An online casino licence determines the legal framework under which an operator works and the requirements it must meet. However, there is no universal licence that automatically permits operation in every country. For one project, the key requirement may be a national authorisation for a specific market; for another, an international structure; while under a White Label model, some regulated functions may be handled by the provider.
If you are simply checking a particular casino, the main thing is to understand who the operator is, which regulator is listed, and whether the authorisation is actually valid. If the issue is launching your own project, the order is different: first define the target countries, business model, and launch method, and only then choose the appropriate licensing structure.
This material was updated in August 2026. Licensing rules change, so before submitting documents or entering a new market, you should verify the requirements with the official regulator and obtain legal advice for the specific project.
If you need a short answer
If you are a player: the presence of a regulator’s logo on a website proves nothing by itself. Check the legal entity, licence number, and licence status in the official register. A step-by-step guide is provided below.
If you are planning your own online casino: do not start with the question “where can I buy a licence?” First determine which countries the project will target, whether you need your own licence or a White Label model is suitable, and which payment methods and games must be available. Only then does it make sense to compare jurisdictions.
What is an online casino licence?
A gambling licence is an authorisation for a specific type of activity under a particular legal framework. The regulator sets the conditions that a company must meet before receiving the licence and continue to comply with after launch.
This means that it is not merely the website that is licensed. Depending on the jurisdiction, the review may cover the company and its owners, source of funds, business model, software, payment processes, user protection, identity verification and anti-money-laundering procedures, internal policies, and reporting.
Another important principle is that a licence issued by one country does not override the requirements of another. If working with users in a particular market requires a local authorisation, a foreign licence does not replace it.
B2C and B2B licences: a simple explanation
More than one company is usually involved in a single online casino. One may work directly with users, while another may provide the platform, back office, gaming solutions, or other software. This is why regulation distinguishes between two different types of activity.
- B2C — the company provides a gambling service to the end user.
- B2B — the company supplies technology or another regulated component to another business.
For example, the Malta Gaming Authority distinguishes between a Gaming Service Licence for B2C activities and a Critical Gaming Supply Licence for B2B suppliers. The current Curaçao system also provides separate licences for online gaming operators and suppliers of certain gaming solutions.
For an ordinary user, this distinction is usually not particularly important. For someone creating their own gaming project or technology product, however, it is fundamental: the first step is to understand exactly what role the company will perform.
Own licence or White Label
A project can be launched not only under its own operator licence. The market also offers the White Label model, in which a brand uses the provider’s ready-made infrastructure and licensing framework to the extent that such a model is permitted in the chosen market.
Own licence
Having its own licence usually gives the project owner greater independence. At the same time, more obligations remain on its side: corporate structure, owners’ documents, proof of funding, compliance with regulatory requirements, reporting, technical readiness, and ongoing compliance after launch.
White Label
Under a White Label model, some technological and operational processes are already organised by the provider. Depending on the specific arrangement, this may simplify market entry and reduce the amount of infrastructure the owner has to build independently.
However, White Label is not a way to “bypass licensing.” Whether such a model can be used depends on the target countries, legislation, the terms of the licence holder, payment partners, and other project participants.
If the question is not only about licensing but also about how to launch an online casino and how White Label differs from Turnkey, it is better to consider this separately together with the platform, payments, games, and operational side.
A licence is only one part of the launch. GEO, the launch model, platform, payments, games, KYC, and operations need to work as one system.
How to choose a licence for an online casino
Choosing a jurisdiction solely by price or by how well known the regulator is is a poor starting point. For an initial assessment, it is enough to answer four questions.
1. Which countries will the users be in?
This is the main question. Some markets require their own national licence. Therefore, the first step is to make a list of target countries and check the rules of each one.
2. Who will work with the user?
If the company itself accepts players and manages the gaming service, this is an operator model. If the business supplies a platform, games, or another technological component to operators, the requirements may be different.
3. Which payment methods and games does the project need?
The licence must be compatible not only with the law but also with the real infrastructure. Banks, payment services, game providers, and aggregators may impose their own requirements regarding the jurisdiction and type of project.
4. Is an own licence actually necessary?
If the goal is to test a new business model quickly, a White Label option is sometimes considered. If a more independent long-term project is required, an own structure is more often evaluated. The decision should be made after checking the GEO, not instead of doing so.
