and outsourcing.
- Company incorporation and management
- Provision of company directors, and secretary
- Maintenance of statutory records
- VAT registration
- Accountancy services (provided by licensed partners)
- And much more.
To find out more about licensing procedures, requirements and costs, please select one of the jurisdictions above.
We understand that selecting a jurisdiction to base your online betting, bingo, casino, poker or sports betting business is a challenging task. If you are not sure about which jurisdiction is most suited to your needs and budget contact us and we’ll help you make the right selection.
As our client you are at the heart of our business and our sole goal is to serve your online gambling license needs while protecting your interests.
Start an online gaming business
Now is a great time to set up an online gaming business.
Contact us to become a client and set up your online gaming business today!
Take advantage of our more than 21 years of experience and let us help you every step of the way.
Your business is important to us and we guarantee professional service.
Online gambling license
A reliable online casino business starts with obtaining an online gambling license. It allows running a legal casino online and warrants the casino operator’s trustworthy behavior and commitment to a fair gaming policy. A license is also an indicator of transparency in business operations and security of the gaming software offered to customers.
It is impossible to set up a merchant account in a bank without a proper gambling license. Banks are very careful about their business partners and are always willing to cooperate with a company acknowledged by a regulatory body in a certain jurisdiction.
Online gambling legislation varies greatly from country to country. There are many jurisdictions all over the world that issue gambling licenses to online casinos. Such licenses are issued only after the online casino business meets the requirements of the chosen jurisdiction. You can find out more about how to obtain a gaming / gambling license.
Jurisdictions with gambling licenses
On the island of curaçao (netherlands antilles) the main jurisdiction certified for issuing gambling licenses is the curacao gaming control board. It has been functioning since 2002 and has broad certification and licensing capabilities. A curaçao license is an ideal option to start an online casino due to the optimal mix of cost and time frame.
This is the first country in the european union that introduced the regulations with regard to remote gambling and started issuing online gambling licences. A lot of companies prefer to apply to this very jurisdiction for a number of reasons. Gaining a license in malta opens the doors to many banks around the world where it will be possible to open a merchant account for processing banking cards.
Online gaming services provided in great britain are regulated by the UK gambling commission (UKGC). Online casinos need to obtain a remote license from the UKGC in order to to accept players from the UK and promote themselves on the local market. Learn more about how to apply for a gambling license in the UK.
The gambling ordinance regulates the process of online gambling license issue in gibraltar. Licensing covers poker, bingo, betting and online casino websites.
A “free market approach towards e-gambling” was introduced here in 2005 by the alderney gambling commission (AGC) and since then any online casino with the license of this jurisdiction can operate on the international level.
The online gambling regulation act (2001) and the electronic transactions act (2000) stand behind the online gambling legislation in isle of man. At present this is one of the most popular jurisdictions that is known for its strict requirements, as well as professional and unbiased monitoring and control of the online gambling companies applying for licenses.
In belgium the law with regards to any gambling activity is very strict. However gambling is considered an extremely popular and lucrative activity. In this respect, there are gambling companies that operate in the country, both online and land-based, and they are allowed to do so as long as they abide by the state laws and have obtained a license.
A government agency called the danish gambling authority resides under the danish ministry of taxation. The danish tax authority (SKAT) is responsible for registration of licence holders and regularly conducts inspections them.
In estonia online gaming is only at the first stage of its development if compared to other jurisdictions. Estonian gambling regulation features one characteristic that a company wishing to operate on the online gambling market should obtain two types of licenses – one for activity and another one for operation.
In italy the autonomous administration of the state monopolies (AAMS) regulates all the aspects of online gambling in the country since 2006. It is in charge of issuing licenses and also the control of the companies’ complying with the rules and regulations of legal conduct.
We could not miss this one. A common misperception is that costa rica has gambling licensing. However, there is no gambling license in costa rica as a notion. Although companies that offer online gambling services in costa rica do need to obtain a data processing license, this is not tantamount to a gambling license and is not recognized as such by most banks and game providers.
Sportsbook gambling licenses as well as online casino and poker licenses to the companies are issued by the kahnawake gaming commission (KGC).
When choosing the jurisdiction, the company applying for a license shall consider such factors as the reputation of the jurisdiction, its licensing laws, geographical location, the cost of license and taxation. Obtaining a license, besides making an online casino legal, brings multiple advantages to casino owners:
Don’t know what to do next?
If you are planning to start an online casino business, we are ready to offer you professional assistance and support in obtaining an online gambling license
Softswiss has been working in the market of ecommerce and igaming solutions since 2008. With the advanced technical expertise and extensive knowledge of the industry, we deliver high-quality projects for clients worldwide. Softswiss online casino software is a unique tool introduced by softswiss to enable businesses start their way in igaming
How to obtain offshore gambling license for online casino
Obtaining a casino/gambling license is one of the most important steps towards entering the online casino scene, in order to gain the credibility of your players and to avoid any problems with the international law.
The easiest way to do this would be to get in touch with a lawyer specialized in online gaming from your country, so you can get guidance from a professional who is accustomed with all the legal aspects of obtaining an online gaming license. Many jurisdictions around the world have designated specific laws regarding the online gaming industry, and many of these only allow online casinos which operate with a local gaming license.
An alternative to this would be to create an offshore company in countries like malta, cyprus, costa rica, panama and obtain a gambling license there. The low prices available in these countries have made them gain the reputation of "the heart of casino operations". Yearly license costs can go as low as 20,000 EUR.
What is a gambling license?
A gambling license is a certificate of authority issued by a regulatory agency, typically referred to as a gambling control board. Gambling licenses are usually required by organizations that offer any type of games of chance or those that involve wagering, such as roulette, poker, slots, pari-mutuel racing and lotteries, among a few. The requirements for the issuance of a gambling license might vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Requirements for licensing
It is one of the primarily roles of a gambling control board to issue a license. The issuance of a license is based on those standards that are broadly described in the controlling act that grants authority to the gambling control board, which are further defined and explained by the rules and regulations promulgated by the gambling control board.
Some of the requirements that may be imposed on organizations that desire to conduct a gambling business within a state or other jurisdiction include meeting certain standards of good character, honesty and integrity, disclosing detailed financial and organizational information about the gambling establishment, its owners, partners and other associated persons and providing employment and criminal information on certain individuals within the organization.
The requirements and standards that must be met to obtain a license to conduct a gambling business are comparable to those standards that financial institutions also have to accomplish, such as banks and insurance companies. The purpose of these stringent requirements is to discourage application by certain persons who may be engaged in organized criminal enterprises or may lack the required experience or financial stability to properly engage in the operation of a gambling enterprise.
Many gambling control boards have undertaken a process of allowing for multijurisdictional application as a way to ease and streamline the process of registration for establishments doing business across several state lines.
