Gambling licence
A gambling licence is the regulatory authorisation to offer real-money games in a given jurisdiction. Without one, payment providers and game studios will not work with an operator.
Its practical function goes beyond legality. A licence is what makes the rest of the supply chain possible: acquirers underwrite against it, studios require it in their contracts, and affiliates check it before sending traffic.
Jurisdictions differ enormously in cost, timeline and which markets they are accepted in. Curaçao and Anjouan are common entry points for offshore operators; Malta and the UK carry far heavier requirements and correspondingly more credibility.
Which licence to hold is decided by target markets, not by price. A cheap licence that no payment provider in your market accepts is more expensive than an appropriate one. Costs and requirements by jurisdiction are compared on licensing.
Related terms
Launching a casino?
The platform side of these terms — catalogue, payments, back office — is on the white label page, and the commercial side is on the pricing page.