Cheapest overall
KM Anjouan
AOFA · Anjouan Gaming
- Year one
- €17,800
- Time to license
- A few weeks (no official time)
Entry
Testing a product in markets you have already checked
Guide →Short answer
The cheapest confirmed B2C license is Anjouan at €17,800 in year one, and it is also the fastest: a few weeks (no official time). The cheapest bank-friendly (Tier 1) option is Malta at €45,000, with a time to license of 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline). The cheapest EU license is Cyprus at €30,000 (betting only). For suppliers, Anjouan B2B costs €17,800 and Malta is the cheapest Tier 1 EU B2B license at €30,000.
At a glance
Fastest
KM Anjouan
AOFA · Anjouan Gaming
- Year one
- €17,800
- Time to license
- A few weeks (no official time)
Entry
Launching in weeks rather than months
Guide →Cheapest bank-friendly
MT Malta
MGA
- Year one
- €45,000
- Time to license
- 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline)
Tier 1
Tier 1 acquirers, EMIs and suppliers from day one
Guide →Cheapest EU
CY Cyprus · betting only
NBA
- Year one
- €30,000
- Time to license
- 3–6 months
Tier 2
An EU license with an EU regulator behind it
Guide →Best for B2B suppliers
MT Malta · B2B
MGA
- Year one
- €30,000
- Time to license
- 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline)
Tier 1
Studios, platforms and aggregators supplying regulated operators
Guide →Year-one cost vs time to license (B2C (casino or betting))
The ranking (B2C (casino or betting))
Sort by:
| Rank | Jurisdiction | Year one | Annual from year 2 | GGR tax | Time to license | Local substance | Acceptance | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TV TuvaluTGA | €15,200Exact: €15,233Indicative | €14,161 | None | 3–4 weeks | None | Entry | Guide |
| 2 | KM AnjouanAOFA · Anjouan Gaming | €17,800Exact: €17,828 | €17,828 | None | A few weeks (no official time) | None published | Entry | Guide Anjouan vs Curaçao |
| 3 | PA KunaisaKunaisa | €19,500Exact: €19,500Indicative | €19,500 | None | 6–10 weeks (estimate) | Non-Panama company; agent | Entry | Guide |
| 4 | KN NevisNOGA | €28,400Exact: €28,447 | €28,000 | None | 8–12 weeks | IBC/LLC, agent; B2C: Reporting and Compliance Officer | Entry | Guide |
| 5 | CY CyprusNBA · betting only | €30,000Exact: €30,000Plus guarantee or capital (not spent): €1,050,000 | €30,000 | 15% × net betting revenue from Cyprus (10% tax + 4% + 1% contributions) | 3–6 months | CY or registered foreign company, CY backup server, €550,000 guarantee | Tier 2 | Guide |
| 6 | EE EstoniaEMTA | €35,200Exact: €35,160Plus guarantee or capital (not spent): €130,000 | €0 | 5.5% × GGR from Estonia (2026; 5% in 2027, 4.5% in 2028, 4% in 2029) | 6–12 months | EE or EU company, €1m capital (games of chance) | Tier 2 | Guide |
| 7 | KGC KahnawakeKGC | €35,700Exact: €35,737 | €18,762 | None | 2–3 months | MIT hosting | Entry | Guide |
| 8 | CA TobiqueTGC | €43,000Exact: €43,000Indicative | €25,000 | None | 4–8 weeks | No mandatory local presence; Differentia Licensing Advisory Group (DLAG) due diligence | Entry | Guide |
| 9 | MT MaltaMGA | €45,000Exact: €45,000Plus guarantee or capital (not spent): €100,000 | €40,000 | 1.25% of the first €3m of revenue, then 1.00% / 0.85% / 0.70% / 0.55% / 0.40% by band; min €15,000, max €375,000 · 15% × GGR from players in Malta | 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline) | EU/EEA company (usually MT), key functions, system audit | Tier 1 | Guide Curaçao vs Malta Malta vs Romania (B2B) |