Before applying for a casino license
There are several steps that online casino operators must follow before applying for an online casino license. Obtaining a casino license can sometimes be time-consuming, and being familiarized with all the legal aspects will drastically decrease the time frame between applying for and actually obtaining an online casino license.
- Find all information about the gambling jurisdiction, requirements, gambling license costs, taxes and application processing time.
- Find out how to start a locally registered company which allows you to run an online casino.
- Be ready to prepare all personal documents required, including bank reference letter, certificate of no criminal record, passport copies and other documents which could already be listed on the gambling commission’s website.
- Find out if your online gaming provider offers games and software which comply with the local requirements of the jurisdiction, including RNG, software functionality and more.
The simple solution
Companies like slogold, capstone group and fastoffshore.Com provide a way to accomplish the licensing and registration of a gambling entity. They can offer ways to obtain licensure in offshore jurisdictions at a low cost, as well as conduct any necessary research and other legal and compliance work that is required by a jurisdictional gambling control board. This type of assistance may provide a benefit for the gambling organization that wishes to conduct business in certain jurisdictions and lack the manpower or expertise to navigate the laws, rules and regulations within.
Licensing a gambling enterprise offshore requires the creation of a company for the service of process, billing and payments and getting that entity licensed.
Top offshore casino options
There are certain regions around the world which have specific legislation in place, that allows companies to operate online gaming sites. These regions are called online gaming jurisdictions, and their authorities are the ones you need to contact if you want to open an online casino.
If you decide to start a gaming company that offers services over the internet, it is important to familiarize yourself with the legal aspects that apply in the country where you want to start your business.
If the legal practices allow you, an interesting and widely-used solution is opening an offshore online casino. There are multiple jurisdictions where you can open an offshore company, and operate your online gaming site with a license obtained from their licensing authorities.
Here are some of the most well-known jurisdictions where you can obtain an online gaming license and start an offshore casino:
Costa rica
NAME: COSTA RICA ONLINE GAMING COMPANY
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: $3,800
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): $1,150
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: 2-3 weeks
OTHER DETAILS: includes registered agent & registered office fees in costa rica and government maintenance fees in costa rica
Currently there is no governmental or regulatory framework governing online gaming in costa rica, with no official gambling license solution existing. Businesses and operations related to online casinos in costa rica are not regulated or supervised. Like so, you cannot obtain an online gambling license from the government.
Therefore, since there is no authority to regulate the local gambling industry, operators can open an online casino using a gambling license alternative from the costa rica online gaming company. To start an online gaming site in costa rica, you would need to open a costa rica corporation, with affordable costs and fees, with basic due diligence required and all nationalities accepted as directors or owners.
In our opinion, opening an online casino in costa rica can be beneficial in terms of costs, but since the industry is not regulated in any way, online gaming sites which operate in costa rica tend to have a bad reputation. Since the activity is completely uncontrollable, many operators have resorted to laundering money or using pirated software. Even so, many operators decide to work with a dedicated company who can help with opening a corporation in costa rica and an online casino in the shortest amount of time.
You can start your online casino with a costa rica license by contacting fast offshore
Curacao
NAME: curacao gambling commission
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: $19,850
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): $17,810
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: 8-12 weeks*
OTHER DETAILS: a deposit of around $35,000 is required and payable to the country's department of justice for the purpose of investigating the licensing application
*the fees specified above are issued by fastoffshore.Com.
The nation of curacao has been active in issuing offshore gambling licenses since 1996 and is considered to be one of the most stable providers of licensing services for gambling enterprises. Curacao offers a single license type, covering all games of chance and skill, as well as sports betting bookmakers.
Gambling enterprises wishing to be licensed in curacao must be registered with the netherlands antilles chamber of commerce and designated as either an on or offshore legal entity.
Prior to the issuance of any license, a deposit of around $35,000 is required and payable to the country's department of justice for investigating the licensing application. Gambling enterprises pay a monthly fee of $5,000 that is charged for a period of two years. The fee can be renegotiated at the end of this two-year period.
Gibraltar
NAME: gibraltar licensing authority
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: none
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): gaming tax is levied at 1% of turnover for bookmakers with the tax capped at £425,000 . Minimum gaming tax payable is £85,000 per year.
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: the consideration of applications can take several months, as a result of the extensive due diligence carried out.
OTHER DETAILS: licenses are renewable annually on the payment of a fee of £2,000 .
Operators who want to obtain a remote gambling license from gibraltar must contact the local licensing authority to apply for an online gaming license. According to the gambling commission’s website, the licensing process can prove to be difficult, as the licensing authority only considers licensing blue chip companies with a proven track record in gambling, with good financial standing and a realistic business plan.
The licensing authority currently requires detailed documentation along with a business plan, details and references on owners and personnel, evidence of previous licenses, expertise in offshore gaming and financial standing.
For fixed odds betting, the gaming tax in gibraltar is currently set at 1% of the turnover up to £42,500,000 with the gaming tax capped at £425,000 per year, with a minimum tax payable of £85,000 per year. For internet casinos, the gaming tax is levied at 1% of the gaming yield of gross profit.
Licenses are renewable annually for a fee of £2,000 if all terms and conditions on the license are fully satisfied.
Operators who want to apply for an online casino license in gibraltar must take several actions regarding customer privacy and data protection, and must ensure that all advertising and promotion methods will exclusively target adult players and will be truthful and accurate, while also respecting the anti-money-laundering code of practice.
Another aspect that operators should consider when applying for a gibraltar license is that all the products they will offer must be tested and certified in compliance with gibraltar’s regulatory model and standards. Like so, the games that will appear on your casino website must be approved by an independent test house, such as itech labs or BMM compliance.
You can find more information about how to open your online casino with a gibraltar license here.
Philippines
NAME: PAGCOR (the philippine amusement and gaming corporation)
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: application and processing fee of $50,000 for online casinos, and $40,000 for sports betting, and another $200,000 and $150,000 , respectively, upon approval of the license.
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): $10,000 /month per table, for RNG-based games $100 /month per player, and $40,000 for sports betting, plus $20,000 to cover probity and site visit, for accreditation as POGO gaming agent.
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: depends on a range of factors.
OTHER DETAILS: the corporation has recently been forced to impose a license limit for gaming operators. The cap is 50 licenses, and 40 have already been granted.
The authority which regulates the online gaming industry in philippines and issues online casino licenses is called the philippine amusement and gaming corporation, or PAGCOR. PAGCOR issues licenses for offshore-based operators, for e-casinos (including table games, slots, other card, wheel and dice games, skill games, arcade-type games) and sports betting.
Operators who want to start an offshore casino in philippines must open a business organized in the philippines or any other foreign country (with the condition to have a philippines offshore gaming agent). The applicant should also comply with the regulator’s licensing process and requirements, including a probity check conducted by a third party, a review of the business plan and a review of the gaming system, which must be certified by a PAGCOR accredited gaming lab.