Main online casino licences and jurisdictions
Below are several regulatory regimes that are frequently discussed in connection with online casinos. They should not be treated as a ranking from the “best” licence to the “worst”: they operate under different legal systems and serve different purposes.
| Regulator / regime | Context in which it is considered | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| PlayCity, Ukraine | Online casino activity in the Ukrainian market | National regulation applies to the Ukrainian market |
| UK Gambling Commission | Working with consumers in Great Britain | This is a specific British regulatory regime, not a universal international licence |
| Malta Gaming Authority | B2C gaming services and B2B critical gaming supply | The type of activity and the rules of the target market must be taken into account |
| Curaçao Gaming Authority / LOK | Online gaming and certain B2B supplier activities in or from Curaçao | The new system differs from the old master/sublicence model |
| Anjouan | International offshore model with B2C and B2B categories | Applicability to specific GEOs, payment methods, and suppliers must be checked separately |
PlayCity — online casino licensing in Ukraine
In 2026, state regulation of gambling in Ukraine is handled by the State Agency of Ukraine PlayCity — PlayCity. The agency issues and terminates licences, and one of the regulated activities is the organisation and operation of casino gambling on the Internet.
If a project targets the Ukrainian market and its activity falls under the requirements of Ukrainian law, the national licensing model becomes the starting point. A foreign authorisation does not replace a Ukrainian licence where the latter is mandatory.
Older materials about Ukraine may still refer to KRAIL. This was the previous regulator. For up-to-date checks of decisions and licences, PlayCity information should be used.
UK Gambling Commission
The UK Gambling Commission regulates gambling activities that fall under the laws of Great Britain. Providing gambling facilities to players in England, Wales, and Scotland requires the appropriate operating licence.
Therefore, it is more accurate to view the UKGC not as an abstract “strongest licence,” but as a specific regulatory regime for the British market. When considering an application, the regulator assesses the company, its owners, funding, and other elements of the business, while remote operators are subject to additional requirements relating to their technical and operational model.
Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority distinguishes between operators and technology suppliers. A Gaming Service Licence is used for B2C gaming services, while a Critical Gaming Supply Licence applies to certain critical B2B supplies.
Therefore, the statement “the casino has an MGA licence” gives an incomplete picture by itself. You need to check to whom it was issued, what type of activity it authorises, and whether it applies to the specific service.
An MGA licence is also not an automatic permission to operate in every European country: the rules of each specific target market must be checked separately.
Curaçao Gaming Authority and the LOK system
Curaçao operates a licensing system under the National Ordinance on Games of Chance — LOK. The Curaçao Gaming Authority accepts applications directly through its own licensing portal.
The system provides an online gaming licence for operators and a supplier licence for certain suppliers of critical gaming goods and services, such as game software or sportsbook solutions.
This is important because there is still a large amount of online material about the previous master licence and sublicence system. A new project should be guided by the current CGA and LOK requirements rather than the old structure.
Like any other foreign licence, a Curaçao authorisation does not provide automatic access to markets where a separate national licence is required.
Anjouan
Anjouan Gaming operates a separate Internet Gaming Licences regime, including B2C and B2B categories, and a public register that can be used to check the current status of an issued authorisation.
For a business, this alone is not enough to automatically consider such a licence suitable. Before choosing a structure, it is necessary to check whether it is permitted for the specific target countries, whether the required payment partners and game suppliers are willing to work with it, and whether a separate local authorisation is required.
Therefore, it is incorrect to assess Anjouan solely as a “fast and cheap option.” The practical applicability of the licence is more important than the speed of obtaining it.
Which documents are usually required to obtain a licence?
Each regulator has its own list, so there is no single document package for all countries. However, most requirements can be divided into several clear groups.
Company and owners
Company registration documents, ownership structure, information about ultimate beneficial owners, directors, and other key persons.
Funding
Proof of the source of funds, information about project financing, and, in some regimes, financial forecasts and information about the company’s ability to meet its obligations.
Business model
A description of the product, target markets, project structure, suppliers, and processes related to users and financial transactions.
Technology and security
The regulator may request a description of the platform, systems, software, technology suppliers, testing, and certification.
Policies and procedures
These include KYC and AML, responsible gambling, user protection, internal rules, payment procedures, user terms, and other documents required by the specific jurisdiction.
Obtaining a licence is therefore not the purchase of a ready-made certificate, but a review of the company and its operating model.
How much does an online casino licence cost and how long does it take to obtain?
There is no universal price or universal timeframe. Even if a regulator publishes a fixed licensing fee, that is not the full cost of the project.
Expenses may include company registration and maintenance, government fees, legal support, owner checks, technical audit or certification, document preparation, ongoing compliance, and other mandatory elements.
The timeframe depends on the jurisdiction, the completeness of the documents, and the project’s readiness. If the company, owners, source of funding, or technical structure have not yet been defined, a significant part of the work takes place before the application is even submitted.
Therefore, it is more accurate to compare not the “cost of the licence,” but the total cost of the legal structure and its ongoing maintenance for the required market.
Which licence is required for a crypto casino?