| 10 | IM Isle of ManGSC | €50,300Exact: €50,342 | €44,049 | 1.5% up to £20m · 0.5% from £20m to £40m · 0.1% above £40m of GGY | 10–12 weeks | 2 resident directors, Designated Official, IoM servers | Tier 1 | Guide |
| 11 | CW CuraçaoCGA | €52,000Exact: €52,042 | €47,450 | None | 22–30 weeks (statutory stages, LOK art. 5.1) | NV/BV seat, resident MD, office, compliance officers, key person | Tier 2 | Guide Anjouan vs Curaçao Curaçao vs Malta |
| 12 | ON OntarioAGCO | €63,400Exact: €63,351Indicative | €63,351 | ≈ 20% × Ontario AGGR (contractual share, not a tax) | 4–9 months | AGCO registration + iGO agreement | Tier 1 | Guide |
| 13 | AG Antigua and BarbudaFSRC | €80,400Exact: €80,407Unverified | €44,671 | 3% × GGR (rate and base to reconfirm) | 3–4 months | Local company, office, servers | Entry | Guide |
| 14 | AB AlbertaAGLC | €126,700Exact: €126,703 | €95,027 | 3% × Alberta GGR (2% First Nations, 1% social responsibility) · 20% × (Alberta GGR − 3% set-aside) = 19.4% of GGR | 4–6 months | AGLC registration + AiGC agreement | Tier 1 | Guide |
| 15 | RO RomaniaONJN | €1,294,000Exact: €1,294,000Plus guarantee or capital (not spent): €5,000,000 | €1,280,000 | max(30% × Romanian GGR, €480,000) | 6–9 months B2C · 2–3 months B2B | B2C: Romanian entity or PE · B2B: none required | Tier 1 | Guide Malta vs Romania (B2B) |
Rounded to €100; the exact figure is under each value. Guarantees and capital are listed separately, GGR taxes in their own column and never added. GBP, USD and CAD at ECB reference rates of 9 November 2026.
Year-one government cost (B2C (casino or betting))
Data table
| Jurisdiction | Year one | Time to license | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuvalu | €15,233 | 3–4 weeks | Entry |
| Anjouan | €17,828 | A few weeks (no official time) | Entry |
| Kunaisa | €19,500 | 6–10 weeks (estimate) | Entry |
| Nevis | €28,447 | 8–12 weeks | Entry |
| Cyprus | €30,000 | 3–6 months | Tier 2 |
| Estonia | €35,160 | 6–12 months | Tier 2 |
| Kahnawake | €35,737 | 2–3 months | Entry |
| Tobique | €43,000 | 4–8 weeks | Entry |
| Malta | €45,000 | 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline) | Tier 1 |
| Isle of Man | €50,342 | 10–12 weeks | Tier 1 |
| Curaçao | €52,042 | 22–30 weeks (statutory stages, LOK art. 5.1) | Tier 2 |
| Ontario | €63,351 | 4–9 months | Tier 1 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | €80,407 | 3–4 months | Entry |
| Alberta | €126,703 | 4–6 months | Tier 1 |
| Romania | €1,294,000 | 6–9 months B2C · 2–3 months B2B | Tier 1 |
Cost depends on revenue
These regimes charge mainly on revenue, so a fixed-fee ranking would mislead. Minimum government cost in year one and the tax:
- Peru: €200 (Year one) · 12% × (net revenue − 2% maintenance deduction) = 11.76% of net revenue · 4–5 months
- United Kingdom: €15,500 (Year one) · 15% × UK betting profits (25% for certain remote betting from 1 April 2027) · 1.1% × UK GGY (top of the 0.1%–1.1% range) · 16 weeks–6 months
- Bulgaria: €25,600 (Year one) · 2–3 months
- Gibraltar: €95,900 (Year one) · 0.15% of gross profit above the first £100,000 · 3–6 months
- Colombia: €391,800 (Year one) · 15% × (gross revenue − prizes paid), where payout ≥ 83%; otherwise at least 17% · Up to 1% of the rights (≈ 0.15% of GGR) · 16% × Colombian GGR (stakes − prizes paid) · 4–6 months
Year-one cost vs time to license (B2B (suppliers))
The ranking (B2B (suppliers))
Sort by:
| Rank | Jurisdiction | Year one | Annual from year 2 | GGR tax | Time to license | Local substance | Acceptance | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AB AlbertaAGLC | €9,500Exact: €9,503 | €9,503 | None | 4–6 months | AGLC registration + AiGC agreement | Tier 1 | Guide |
| 2 | TV TuvaluTGA | €15,200Exact: €15,233Indicative | €14,161 | None | 3–4 weeks | None | Entry | Guide |
| 3 | KM AnjouanAOFA · Anjouan Gaming | €17,800Exact: €17,828 | €17,828 | None | A few weeks (no official time) | None published | Entry | Guide Anjouan vs Curaçao |
| 4 | KN NevisNOGA | €28,400Exact: €28,447 | €28,000 | None | 8–12 weeks | IBC/LLC, agent; B2C: Reporting and Compliance Officer | Entry | Guide |
| 5 | CW CuraçaoCGA | €29,100Exact: €29,082 | €24,490 | None | 22–30 weeks (statutory stages, LOK art. 5.1) | NV/BV seat, resident MD, office, compliance officers, key person | Tier 2 | Guide Anjouan vs Curaçao Curaçao vs Malta |
| 6 | MT MaltaMGA | €30,000Exact: €30,000Plus guarantee or capital (not spent): €40,000 | €25,000 | None | 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline) | EU/EEA company (usually MT), key functions, system audit | Tier 1 | Guide Curaçao vs Malta Malta vs Romania (B2B) |
| 7 | RO RomaniaONJN | €45,500Exact: €45,500 | €35,000 | None | 6–9 months B2C · 2–3 months B2B | B2C: Romanian entity or PE · B2B: none required | Tier 1 | Guide Malta vs Romania (B2B) |
| 8 | IM Isle of ManGSC | €50,300Exact: €50,342 | €44,049 | None | 10–12 weeks | 2 resident directors, Designated Official, IoM servers | Tier 1 | Guide |
Rounded to €100; the exact figure is under each value. Guarantees and capital are listed separately, GGR taxes in their own column and never added. GBP, USD and CAD at ECB reference rates of 9 November 2026.
Year-one government cost (B2B (suppliers))
Data table
| Jurisdiction | Year one | Time to license | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | €9,503 | 4–6 months | Tier 1 |
| Tuvalu | €15,233 | 3–4 weeks | Entry |
| Anjouan | €17,828 | A few weeks (no official time) | Entry |
| Nevis | €28,447 | 8–12 weeks | Entry |
| Curaçao | €29,082 | 22–30 weeks (statutory stages, LOK art. 5.1) | Tier 2 |
| Malta | €30,000 | 4–6 months (typical practice; no MGA timeline) | Tier 1 |
| Romania | €45,500 | 6–9 months B2C · 2–3 months B2B | Tier 1 |
| Isle of Man | €50,342 | 10–12 weeks | Tier 1 |
Cost depends on revenue
These regimes charge mainly on revenue, so a fixed-fee ranking would mislead. Minimum government cost in year one and the tax:
- United Kingdom: €18,100 (Year one) · 16 weeks–6 months
- Gibraltar: €36,000 (Year one) · 3–6 months
Not available now
- Finland: coming 2027. The market opens 1 July 2027; applications are being processed now.
- Canada (federal): no federal license; provinces regulate (see Ontario and Alberta).
- Brazil: closed to new applications under MP 1.394/2026.
- Chile: no online license in force; legislation pending.
- Costa Rica: no comparable iGaming license; a company or commercial permit is not a gambling license.
Which license fits you?
Best by use case
Startup testing the market
Start with the cheapest license that lets you serve the markets you have already checked, keep capital for product and marketing, and plan the upgrade. Anjouan and Nevis lead on cost and speed; Curaçao costs more but has wider payment acceptance. Read our startup guide to the cheapest gambling license for five options in detail, and calculate the cost for your GGR.