The fees for an online gaming license in the philippines consist of an application and processing fee of $50,000 for e-casinos, and $40,000 for sports betting. Applicants must also pay the corresponding fees after the license approval, which are $200,000 for e-casino and $150,000 for sports betting. Gaming taxes also apply.
Licensees are first allowed to pay fixed gaming taxes for the initial six-month period of implementation, for live studio set-up, $10,000/month per table, for RNG-based games $100 /month per player, and $40,000 for sports betting. The applicant should also pay $20,000 to cover probity and site visit, for accreditation as POGO gaming agent.
The philippines online gaming license can be costly, but it can prove to be unique and highly valuable, because it is the only license available to companies who want to start an online gaming business in the lucrative asian gaming market. The corporation has recently been forced to impose a 50-license limit on its attractive licenses, despite receiving more than a hundred applications from gaming providers. All information about the philippine license can be found here.
Isle of man
NAME: isle of man gambling supervision commission
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: application fee of £5,000
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): £35,000 per year, runs for five years
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: depends on a range of factors
OTHER DETAILS: 0% corporation tax and competitive gaming duty (based on profits), ranging from 0.1%- 1.5%.
Excellent reputation for targeting the asian gaming market
In the isle of man, the licensing authority is called the isle of man gambling supervision commission. If you want to establish your online casino business in the isle of man, you should satisfy a few criteria, including establishing a manx company, having at least 2 local, individual directors, appointing at least one resident designated official or an operations manager, registering players on isle of man servers or operating under a local network services license, while also locating the gambling and trading accounts in a bank in the isle of man.
The legislation that regulates the online gambling industry in the isle of man is the online gambling regulation act of 2001, or OGRA. The application starts with completing an application form and paying the application fee of £5,000 , followed by an inspection process during which the inspectorate and the designated official or operations manager discuss the business model. The OGRA license which permits gambling activities costs £35,000 per year and runs for five years.
The gambling supervision commission will perform several analyses during these five years, including analysis of the financial accounts, analysis of ownership, analysis of game rules and technical checks on games, analysis of transaction recording for games, and more.
IMPORTANT: isle of man has developed an excellent reputation for targeting the asian market.
You can find all required information about how to open an offshore casino with an isle of man license here.
Malta
NAME: malta gaming authority
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: application fee for new license of €2,330
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year):
- Yearly license fees – €8,500
- Renewal fees – €1,500
- Approval fees for transfer or assignment of license – €1,500
- Administrative fees (where applicable)
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: approximately between 12 to 16 weeks
OTHER DETAILS: the gaming tax differs from one class to another. The applicable tax rates can be found in the fourth schedule of the regulations, which may be found in the remote gaming regulations on the authority’s website here.
Malta is known for its dynamic and fast-growing gaming sector. If you want to open an offshore casino in malta, you should know that the malta gaming authority (MGA) issues licenses under the provisions of the remote gaming regulations.
During the application process, the MGA tests the applicants to find out if they comply with a few criteria: the applicant must be fit and proper to conduct gaming business, must have the operational and statutory requirements to meet the obligations prescribed by law and policy, should be correctly prepared to develop a business strategy and should test and implement all technical aspects before opening the online casino.
The MGA issues 4 classes of gaming licenses – the class 1 license has been designed for remote casino gaming, including casino-type games and online operators.
The costs of obtaining and owning a malta casino license include: an application fee for new license of €2,330 , a system review of €2,500 , the license fee of €8,500 , plus other approval and compliance fees. The compliance review is €3,500 .
The MGA has clear procedures and prevention instruments regarding money laundering issues. The MGA claims to take affirmative steps to prevent money laundering and other suspicious transactions, the applicant being obliged to provide the MGA with the necessary due diligence documents of key officials, directors and shareholders. Players who make payments which are above the value of €2,330 should also be verified by the online casino operator.
You can find all information regarding obtaining a malta casino license here.
Panama
NAME: panama gaming control board (junta de control de juegos)
STARTUP COSTS: license fee of USD $40,000
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): annual license fee of USD $20,000
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: depends on a range of factors
OTHER DETAILS: internet gaming companies domiciled in panama enjoy complete tax exemptions.
The online gaming industry in panama is supervised by the panama gaming board. Operators who want to start an offshore casino in panama need to request a casino license through a panama attorney, and fulfill a series of requirements.
If you are looking to open an online casino in panama, you should know that the laws here allow operators to be exempt of all taxes. As long as the income made from online gaming is from outside panama, there are no taxes, including income tax, sales tax or VAT. More than that, offshore companies are not subject to foreign exchange control.
To start an online gaming site in panama, operators must not have any criminal record and need to ensure that all software and games comply with the regulations of the panama internet gaming license. Operators must also monitor game payouts and make sure that records of all transactions are available for inspection by the government. More than that, all operators must comply with international money laundering regulations.
The panama initial license fee costs $40,000 , and the additional annual fee costs $20,000 . The license lasts for 7 years.
Antigua and barbuda
NAME: financial services regulatory commission
STARTUP COSTS:
Interactive gaming license fee $100,000
Interactive wagering license fee $75,000
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): annual renewal fee for each license $5,000
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: decision will be granted after 60 days of receipt of requirements.
OTHER DETAILS:
Reserve requirement of $100,000
Monitoring system fee – 1 license: $25,000 ; 2 licenses: $45,000
Obtaining a license in the twin-island caribbean nation of antigua and barbuda requires approval from the country's financial services regulatory commission and its division of gambling. The nation is the first jurisdiction to permit offshore licensing of gambling establishments, since 1994.
The licensing process encompasses 3 schedules and a non-refundable $15,000 to be submitted for conducting investigations, due diligence and assessments of the applicant. After 60 days, a decision will be granted by the commission.
After the application has been approved, operators of establishments that maintain a primary server in the nation should pay an interactive gaming license fee of $100,000 /interactive wagering license fee of $75,000 annually. The annual renewal fee for each license costs $5,000 , and the key person license fees consist of $1,000 for the first year and $250 for the second year and there onwards.
There is also a reserve requirement of at least $100,000 , acting as a security form for the benefit of players, to ensure that license holders obligations to players can be fulfilled. A monitoring system fee, $25,000 for one license and $45,000 for two licenses, per year, are also included.
Belize
NAME: gaming control committee of belize
INITIAL SETUP COSTS: $18,000 for 1 year
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year): to extend the license one should pay $10,000
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: very fast procedure of getting the license: if all license legislation requirements are conducted, the license is issued within 24 hours
OTHER DETAILS: gaming license includes all gambling types for computers and other devices
Belize is a small english-speaking country in central america which has started regulating the online gaming business and offering online casino licenses since 2000. The process of obtaining an online casino license by operators is controlled and regulated by the gaming control committee of belize. Gaming companies registered here are prohibited to take bets from belize citizens. On the other hand, belize is considered to be an interesting solution for offshore businesses, thanks to the profitable taxation policy.
