Short answer
Antigua and Barbuda licenses online gambling through the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC), Division of Gaming under the Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations. The non-refundable application fee is US$15,000. License fees are indicated at about US$100,000 for interactive gaming and US$75,000 for interactive wagering, but may differ between initial issue and renewal — confirm with the FSRC. A 3% levy on relevant gaming revenue and a financial guarantee may also apply, and applicants must meet local presence and technical infrastructure requirements. Licenses renew annually. The license does not by itself allow operation in other jurisdictions.
Antigua and Barbuda at a glance
- Regulator
- FSRC Division of Gaming (also known as the Directorate of Offshore Gaming)
- Primary law
- Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations; Free Trade and Processing Zone Act 1994
- Licenses
- Interactive gaming (casino, poker, bingo) · interactive wagering (sports, racing, esports)
- Term
- Licenses renew annually under the applicable regime
- Local presence
- Local company, office and gaming infrastructure located in Antigua and Barbuda as the authority requires; actual server location to be confirmed during licensing
- Kahnawake cooperation
- Cooperation on hosting and supervision has existed (2010 MOU); its current applicability and conditions must be confirmed with both authorities
Is Antigua and Barbuda the right license for you?
A good fit when
- You are an experienced operator seeking a jurisdiction with a long regulatory history
- You plan to use inter-jurisdictional hosting arrangements, once their conditions are confirmed
Antigua and Barbuda license types
| License | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive gaming license | Online casino, poker, bingo | US$100,000 a year |
| Interactive wagering license | Online sports betting and racing | US$75,000 a year |
Antigua and Barbuda license costs and tax
| Charge | Amount | When | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | US$15,000 | On filing, non-refundable | |
| Initial license fee — interactive gaming | US$100,000 | On issue | Indicative; confirm with the FSRC |
| Annual renewal — interactive gaming | US$75,000–100,000 | Yearly | Some sources quote US$75,000; confirm |
| Initial license fee — interactive wagering | US$75,000 | On issue | Indicative; confirm with the FSRC |
| Annual renewal — interactive wagering | US$50,000–75,000 | Yearly | Some sources quote US$50,000; confirm |
| Monitoring-system fee | Not published | One-off, per some sources | Confirm with the FSRC |
| Levy on relevant gaming revenue | 3% | Periodic | Rate and base to be reconfirmed with the FSRC |
Figures are indicative and may differ between initial issue and renewal. Confirm the applicable fees directly with the FSRC before applying.
Tax
- Gaming levy
- Based on the information used here, a 3% levy may apply to relevant gaming revenue (GGR), calculated under the jurisdiction's rules. Reconfirm the rate and base with the FSRC for your activity.
- Corporate tax
- Tax regime for licensed companies, to be assessed for your structure
Legal framework
| Instrument | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations | Online licensing framework |
| Free Trade and Processing Zone Act 1994 | Original basis for offshore gaming licensing |
| Gambling Act 2016 | Created the Gambling Authority for land-based gaming |
Guarantees and financial resources
Besides license fees, an applicant may be required to post a financial guarantee in favor of the authority, on its terms. Licensing materials indicate a minimum of US$100,000, adjustable for risk.
A guarantee is not a non-refundable fee. Its amount, form and the conditions for keeping or drawing on it must be confirmed with the FSRC.
Local substance and eligibility
- Antigua and Barbuda company meeting the incorporation and administration requirements
- Local office and physical presence
- Technical infrastructure for the licensed activities; actual server location and hosting conditions to be confirmed during the licensing review
- Owners and key-function holders meeting integrity, reputation and competence requirements
Setting up the licensee: company formation for gambling licenses.
How to get a Antigua and Barbuda license
- Month 1
Incorporate and plan substance
Local company, office and hosting plan.
- Months 1–2
Prepare the application
Business plan, financial evidence, technical documentation, AML and RG policies.
- Month 2
Submit and pay
File with the FSRC and pay US$15,000.
- Months 2–4
Due diligence and technical review
Background checks, financial evaluation, platform review.
- Grant
Fees, guarantee and launch preparation
Pay the license fee, post any required guarantee and complete the conditions for starting operations; confirm the timeline with the FSRC.
Document checklist
Corporate
- Incorporation documents
- Ownership chart
People
- Background checks for owners and key persons
Finance and technical
- Audited statements and bank references
- Platform, software and security documentation
- AML and RG policies
After the license
Reporting
Financial and operational reports and material-change notices.
Audits
Regulator and external audits with system access.
AML/CFT
Maintain an AML/CFT system covering risk assessment, customer identification (KYC), transaction monitoring, record-keeping and suspicious-transaction reporting, as the rules require.
Renewal
Annual license renewal.
Antigua and Barbuda compared
| Antigua and Barbuda | Curaçao | Nevis | Kahnawake | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license fees | US$75,000–100,000 (indicative) | €47,450 B2C · €24,490 B2B | €28,000 | US$20,000 (CPA application US$35,000 in 2026) |
| Tax on GGR | 3% (to reconfirm) | 0% intl GGR | 0% foreign GGR | 0% stated KGC levy on GGR |
| Time to license | 3–4 months | 2–5 months | 8–12 weeks | 2–3 months |
| Local substance | Local company, office, servers | Seat, MD, office, MLRO, key persons | IBC/LLC, agent; B2C: Reporting and Compliance Officer | MIT hosting |
| Status | Offshore | Offshore (Kingdom of NL) | Offshore | Separate authorization regime (Kahnawake Gaming Commission) |
All jurisdictions side by side, with filters: compare gambling license jurisdictions. How we run an application: gambling consulting services.
Antigua and Barbuda gambling license — FAQs
How much does an Antigua gambling license cost?
US$15,000 to apply, then US$100,000 a year for interactive gaming or US$75,000 for interactive wagering, plus 3% of GGR and a security deposit. Confirm the current schedule with the FSRC.
Who regulates online gambling in Antigua?
The Financial Services Regulatory Commission, Division of Gaming.
Is Antigua and Barbuda a good choice for a new operator?
It depends on the project. Some offshore jurisdictions have lower license fees, but legal status, compliance requirements, financial-partner acceptance and the ability to operate in target markets must be assessed separately. Antigua and Barbuda can make sense for specific hosting or group-history reasons.
Sources
Information was reviewed against FSRC material and the interactive gaming and wagering regulations. Fee, guarantee and tax amounts need direct reconfirmation with the authority, including the split between initial and renewal fees.
Find out if Antigua and Barbuda fits before you pay a fee
We screen the ownership chain, check banking and payment fit for your markets, and price the full year-1 cost before anything is filed. Then we incorporate, prepare the dossier and handle the regulator through to go-live.
Book a Antigua and Barbuda license assessment