Crypto-first casino
Crypto does not remove AML, KYC or market restrictions. Anjouan lists crypto-enabled gaming under its single B2C license; Curaçao phases in crypto controls until June 2027; the Isle of Man allows virtual-currency accounts after an AML assessment. Compare Anjouan vs Curaçao before choosing.
EU-facing operator
An EU license is not an EU passport: each regulated market licenses separately. Malta (€45,000 for casino in year one) is the usual hub; Estonia starts at €35,200; Cyprus (€30,000) covers betting only; Romania Class 1 is for the Romanian market itself (€1,294,000 in year one). See Curaçao vs Malta.
B2B game studio or platform
Suppliers rarely need an operator license. Romania Class 2 (€45,500 in year one, no GGR tax, no guarantee) is the supplier license for the Romanian market and is recognized by Malta; Malta B2B is the other EU route; Anjouan and Curaçao (€29,100) cover offshore operators. See Malta vs Romania for B2B.
Payment provider
Payment processors need their own payment license (EMI or PI) and, in several markets, a gambling supplier license too. Romania Class 2 has a payment-processing category; the United Kingdom and Malta rely on the operator's license and the PSP's financial license. Check card-scheme rules for each regime before onboarding merchants.
Affiliate
Most regimes do not license affiliates. Romania Class 2 includes an affiliate category for marketing to Romanian players, and Ontario registers affiliates as gaming-related suppliers. Elsewhere, compliance follows the operators you promote: check their licenses and the advertising rules of each market.
Operator needing top-tier banking
Pick from the Tier 1 group: Malta, Isle of Man (€50,300), United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Ontario, Alberta and Romania. Year-one cost is higher and substance is real, but EU card acquiring and mainstream EMIs are open. Budget the full first year with the cost calculator.
Banking acceptance explained
Tier 1: banks, acquirers and Tier 1 suppliers generally accept licensees from this regime. Tier 2: specialist gambling PSPs and EMIs accept, often with extra due diligence. Entry: few providers onboard; expect long reviews, reserves or crypto-only payments. The tier is a comparative indicator, not a guarantee: providers decide case by case on markets, ownership and volumes.
Separate ratings for EU EMI accounts, high-risk PSPs and crypto payments are being reviewed and will appear here and on the jurisdiction register once approved.
Cheapest is not total cost
The ranking counts government fees only. A real first year adds company formation, local directors or key persons, office and hosting, platform and RNG testing, audits, payment reserves and professional fees. Guarantees and capital (Romania, Malta, Estonia) are money tied up, not spent, but you must have them. Each guide has a year-one total; for your own GGR, markets and product, calculate the full cost.
How we ranked
- Year-one government cost = one-off fees + year-one annual fees, from the calculator data file, per product. Minimum charges count; GGR is set to zero. B2C ranks the cheaper of casino or betting; B2B ranks supplier licenses.
- Guarantees and capital are shown separately (money tied up, not spent). GGR taxes are in their own column and are not added.
- GBP, USD and CAD are converted at the data file's ECB reference rates of 9 November 2026 (€1 = £0.8343 = US$1.1193 = C$1.5785). Ranking values are rounded to €100; the exact figure is in each row.
- Sort: year-one cost ascending; ties broken by time to license.
- Banking: the acceptance tier; banking ratings will be added once approved.
- Not ranked: regimes not licensable now, and regimes whose cost depends mainly on revenue (shown separately with minimums and tax).
- Estimated, indicative or unverified figures keep their badge and stay in the ranking.
Reviewed 11 November 2026 · data version 2026.11.11 · FX 9 November 2026 · How we verify figures
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest gambling license in 2026?
Anjouan, at €17,800 in year one, is the cheapest license with a confirmed fee schedule. Tuvalu shows a lower figure (€15,200) but it is not confirmed against a regulator fee schedule.
What is the fastest gambling license?
Anjouan: a few weeks (no official time). Timelines run from a complete file and are not guaranteed.
What is the cheapest EU gambling license?
Cyprus, at €30,000 in year one (betting only). For an online casino, Malta starts at €45,000 in year one, plus €100,000 share capital.