To operate an online casino, you would have to obtain an online gambling license which costs $18,000 for 1 year, and $10,000 per year for extending the license. The annual license expires on march 31, despite the issue date.
The belize jurisdiction has set up strict requirements for operators, including:
- The applicant must run an international company registered in belize;
- Applicants must provide their fingerprints;
- Company founders who don’t stay in the country and are not citizens, should apply for citizenship;
- The company should make a deposit in the central bank of belize to prevent possible debts;
- If funds on deposits run out, it must immediately be reported to the gambling commission.
Kahnawake
NAME: kahnawake gaming commission
INITIAL SETUP COSTS:
Key person license application fee of $5,000 for each proposed key person.
ANNUAL FEE (STARTING FROM 2nd year):
Client provider authorization $20,000 per year
TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENSE: 4-8 weeks (time to complete due diligence report)
OTHER DETAILS: -
The mohawk territory of kahnawake is located in quebec, canada. It’s an indian reserve that’s about 48.05 square kilometers. The kahnawake gaming commission is the regulatory authority which issues gaming licenses. Currently, the kahnawake gaming commission issues four different types of licenses.
Operators who want to start an online casino in kahnawake have the following license options:
- Interactive gaming license (IGC)
- Client provider authorization (CPA)
- Secondary client provider authorization (secondary CPA)
- Key person license (KPL)
You can read more about these license types at the official site of the kahnawake gaming commission.
To apply for a license with the kahnawake gaming commission, the applicant should pay an initial fee to the commission. This fee is $40,000 for a client provider authorization license. There’s also an application fee of $5,000 for each key person license. Both fees are refundable if the commission rejects an application.
To ensure that players are treated fairly, the kahnawake gaming commission requires operators to follow a set of guidelines which include:
- The company and persons that own and operate the interactive gaming site are of good character, honesty and integrity.
- The software (including the random number generator, where applicable) and systems used by the interactive gaming site have been thoroughly tested to ensure accuracy and fairness.
The software and systems used by the interactive gaming site are comprehensively audited on an annual basis by at least one of the commission’s approved agents.
BY CASINOWEBSCRIPTS PUBLISHED 10 january 2018
Acquiring an online gambling license
Obtaining a casino/gambling license is an important step when entering the world of online casinos; a license avoids any problems with the law and gains the confidence of your players.
There are certain regions in the world that have specific legislation in place that allows them to license and regulate companies that operate online gambling sites or provide industry services, such as the supply of gaming software. These regions are referred to as online gambling jurisdictions or licensing jurisdictions. Within these jurisdictions, there’s usually an organization that’s responsible for issuing licenses and regulating the licensees. These organizations are typically known as licensing authorities.
For an online gambling site to offer its services to customers legally, it should hold a betting or gaming license issued by an appropriate licensing authority. A site will usually have to base at least part of its operations within the jurisdiction where it wishes to be licensed, meaning that many gambling sites choose their location almost entirely on the basis of the legislation and regulatory practices that they’ll have to adhere to.
The easiest way to obtain a license is to contact a lawyer from the country in which you are located or wish to operate from, and he/she will provide guidance on how to obtain this.
What is a gambling license?
A gambling license is a certificate of authority issued by a licensing authority and is typically required by organizations that offer any type of games of chance or those that involve wagering, such as roulette, poker and slots. The requirements for the issuance of a gambling license vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Issuing rules and regulations
The gambling control board must create a set of rules and regulations to govern the way in which a corporation or other organization licensed in the jurisdiction can conduct business. These rules and regulations cover a broad range of activity including operations, accounting and audit, and the conduct of games offered within the establishment, and apply to the conduct of all individuals involved in the gambling enterprise, from employees, companies doing business with the gambling establishment and its owners and/or partners.
Requirements for licensing
It is one of the primarily roles of a gambling control board to issue a license. The issuance of a license is based on those standards that are broadly described in the controlling act that grants authority to the licensing authority. Some of the requirements that may be imposed on organizations that desire to conduct a gambling business within a state or other jurisdiction include:
- Meeting certain standards of good character, honesty and integrity
- Disclosing detailed financial and organizational information about the gambling establishment, its owners, partners and other associated persons, and
- Providing employment and criminal information on certain individuals within the organization.
The requirements and standards that must be met to obtain a license to conduct a gambling business are comparable to those standards that financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies must achieve. The purpose of these stringent requirements is to discourage application by certain persons who may be engaged in organized criminal enterprises or may lack the required experience or financial stability to properly engage in the operation of a gambling enterprise. Many gambling control boards have undertaken a process of allowing for multi-jurisdictional application as a way to ease and streamline the process of registration for establishments doing business across several state lines.
Online gambling license fees
Costs associated with obtaining an online gambling license are associated with the application process, the license, and operational compliance.
Cost 1 — application process
- Legal/advisory bill
- Legal disclosures
Development of a business plan to address:
- Social responsibility
- Anti-money laundering
- Safe custody of customer funds
- Due diligence costs (on directors and shareholders)
- Technology & hosting provider certification costs
Licenses tend to reflect the fiscal attitude of the government rather than the nature of the regulatory regime e.G.
United kingdom — charges a low license fee, but 15% on tax revenues
Aldernay — flat fee that depends on the size of th business and don’t charge gambling tax on revenues — $75k annually
Gibraltar — minimum annual fee (£85k) on 1% of revenues up to a maximum fee per year of £420k
Italy — charges €300k for a 10 year license plus €70k annually and 20% tax on revenues
- Reporting (sometimes monthly)
- Inspection costs
- On-going certification (new games)
- Random number generator must be reseeded and re-certified regularly
Alternatives, such as sub-licensing, means the right to operate under someone else’s license to avoid upfront costs, and to share partner costs. Some jurisdictions allow sub-licensing, for example malta,
Gambling using cryptocurrency
An online casino is required to apply for a gambling license in order to be legally allowed to process payments and to use the gaming content of the biggest software providers. When payments are made using a cryptocurrency, the involvement of a third party (bank institution) becomes obsolete; deposits and withdrawals are immediately transferred between the player and the casino wallet. There is therefore an argument for not obtaining a gambling license since the processing of payments does not require the use of a centralized bank.
However, casino players who decide to use cryptocurrency as a deposit/withdrawal method have to make sure the online casino they have an account with is a reputable one and that it has undergone an audit from an independent testing agency. From this perspective, a casino that holds a license from a respected jurisdiction becomes a powerful marketing tool and players are more confident when it comes to creating an account and depositing funds.
Since there is not a legislative framework outlining the rules and regulations related to cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, it should be assumed that wagering with cryptocurrency is the same as wagering with any other government- accepted currency.
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Online casino licenses
Online casino licences is a must-have for all gambling sites on the internet.