There is no separate universal “crypto licence” that resolves every issue. If an online casino accepts digital assets, this does not remove the basic requirements applicable to gambling activity.
It is also necessary to check whether the chosen structure permits the required payment model, what KYC and AML requirements apply, how cryptocurrency transactions are handled, which markets are accessible, and whether the necessary payment and gaming partners are willing to work with the project.
If the task is no longer choosing a licence but launching the product itself, a separate LuckAtlas guide explains the full process of creating an online casino — from the idea and launch model to the platform, payments, and games.
How to check an online casino licence
If you are checking an existing casino, do not rely only on the regulator’s logo or the text in the footer. It is more reliable to follow several steps.
- Find the legal entity. It is usually listed in the Terms, Privacy Policy, Responsible Gaming section, or at the bottom of the website.
- Find the licence number and the name of the regulator.
- Open the regulator’s official website. Use its register, licence database, or published decision.
- Verify the legal name. It should match the operator claiming the licence.
- Check the status. The licence may be active, suspended, terminated, or have another status.
- Check the type of authorisation. Not every B2B licence means that the company has the right to work directly with players.
- If the regulator publishes domains or brands, verify those as well.
For verification, use primary sources: PlayCity, UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Curaçao Gaming Authority, or the official register of the relevant jurisdiction.
If the information on the casino website does not match the official source, the claimed status should not be considered confirmed until the reason for the discrepancy has been clarified.
Which online casino licence is best?
There is no single “best licence” for every project. The right question is whether a specific regime is suitable for the required market and the specific business model.
For a project targeting the Ukrainian market, the requirements of Ukraine should be checked first. For working with consumers in Great Britain, the British regime applies. A B2B supplier needs to determine whether a separate authorisation for technology activities is required. International structures are assessed in relation to the countries, payment partners, and suppliers the project intends to work with.
For this reason, ranking licences as “first, second, third” is of little practical value. The same licence may suit one project and be practically useless for another.
Five common mistakes when choosing a licence
- Choosing only by price. A cheap structure will not help if it is unsuitable for the required market.
- Choosing the licence before the GEO. The market is determined first, then the legal model.
- Treating a foreign licence as universal. Many countries require a separate local authorisation.
- Failing to check payment services and game suppliers. A legally structured project may still find that the required services are unwilling to onboard it.
- Forgetting about requirements after the licence is issued. Reporting, KYC/AML, responsible gambling, and other obligations continue after launch.
A licence is only one part of the launch
If the goal is simply to understand licences or check a particular casino, the information above is sufficient. But for your own project, the licence is only one part of the overall structure.
After choosing the legal model, you need to decide how the platform itself will be structured, where the gaming content will come from, how payments will be connected, and who will handle user verification, support, and the project’s day-to-day operations.
LuckAtlas covers these issues separately so that the licensing material is not overloaded with technical details: how to create an online casino from scratch — White Label, Turnkey, and the main launch stages →
If the task is no longer choosing a licence but launching the project, the next step is to combine the legal model, platform, payments, content, and operational processes into one launch plan.
Frequently asked questions
Which licence is required for an online casino?
It depends on the target countries, the company’s role, and the launch model. An operator may require a B2C authorisation, a technology supplier may need a separate B2B licence, while White Label operates within a different legal structure. First define the GEO and business model, then choose the licence.
Can one licence be used in every country?
No. A licence from one jurisdiction does not override the requirements of other countries. If the target market requires its own authorisation, it must be obtained separately.
How does a B2C licence differ from a B2B licence?
B2C relates to activities involving end users. B2B may regulate the supply of a platform, software, games, or other critical solutions to another business.
Can you open a casino through White Label without your own licence?
This model exists, but its applicability depends on the provider’s licence and the laws of the target market. White Label does not provide an automatic right to operate in every country.
Which licence is required for a crypto casino?
There is no universal standalone “crypto licence.” Gambling rules, digital asset requirements, KYC/AML, payment partners, and target markets must all be taken into account at the same time.
How much does an online casino licence cost?
The cost depends on the jurisdiction and type of activity. In addition to government fees, expenses may include a company, legal support, checks, certification, technical preparation, and ongoing compliance. Therefore, it is not appropriate to give a single total cost without a specific GEO.
How long does it take to obtain a licence?
The timeframe depends on the regulator, completeness of the documents, corporate structure, owner checks, funding, and technical readiness. If the company and project model have not yet been prepared, a significant amount of time will be spent before the application stage.
How can you check whether a casino licence is valid?
Find the legal entity and authorisation number, then check them in the regulator’s official register or decision. Verify the status, type of licence, and associated domains or brands if the regulator publishes this information.
LuckAtlas materials are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Licensing requirements and the permissibility of a specific business model must be checked separately for each market.