Licensing Guide · 2026
iGaming licence in 2026: how to choose a jurisdiction
There is no single best iGaming licence (or license, in US spelling). There are two kinds: point-of-supply licences from hubs such as Malta, the Isle of Man or Curaçao, and local licences issued where the players are, from Great Britain to Ontario. The right choice starts with the markets you want to serve, then works back to the licence that lets you serve them. Both lists changed in 2026: Georgia moved its international licence from pilot to full rollout at the end of September, Finland received 75 applications by 22 September for a market that opens on 1 July 2027, and Brazil closed its licensed betting market by provisional measure on 25 September.
The short version
- A point-of-supply licence covers where you operate from; a local licence covers where your players are.
- Markets with their own regime require their own licence; a hub licence does not override local law.
- Hubs differ most on substance: local companies, directors, key people and servers.
- Curaçao now licenses under the LOK, in force since 24 December 2024; the old sub-licence system is gone.
- A white label lets you launch on a licence that is already live while you apply for your own.
Two kinds of licence: point of supply and local
A point-of-supply licence is issued where your company and systems are. It lets you serve players in markets that do not run their own licensing regime, within the limits of each market’s law. A local licence is issued by the market where your players live and is the only way to serve that market once it regulates.
| Point of supply | Local | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The hub where you operate from | The country or province of the players |
| Examples | Malta, Isle of Man, Curaçao, Gibraltar, Georgia | Great Britain, Ontario, Netherlands, Finland from 2027 |
| Covers | Markets without their own regime, subject to local law | That market only |
| Typical use | International launch, B2B supply | Entering a regulated market |
Most established groups hold both: a hub licence for international supply and local licences for their largest regulated markets. Our iGaming markets overview shows how requirements differ by region.
International hubs compared
| Hub | Regulator and licences | Substance and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | MGA: Gaming Service Licence (B2C) and Critical Gaming Supply Licence (B2B), issued for ten years | Key function holders approved by the MGA; gaming tax and VAT changes took effect on 1 October 2026 |
| Isle of Man | Gambling Supervision Commission: Full, Network, Sub-licence and Software Supplier licences | Manx company, two local directors, a resident designated official, player registration on island servers; decision typically 10 to 16 weeks |
| Curaçao | Curaçao Gaming Authority under the LOK, in force since 24 December 2024; B2C and B2B licences | Old sub-licence system ended in 2025; enforcement of local substance rules postponed to 1 April 2027 |
| Gibraltar | Gambling Act 2025, in force since 1 October 2025: separate B2C, B2B and operator support services licences | Real economic substance in Gibraltar and approved senior staff |
| Kahnawake | Kahnawake Gaming Commission: Client Provider Authorizations and Key Person Permits | Hosting at Mohawk Internet Technologies in Kahnawà:ke |
| Anjouan | Licensing under the Computer Gaming Licensing Act of 2005 | In June 2026 the regulator stated its licence is not a universal authorisation and does not override local laws |
| Estonia | Tax and Customs Board: activity licence plus operating permit | Estonian or EU company; statutory decision within four months for the activity licence and two for the permit |
| Georgia | International licence regulated by Random Systems Georgia; five-year term | International players only, Georgian citizens excluded; remote onboarding; pilot from July 2026, full rollout end of September 2026 |
We covered the latest changes in Malta’s gaming tax and VAT changes, Curaçao’s onboarding rules and Georgia’s international licence.
Local licences: what changed in 2026
- Great Britain: from 19 January 2026, bonus wagering is capped at 10 times and bonuses mixing product types are banned; online slot stake limits have applied since April 2025.
- Netherlands: on 17 September 2026 the regulator granted the first eight follow-up online licences, running from October 2026 to September 2031.
- Finland: applications opened on 1 March 2026 and 75 had arrived by 22 September; the market opens on 1 July 2027, with software supplier licences from July 2027. See Finland’s 75 licence bids.
- Ireland: the new regulator began licensing in 2026 after the commencement order of 5 February, starting with betting; remote casino and B2B licences follow in a later phase.
- Ontario: the AGCO registers operators and gaming-related suppliers, and iGaming Ontario holds the operating agreements.
- Brazil: the federal licences that started in 2025 were cancelled by Provisional Measure 1.394 of 25 September 2026, which banned fixed-odds betting. A provisional measure lasts 60 days, extendable once by 60, unless Congress approves it. See our report.
How to choose: six factors
- Target markets: list where you will take players, then check which of them require a local licence. That answer decides most of the rest.
- B2C or B2B: operators need B2C licences; suppliers increasingly need B2B licences or registrations in the markets they serve.
- Substance and people: local companies, resident directors, approved key function holders.
- Technical requirements: server location, game certification per market and security audits. Our game certification guide explains the certificate side.
- Banking: payment providers underwrite the operator against its licence, so the licence shapes which methods you can offer. See our iGaming payments guide.
- Timeline: official decision periods range from weeks to months, for example 10 to 16 weeks in the Isle of Man once an application is accepted.
When a white label makes more sense
Applying for a licence and building the compliance team behind it takes months. A white label casino runs your brand on a licence and platform that are already live, so you can test a market first. The trade-off is control: the licence holder sets the structure, payments and terms. Plan the move to your own licence from the start, including what player data and history you can take with you. The full comparison is in white label vs turnkey vs self-service.
Sources: Legal500, Malta gambling law (2026); Isle of Man GSC (2026); Curaçao Gaming Authority (2026); AGB (23 January 2026); iGaming Business (6 October 2025); Kahnawake Gaming Commission (2026); Focus Gaming News (10 June 2026); Estonian Tax and Customs Board (2026); Yogonet (1 October 2026); European Gaming (25 September 2026); Gaming.net (17 September 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Launch on a licence that is already live
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