It does not matter if the site in question is offering casino games, lottery, e-sports or betting, they all need a gaming licence to do so.
But all gaming licences are not equal.
In fact, they are far from, and we’ll explain why:
As the online casino industry is growing at a phenomenal rate and, as with any industry that is experiencing exceptional growth, there will always be unscrupulous operators who are trying to make a quick buck by manipulating the system or defrauding unsuspecting people.
Therefore, it is essential for gamblers to avoid dodgy online casinos and only play at sites that are safe, secure and trustworthy.
The best way to ensure that the online casino that you choose is safe and trustworthy is to check the licences that the casino holds.
All online casinos based across the united kingdom must have a UK gambling commission licence.
However, there are other online casinos that you might frequent that operate from offshore, like isle of man, curacao, malta or alderney, and it is important to check all casino licences before you join a site.
Here at online.Casino we have put together a comprehensive guide to all the licences that casinos can hold.
This way it’s easy to understand what a specific licence stands for and to choose a trustworthy operator.
Online casino licences explained
Online gamblers are attracted by welcome bonuses and VIP promotions but very few players take the time to check a casino’s licence. Before you get caught up in all the excitement, take a few minutes to check that you are signing up for a reputable online casino with a valid licence. Since the introduction of the 2005 gambling act that was amended in 2014, most of the top online casinos in the UK are licenced and controlled by the UKGC.
The gambling act gives the legal provision to regulate the interactive betting, such as the online sports betting, bingo and the casino games. The gambler should be of the majority age which is 18 years. The advantages of licensing this system are:
- To ensure that all online gambling games are transparent, honest and fair.
- Prevent the exploitation and harming of vulnerable people and children (players must be over 18).
- Prevent any links between gambling and criminal activity.
Casino licences are designed to regulate the industry and protect the interests of players. To obtain a licence from the UKGC, an online casino or gambling operator must meet certain criteria, including:
- Confirmation of identity – this is to ensure that the operator who is applying for operating licence can be held accountable.
- Proof of enough finances to operate an online casino – ensuring that the casino will not go bankrupt after the players deposit their money with them.
- Proof of both the experience and the qualifications – to ascertain if the operator has the capability of running an online gambling business.
- A clean criminal record.
What are offshore licences?
While most top casinos across the UK are licenced by the UKGC, there are sites that operate under offshore licences from countries like malta, curacao and cyprus.
The gambling act of 2005 empowers the UK gambling commission in the regulation and licensing of all gambling businesses in the UK.
However, there are a number of legal exceptions that allow online casinos based in other countries to operate in the gambling industry across the UK under the regulatory framework of the UKGC. These countries and territories include;
- Alderney
- Antigua
- Barbuda
- European economic area countries
- Gibraltar
- Isle of man
- Tasmania
The amendments to the gambling, licensing and advertising act of 2014 further provides that online casinos based in these countries or territories should have a base element of their equipment or facilities in the UK to retain their remote licence. This gives the gambling commission of the UK the jurisdiction over these whitelisted casino operators.
How to know what licences a casino holds
All online casinos that operate in the UK require a UKGC licence or a valid offshore licence. If you want to know if your favourite slot or the casino you want to sign up for has a licence to operate in the UK, you simply need to look at the casino website.
Most sites display the stamp, crest or name of all their licences in the footer of the website, along with their company details and contact information.
But just because an online casino site claims to have a valid UKGC or offshore licence does not necessary mean that they are in fact licenced.
If you have any doubts about the licences a casino site holds, you can make a note of the licence number on the casino website and then look up that number on the UK gambling commission website (or relevant offshore regulators site).
The UKGC also has a search page where you can find any licensed casino operator and where they are based.
UKGC licence requirements
The UKGC has the responsibility of regulating the online gambling industry and acquiring a gaming license in the UK is nor easy or cheap.
To meet all the conditions of the UKGC will take a lot of time. However, other than the time and the costs involved, casinos need to follow all the correct procedures and obtain a UKGC licence.
It is illegal for operators to run non-licensed casinos in the UK. Only the casinos licensed by the UKGC are allowed to advertise in both print media and TV.
For the operators who fail to comply with the rules set by the UKGC, there are heavy fines. UK online casino operators should pay a yearly point in consumption tax which is 15% of their total profits.
Part of this tax id used for funding programs such as gambling addiction initiatives.
As a player, you are not subjected to taxes on your casino winnings if you won from a UKGC licenced website.
1. Social responsibility
For the majority of players, betting is a fun and harmless form of entertainment.
Unfortunately; there are some people who can’t gamble responsibly or who become addicted to gambling which can destroy their lives. Therefore, it is a priority for the gambling commission of the UK to protect vulnerable people.
Social responsibility is an important component of the UKGC licence requirements, and it is all about protecting the interests of the players and reducing the negative impact of gambling on families and communities.
Gambling is won by chances so, any form of gambling has inherent risks but the UKGC strives to protect players by enforcing marketing and advertising guidelines and regulations, preventing underage gambling, implementing fair and transparent terms and conditions, and requiring sites to have self-exclusion options.
As of 2019, the new regulations have been enforced to do more safeguard the vulnerable players and minors. The licensed casinos in the UK are supposed to confirm the identity and the age of each new member they register before they place their initial gaming money on the site.
The UKGC constantly reviews its regulations and introduces new measures to protect players and they work closely with a number of partner organisations to implement treatment, education, harm prevention and research programmes as well as improve social responsibility in the online gambling industry.
2. Anti-money laundering
The UKGC is serious about preventing crime in the online gambling industry and forcing online casinos operating in the UK to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws and legislation.
Not only do all UKGC licenced casinos have to comply with the industry laws and regulations regarding financial transactions, but the commission is also committed to raising the standards of anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing across the casino industry and encouraging casino operators to do more to regulate themselves and protect the industry from exploitation by criminals and terrorists.
The UK gambling commission has formalised an agreement with HM revenue and customs (HMRC) to reflect recent changes in money laundering legislation under the money laundering, terrorist financing and transfer of funds (information on the payer) regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) and the commission will undertake to draw the attention of online casinos to the guidelines issued by HMRC. The UKGC works tirelessly to prevent criminals from profiting from online gambling.
3. Technical standards
Any form of betting for real money has its own set of risks. It is a game of chances, however for most players, that is what makes gambling exciting.
Technology has completely changed how the game operates. It has made gambling easier for the fraudsters in this industry to defraud the gamblers and to alter the results. To safeguard the interests of gamblers, all licenced UK casinos must comply with the technical standards and requirements of the UK gambling commission, but these standards should not be used as the sole measure of reliability, quality or security.
There are also a number of independent assessment bodies in the gambling industry that encourage online casinos to sign up and commit to various technical standards.
