Side by side
Formation requirements compared
Usual vehicle, minimum capital, local requirement, corporate tax and time to incorporate. Indicative; each page has the detail and sources.
Reviewed 9 October 2026
| Jurisdiction | Usual vehicle | Minimum capital | Local requirement | Corporate tax | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | IBC | None published | Agent only | 0% (IBC) | ≈ 1 week |
| Nevis | Corporation or LLC | None | Agent + Reporting Officer | 0% if non-resident | A few days |
| Costa Rica | S.A. or S.R.L. | None | Resident agent, office | 30% local; Law 9050 | 1–2 weeks + permit |
| Cyprus | Private Ltd (Cap. 113) | €500,000 paid-up (licensee) | No resident director; CY office | 15% CIT | 1–4 weeks |
| Canada | Corporation (CBCA, OBCA, BCA) | None | CBCA 25% resident directors; ON/BC none | 26.5% (ON) · 27% (BC) | Days (online) |
| Brazil | Ltda or S.A. | None; R$30m for betting (suspended) | Resident attorney/administrator | 34% IRPJ+CSLL | 1–3 months |
| Peru | S.A.C. or branch | No minimum; solvency test | PE legal representative | 29.5% | 2–4 weeks |
| Chile | SpA now; closed S.A. (proposed) | No minimum (bill: TBD) | CL representative for SII | 27% | 1 day–6 weeks |
| Colombia | S.A.S. or branch | No minimum; Coljuegos tests | CO legal representative | 35% | 2–4 weeks |
European Union
EU company formation
Canada
Canadian company formation
Latin America
Latin American company formation
- Vehicle
- S.A. or S.R.L.
- Tax
- 30% local; Law 9050
- Time
- 1–2 weeks + permit
- Vehicle
- Ltda or S.A.
- Tax
- 34% IRPJ+CSLL
- Time
- 1–3 months
- Vehicle
- S.A.C. or branch
- Tax
- 29.5%
- Time
- 2–4 weeks
- Vehicle
- SpA now; closed S.A. (proposed)
- Tax
- 27%
- Time
- 1 day–6 weeks
- Vehicle
- S.A.S. or branch
- Tax
- 35%
- Time
- 2–4 weeks
More formation guides
For Romania, Malta and Curaçao, the entity, capital and substance rules are part of the license guides.
- Romania: entity and substance rules
- Malta: entity and substance rules
- Curaçao: entity and substance rules
Compare the gambling licenses themselves · Corporate and substance services
Company formation for gambling — FAQs
Do I need a local company to get a gambling license?
Often, but not always. Nevis licenses only companies registered in Nevis; Romania, Colombia and Peru require a locally established entity or branch; Ontario does not require a Canadian corporation. Each formation page below states the regulator’s rule for that country.
Should the license holder and the operating company be the same entity?
Usually the license holder is the contracting and operating entity, with a holding company above it. Splitting IP, payments or staff into other entities is possible, but the regulator and the tax authority must see the same structure. We map it before anything is incorporated.
How long does company formation take?
From a few days for an Anjouan IBC or a Nevis LLC to several weeks where notarized deeds, tax registration and foreign-investment filings are needed, as in Latin America. Bank onboarding usually takes longer than incorporation.
Can I use a nominee director?
Some registries allow it, but nominees do not create management and control, economic substance or a bankable profile. Regulators also run due diligence on the people who actually control the company.
Which jurisdiction is cheapest to incorporate in?
Offshore registries such as Anjouan and Nevis have the lowest formation and upkeep costs. The license, banking and tax position matter more to the total cost than the incorporation fee.
Incorporate once, in the right place
We check the structure against the license, the bank and the tax rules before anything is filed, then incorporate and open accounts through licensed local agents.
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