Is Anjouan cheaper than Curaçao?
Yes. Anjouan costs €17,800 in year one; Curaçao costs €52,000 for B2C and €29,100 for B2B. Curaçao requires real local substance and has wider payment acceptance (Tier 2 against Entry).
Which gambling license do banks accept?
Banks and EU card acquirers generally accept Tier 1 regimes: Malta, the Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Romania, Ontario and Alberta. Curaçao is Tier 2: specialist PSPs accept it. Entry regimes such as Anjouan and Nevis have the fewest options.
What is the cheapest B2B gambling license?
Anjouan B2B, at €17,800 in year one. The cheapest Tier 1 EU supplier license is Malta at €30,000; Romania Class 2 costs €45,500 in year one, with no GGR tax and no guarantee.
Can I upgrade a cheap license later?
Not by upgrading: moving to another regime is a new application with new due diligence, technical testing and often a new company. Many operators add a second license rather than switching.
Do offshore licenses pay GGR tax?
Anjouan, Nevis, Tuvalu, Kunaisa, Kahnawà:ke, Tobique and Curaçao charge flat fees with no GGR tax. Antigua and Barbuda charges a tax on GGR. Corporate tax where the company is based still applies.
What is the best gambling license in 2026?
It depends on where your players are and how you will take payments. For banking and suppliers, a Tier 1 license (Malta, Isle of Man) is best; for a low-budget launch in markets already checked, Anjouan or Nevis; for a balance of cost and acceptance, Curaçao.
What is the cheapest online casino license?
Anjouan at €17,800 in year one; it covers casino and betting under one license. Among Tier 1 regimes, Malta is the cheapest at €45,000.
Reviewed by Alex Szilaghi
Licensing gambling businesses since 2004; over 580 licenses obtained in multiple jurisdictions.
Last legal review . Government fees as published by each regulator; calculator data version 2026.11.11. General information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Romania: OUG 77/2009 Annex, as replaced by OUG 82/2023
- Romania: OUG 77/2009 Annex pt. 1.I.J, as replaced by OUG 82/2023
- Malta: S.L. 583.03
- Malta: MGA Capital Requirements Policy (May 2025)
- United Kingdom: SI 2026/828, Schedule 4
- United Kingdom: Finance Act 2026 (Remote Gaming Duty)
- United Kingdom: HMRC General Betting Duty
- Isle of Man: GSC OGRA fee schedule (October 2025)
- Isle of Man: Isle of Man gambling duty, standard bands
- Gibraltar: Gambling Act 2025; LN.2026/065
- Bulgaria: Gambling Act; BGN 20,000 at the fixed euro rate
- Bulgaria: Gambling Act
- Cyprus: NBA fee regulations
- Cyprus: Betting Law art. 71; NBA Directive 14.2025.v2
- Cyprus: NBA FAQ; at least €550,000
- Estonia: State Fees Act §260
- Estonia: Gambling Tax Act §6
- Curaçao: LOK art. 5.18; art. 6.1(2)
- Anjouan: Anjouan Gaming fee page (1 April 2026)
- Anjouan: Regulator fee (not on the public fee page); License Conditions §14
- Nevis: Nevis Online Gaming Ordinance 2025; SRO No. 5 of 2025
- Tuvalu: No official fee schedule; adviser sources
- Antigua and Barbuda: FSRC (to confirm)
- Kahnawake: KGC notice, 13 August 2026 (US$40,000 from 1 January 2027)
- Kahnawake: KGC notice, 22 April 2025
- Tobique: Commercial quote (paid to DLAG); no official fee schedule
- Kunaisa: Standard agent quote, August 2026
- Ontario: AGCO fee schedule
- Ontario: iGO operating agreement
- Alberta: AGLC fee schedule
- Alberta: AiGC commercial agreement; Government of Alberta iGaming strategy
- Peru: MINCETUR TUPA (2026 item to confirm)
- Peru: Law 31557, as amended by Law 31806
- Colombia: Coljuegos concession contract and regulations
- Colombia: Decree 0240 of 2026
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