Independent agencies include:
- Ecogra
- GLI
- Technical systems testing
- The european sports security association
The agencies above all monitor casino websites, and reports are available to the public. Sometimes you can find these reports linked in the footer of casinos.
4. Alternative dispute resolution
The UKGC dispute resolution system has been set up to protect the rights of the gamblers and requires casinos to comply certain set of rules when dealing with complaints and to settle the disputes facilitated by a sovereign third party or any ADR facilitator.
The onus is on the casino to ensure that their dispute resolution procedures and requirements for handling the disputes are fair and transparent and must give players easy to understand and accessible information on the process of filing a complaint including timescales, contact details and arrangement for referring disputes to an ADR facilitator if the casino cannot effectively resolve a dispute within eight weeks.
Online casinos need to accept complains launched by a person, through the phone or email and provide customers with written confirmation when the complaints process has reached a conclusion.
The casinos are not allowed to set up unreasonable time limits for players to launch a complaint. They must provide information on how to quicken and refer a complaint to an ADR provider. They also need to issue feedbacks from the ADR facilitators not more than 10 days late.
Gambling licenses
Online gaming license | egaming licence | remote gambling
Gaming and gambling licenses
Harvex provide a full stack solution to online gaming, egaming, betting & remote gambling licenses. We offer options for both fiat (GBP, USD, EUR, AUD etc) and cryptocurrency (bitcoin, ethereum, EOS) or a mixture.
Whether you are an individual or company and wherever you’re based in the world, we can support throughout the four key stages of gambling licenses; requirements, cost, application and ongoing compliance.
Gambling license requirements
There are many types of gaming, egaming and remote gambling licenses – make sure you select the correct one.
Gaming license cost
Costs of gambling licensing varies across jurisdictions – find out the cost of the gambling license necessary for your business.
Applying for A gambling license
Ensure your gambling license application is correct and the entire process is efficient.
Ongoing gaming compliance
Make sure you stay compliant with the rules of the gambling license, with aspects such as reporting and geo-blocking countries.
Gambling license check
Firstly you need to assess whether you need a gaming, egaming, betting or remote gambling license and whether the restrictions of the license are suitable for your business.
Types of gaming license
There a few igaming licensing hotspots around the world and assessing these upfront is essential. The type of license you require will depend on a wide variety of factors, the category of gaming, gambling or betting, the jurisdiction you and your customers are based in, and the currencies (including cryptocurrencies) you plan to accept as payment. Each licensing authority has a different list of positives and this will influence the decision.
Through our extensive experience and knowledge of the sector, harvex will work with you to find the correct type of gambling license. We are connected with all the main licensing authorities, including sub-licensors.
Categories
There are a wide range of categories, including online poker, bingo, slots, roulette, casinos, sports betting, sportsbooks, lottery sites, plus many more. It is important to align your online gaming license with your activity.
Cryptocurrency | bitcoin gaming licence
Harvex can also arrange the appropriate licencing for crypto gambling operators. This type of license is unique and brings a specific set of requirements. Harvex can support with licensing for your related category.
Gambling license UK
Isle of man (IOM) licenses
Gaming licenses malta
Gaming glibraltar license
Kahnawake gaming license (canada)
Curacao gaming license
Channel islands licenses
Antigua and barbuda license
Dutch gaming license
License costs
The costs vary between the different jurisdictions. Some licenses are viewed more favourably with regulators in other international jurisdictions, reducing the number of countries of which users need to be restricted. This process is known as ‘whitelisting’. As a result, these licenses command a premium for registration.
Harvex can inform you of the exact costs involved, prior to starting the process.
Applying for A gambling license
Once you decide where to register your online gambling company, you’ll need to file a formal application. In some cases this is obtaining a license from the regulator, in others it would be obtaining what’s know as a ‘sub-license’ from approved and regulated license holders. In either case, the application process can be supported by harvex.
Igaming regulation
Complying with the rules of the license issuing regulator is, of course, essential. During the application process, the regulation will be explained and an applicant will need to confirm they will adhere to the guidelines. Harvex will work with you to ensure you select a license that regulates your online igaming business suitably.
Crypto casino
The application process for online gambling with crypto as a payment method has an enhanced level of due diligence. The application may be slightly longer, however it is possible to obtain a licence to cover punters using cryptocurrency.
Gambling | gaming company incorporation
A potential gambling license holder may be required to incorporate a company in the jurisdiction in which they are applying for the license, irrespective of where the license holder is geographically based themselves. With the connections harvex have, this process is usually fast. We can then applying for an online gaming bank account.
As a result, harvex can oversee the entire process of opening a gambling or gaming company for you, including completing and filing all paperwork. To date, harvex have opened companies in over 50 countries.
Online gambling licenses
Online gambling has proven to be an incredibly profitable and popular business model in many countries. Each year, over one hundred are being launched and the government worldwide tries to keep up with their pace by regulating markets.
There are several different licenses all over the world right now and both players and governments demand that more casinos should have a valid license. We guide you to licenses for online casino and gambling. Make sure to gamble at trusted sites when playing online.
The importance of an online gambling licenses
In many countries, online gambling is neither forbidden nor allowed. These markets are called “grey markets” and if you play in a grey market country there are some risks attached. Obtaining an online gambling license is a very complex process which involves a variety of due diligence requirements which must be fulfilled. New casinos online that have a license are much more safe and secure than casinos that doesn’t have them.
All legal online gambling businesses have at least one license to be considered as a safe online casino. Some licenses are harder to obtain than others. For an example, the UK gambling commission is regarded to be the toughest one to get for casinos because of all the requirements. If you are a casino player, you can therefore feel safe when you are playing at a casino with an UK gambling commission license. Other popular licenses are malta gaming authority and curacao egaming.
At casinomir, we only list online casinos with a proper license/licenses and with the best casino bonuses and free spins. This is very important for us, because we only want to list casinos that are totally safe and reliable. Another great thing with casinos that has a license is that all of your winnings are completely tax-free.
Make sure to play casino with the right license for your region
Online casino licenses
Online casino licences is a must-have for all gambling sites on the internet.
It does not matter if the site in question is offering casino games, lottery, e-sports or betting, they all need a gaming licence to do so.
But all gaming licences are not equal.
In fact, they are far from, and we’ll explain why:
As the online casino industry is growing at a phenomenal rate and, as with any industry that is experiencing exceptional growth, there will always be unscrupulous operators who are trying to make a quick buck by manipulating the system or defrauding unsuspecting people.
Therefore, it is essential for gamblers to avoid dodgy online casinos and only play at sites that are safe, secure and trustworthy.
The best way to ensure that the online casino that you choose is safe and trustworthy is to check the licences that the casino holds.
All online casinos based across the united kingdom must have a UK gambling commission licence.
However, there are other online casinos that you might frequent that operate from offshore, like isle of man, curacao, malta or alderney, and it is important to check all casino licences before you join a site.
Here at online.Casino we have put together a comprehensive guide to all the licences that casinos can hold.
This way it’s easy to understand what a specific licence stands for and to choose a trustworthy operator.
Online casino licences explained
Online gamblers are attracted by welcome bonuses and VIP promotions but very few players take the time to check a casino’s licence. Before you get caught up in all the excitement, take a few minutes to check that you are signing up for a reputable online casino with a valid licence. Since the introduction of the 2005 gambling act that was amended in 2014, most of the top online casinos in the UK are licenced and controlled by the UKGC.
The gambling act gives the legal provision to regulate the interactive betting, such as the online sports betting, bingo and the casino games. The gambler should be of the majority age which is 18 years. The advantages of licensing this system are:
- To ensure that all online gambling games are transparent, honest and fair.
- Prevent the exploitation and harming of vulnerable people and children (players must be over 18).
- Prevent any links between gambling and criminal activity.
Casino licences are designed to regulate the industry and protect the interests of players. To obtain a licence from the UKGC, an online casino or gambling operator must meet certain criteria, including:
- Confirmation of identity – this is to ensure that the operator who is applying for operating licence can be held accountable.
- Proof of enough finances to operate an online casino – ensuring that the casino will not go bankrupt after the players deposit their money with them.
- Proof of both the experience and the qualifications – to ascertain if the operator has the capability of running an online gambling business.
- A clean criminal record.
What are offshore licences?
While most top casinos across the UK are licenced by the UKGC, there are sites that operate under offshore licences from countries like malta, curacao and cyprus.
The gambling act of 2005 empowers the UK gambling commission in the regulation and licensing of all gambling businesses in the UK.
However, there are a number of legal exceptions that allow online casinos based in other countries to operate in the gambling industry across the UK under the regulatory framework of the UKGC. These countries and territories include;
- Alderney
- Antigua
- Barbuda
- European economic area countries
- Gibraltar
- Isle of man
- Tasmania
The amendments to the gambling, licensing and advertising act of 2014 further provides that online casinos based in these countries or territories should have a base element of their equipment or facilities in the UK to retain their remote licence. This gives the gambling commission of the UK the jurisdiction over these whitelisted casino operators.
How to know what licences a casino holds
All online casinos that operate in the UK require a UKGC licence or a valid offshore licence. If you want to know if your favourite slot or the casino you want to sign up for has a licence to operate in the UK, you simply need to look at the casino website.
Most sites display the stamp, crest or name of all their licences in the footer of the website, along with their company details and contact information.
But just because an online casino site claims to have a valid UKGC or offshore licence does not necessary mean that they are in fact licenced.
If you have any doubts about the licences a casino site holds, you can make a note of the licence number on the casino website and then look up that number on the UK gambling commission website (or relevant offshore regulators site).
The UKGC also has a search page where you can find any licensed casino operator and where they are based.
UKGC licence requirements
The UKGC has the responsibility of regulating the online gambling industry and acquiring a gaming license in the UK is nor easy or cheap.
To meet all the conditions of the UKGC will take a lot of time. However, other than the time and the costs involved, casinos need to follow all the correct procedures and obtain a UKGC licence.
It is illegal for operators to run non-licensed casinos in the UK. Only the casinos licensed by the UKGC are allowed to advertise in both print media and TV.
For the operators who fail to comply with the rules set by the UKGC, there are heavy fines. UK online casino operators should pay a yearly point in consumption tax which is 15% of their total profits.
Part of this tax id used for funding programs such as gambling addiction initiatives.
As a player, you are not subjected to taxes on your casino winnings if you won from a UKGC licenced website.
1. Social responsibility
For the majority of players, betting is a fun and harmless form of entertainment.
Unfortunately; there are some people who can’t gamble responsibly or who become addicted to gambling which can destroy their lives. Therefore, it is a priority for the gambling commission of the UK to protect vulnerable people.
Social responsibility is an important component of the UKGC licence requirements, and it is all about protecting the interests of the players and reducing the negative impact of gambling on families and communities.
Gambling is won by chances so, any form of gambling has inherent risks but the UKGC strives to protect players by enforcing marketing and advertising guidelines and regulations, preventing underage gambling, implementing fair and transparent terms and conditions, and requiring sites to have self-exclusion options.
As of 2019, the new regulations have been enforced to do more safeguard the vulnerable players and minors. The licensed casinos in the UK are supposed to confirm the identity and the age of each new member they register before they place their initial gaming money on the site.
The UKGC constantly reviews its regulations and introduces new measures to protect players and they work closely with a number of partner organisations to implement treatment, education, harm prevention and research programmes as well as improve social responsibility in the online gambling industry.
2. Anti-money laundering
The UKGC is serious about preventing crime in the online gambling industry and forcing online casinos operating in the UK to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws and legislation.
Not only do all UKGC licenced casinos have to comply with the industry laws and regulations regarding financial transactions, but the commission is also committed to raising the standards of anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing across the casino industry and encouraging casino operators to do more to regulate themselves and protect the industry from exploitation by criminals and terrorists.
The UK gambling commission has formalised an agreement with HM revenue and customs (HMRC) to reflect recent changes in money laundering legislation under the money laundering, terrorist financing and transfer of funds (information on the payer) regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) and the commission will undertake to draw the attention of online casinos to the guidelines issued by HMRC. The UKGC works tirelessly to prevent criminals from profiting from online gambling.
3. Technical standards
Any form of betting for real money has its own set of risks. It is a game of chances, however for most players, that is what makes gambling exciting.
Technology has completely changed how the game operates. It has made gambling easier for the fraudsters in this industry to defraud the gamblers and to alter the results. To safeguard the interests of gamblers, all licenced UK casinos must comply with the technical standards and requirements of the UK gambling commission, but these standards should not be used as the sole measure of reliability, quality or security.
There are also a number of independent assessment bodies in the gambling industry that encourage online casinos to sign up and commit to various technical standards.
Independent agencies include:
- Ecogra
- GLI
- Technical systems testing
- The european sports security association
The agencies above all monitor casino websites, and reports are available to the public. Sometimes you can find these reports linked in the footer of casinos.
4. Alternative dispute resolution
The UKGC dispute resolution system has been set up to protect the rights of the gamblers and requires casinos to comply certain set of rules when dealing with complaints and to settle the disputes facilitated by a sovereign third party or any ADR facilitator.
The onus is on the casino to ensure that their dispute resolution procedures and requirements for handling the disputes are fair and transparent and must give players easy to understand and accessible information on the process of filing a complaint including timescales, contact details and arrangement for referring disputes to an ADR facilitator if the casino cannot effectively resolve a dispute within eight weeks.
Online casinos need to accept complains launched by a person, through the phone or email and provide customers with written confirmation when the complaints process has reached a conclusion.
The casinos are not allowed to set up unreasonable time limits for players to launch a complaint. They must provide information on how to quicken and refer a complaint to an ADR provider. They also need to issue feedbacks from the ADR facilitators not more than 10 days late.
Online gambling license – how to get it?
In previous articles we talked lots about social gambling , live dealer casinos and casino white labeling , but today we want to talk about a crucial component for any gambling business. We all know that lots of online gambling operators who work without a proper license and they get by pretty well. Some companies even make a living through legalizing sketchy gamblers, saving them some time and maintenance expenses, and basically giving them a fast-track ticket to the business. Looks like an easy way to accumulate some quick profit, but there are more disadvantages of going underground than you might think – some countries are very serious when it comes to illegal gambling (even online), so your dreams of wealth could easily end up in a jail cell. There is no need to risk working in the shadows when you can make this legal and easy, with certain countries even offering very liberal gambling jurisdictions.
Rules on getting a license
Getting an online gambling license has to be your priority as it’s a direct pass into the business. Nothing happens without a gaming license. You’ll need it to open bank and merchant accounts, work with electronic payment system providers and buy legal gaming content. Not to mention you’ll need a license for more effective marketing and increasing customer loyalty though the reputation of your casino. It’s actually easy to get a license if you play by the rules, so follow these steps before applying for a gaming license:
- Choose countries that meet your current needs and possibilities. Do research on gambling jurisdictions: their requirements, costs, taxation policy and application processing time. You can speed up research by consulting with a lawyer.
- Start preparing personal documents in advance. You’ll need a copy of your passport, proof of address, a criminal background check and a reference from your bank.
- Make sure your casino software meets jurisdiction requirements. Prepare a list that includes detailed descriptions of software functionality and games, agreements with software providers and a certificate of the RNG.
- Check if the online casino website contains information required by your gambling jurisdiction. Many gambling jurisdictions check for information on terms and conditions, responsible gambling, self-exclusion policy, withdrawal policy, etc.
Every country has different rules when it comes to gambling regulation. Gambling laws – much like all country laws in general – tend to vary from country to country. In many places, such as the UK, gambling is heavily regulated by both government and non-government organizations to ensure that people are safe from scams. Some countries are very strict on gambling laws, thus making operators turn to cheaper and less regulated jurisdictions. You should consider offshoring if you get caught in a situation where starting a gambling service in your home country is just too expensive and difficult. Getting an online gambling license abroad could be a lot easier and faster. However, each offshore area has its own rules and laws, and the cost of the gambling license may vary from several thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands. Before making the final choice, you need to consider all nuances of gambling jurisdictions. Here is a list of popular locations for offshoring your online casino.
Antigua and barbuda
Setting up a gambling service in this island country can be very costly. The application fee is $15,000 and the annual gaming license cost for obtaining an interactive gambling license is $100,000. On average, the application process takes up to 2 months. You can get two types of licenses: one for interactive gaming companies including online casinos, and the second one is for interactive wagering companies. Before opening an online casino you have to reserve of no less than $100,000. This will act as a form of security for your website players. The annual monitoring system fee is $25,000 per license. Plus, similar to health warnings on cigarette packages, it is obligatory to place a website banner warning users about compulsive gambling and about contacting organizations that can help them to deal with their addiction.
Curacao
Curacao is the fastest and cheapest solution to open an online casino. Getting a gambling license takes just 6 weeks. You can apply for a master license covering all game types, software providers, and product operators, or you can get a sublicense to work under the auspices of the master license. The application fee is just about €2,000; the monthly license support fee is €1,500. If your gambling business is registered in another country, you can apply for a special ezone permit to benefit from a low net corporate income tax rate of 2%, and a 0% tax rate on gross bets. Curacao is a good choice for businesses who want to open their online casino as soon as possible. They can get a fast curacao online gambling license while waiting for the approval of their application in another gambling jurisdiction.
Malta
An independent republic and a member of the european union, malta is a large and reputable gambling jurisdiction offering affordable rates. The gaming taxes in malta can vary depending on the class of your license. In general, online casino-style games require a class 1 license. In this case, the gaming taxes are €4,660 per month during the first six months, and then they rise to €7,000 per month. The minimum share capital required for a class 1 license is €100,000. The license application process is quite long because you need to go through five stages including several compliance audits. You’ll need to provide your personal and financial information and business plan with a detailed review of marketing strategies and growth targets.
Montenegro
Montenegro has been offering gambling licenses for online casinos, sports betting, poker games, etc. Since 2012. They have a special “all-in-one” service packet that includes all operational costs for opening and registering your business, getting a license and payment processing. The package fee is €25.000 for the first year and €15.000 for each successive year. Montenegro offers a fast and easy license application process. A new business can be registered just for two days, and there is practically no minimum capital requirement to form a limited liability company and get an online gambling license. Another advantage of the montenegro jurisdiction is a low 9% corporate and personal tax rate.
Isle of man
The isle of man is an independent self-governing island providing a stable environment for gambling businesses. The gambling supervision commission offers 3 levels of a gambling license: network services license, full license and sub-license. The full gaming license is a single license for your gaming business – the application fee is £5,000, the annual fee is £35,000. The licensing process takes 10-12 weeks. In order to gain a gambling license, the business should be registered in the isle of man and all related casino servers must also be hosted in the isle of man. The island offers an attractive 0% corporation tax rate, but you will need to pay the gambling duty – 0.1- 1.5% depending on the gross profit.
Panama
If you are looking to open an online casino in panama , you should know that the laws here allow operators to be exempt of all taxes – as long as the income comes from outside panama, there are no taxes, including income tax, sales tax or VAT. Offshore companies are also not subject to foreign exchange control, but operators must monitor game payouts and make sure that records of all transactions are available for inspection by the government. More than that, all operators must comply with international money laundering regulations. An online gambling license costs $40,000, and the additional annual fee costs $20,000. The license lasts for 7 years.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar has very good grounds for starting a gambling business. The cost of the license depends on the gambling type and the company structure – it may be between $30,000 and $70,000. The license is issued for 5 years with the annual extending cost around $2800. Seems like the gaming license is pretty expensive, but the main advantage of this jurisdiction is taxes. Gambling business tax is 1% from revenues. Moreover, tax can’t be higher than £425,000 and lower than £85,000 per year. This tax is very profitable and almost zero for huge companies with higher revenues.
What to choose?
Getting an online gambling license can be tricky if you lack understanding on how certain jurisdictions work. It’s very important to prepare in advance and get your paperwork ready before applying. Don‘t forget that your software, finances and reputation will also be under the scope, so make sure everything is clear – it‘s better to get ready in advance than waste time gathering documents and choosing countries. Every country is different when it comes to gambling laws; that‘s why your goal is to choose a state that meets your specific needs. Choosing a country with liberal gambling laws might be beneficial, because you‘ll likely save time and money on processing and maintaining a license.
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