Short answer
Online gaming licenses are marketed in the name of the Tuvalu Gaming Authority (TGA), which cites a Tuvalu Gaming Authority Act 2023 and an Online Gaming Regulation 2023. We could not find either instrument in Tuvalu's official legislation database or the PacLII index as of October 2026, and all applications run through a single private agent, Tuvalu Gaming Licensing. Agent and adviser sources quote an annual fee of about US$15,850 (some quote US$17,200), an application fee of about US$1,200 after a free pre-approval, no published GGR levy, no stated local presence requirement and 3–4 weeks to issue. On 10 October 2026 the TGA register listed 88 unique entities — what the register declares, not independent confirmation of the licenses' legal status. These fees come from commercial sources, not an official schedule. According to the agent, the applicant can be a company incorporated in another accepted jurisdiction. Get a local legal opinion and written acceptance from banks, payment providers and platform partners before applying. The license does not allow operation in other countries and does not guarantee banking or payment access.
Tuvalu at a glance
- Regulator
- Tuvalu Gaming Authority (TGA), tuvga.com; established 2023 according to its own site
- Applicant channel
- Tuvalu Gaming Licensing (betuvalu.com), the TGA's sole appointed agent; a trading name of a Costa Rica-registered company
- Cited law
- Tuvalu Gaming Authority Act 2023 and Online Gaming Regulation 2023, as published by the TGA and its agent
- Official record
- Neither instrument found in tuvalu-legislation.tv or the PacLII Tuvalu index (October 2026)
- Licenses
- B2C Operator · B2B Provider · Principal (group license for up to 15 operator entities)
- Term
- 1 year, renewable annually
- Time to license
- 4–5 days pre-approval, then 2–3 weeks review; 3–4 weeks in total
- Live since
- Launch announced August 2025; register listed 88 unique licensed entities on 10 October 2026
Is Tuvalu the right license for you?
A good fit when
- For early-stage projects, consider this regime only after verifying its legal basis and acceptance by your technical and financial partners
- You want low fees and a quick issuance for markets using crypto or alternative payment providers, and accept a limited operating and supervisory record
- Your platform and payment providers have confirmed in writing that they accept a Tuvalu license
Look elsewhere when
- You need tier-one card acquiring, mainstream EMIs or listed game suppliers
- Your board, investors or banks require a license with a published statute and fee schedule
- You target the US, UK, EU or Australia, or any market with its own licensing regime
- You need regulator-level recognition for B2B supply to Anjouan, Nevis or Romania
Tuvalu license types
| License | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B2C Operator License | Online casino, crypto casino, sportsbook, poker, bingo, lotteries, prediction markets, sweepstakes | Two domains included; additional domains for a fee |
| B2B Provider License | Platforms, aggregators, game studios, white-label providers | Technical certification may be requested |
| Principal License | Groups running several brands | Up to 15 B2C operator permissions, each a separate legal entity with up to ten domains |
Tuvalu license costs and tax
| Charge | Amount | When | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-approval review | Free | 4–5 days | Agent site |
| Application fee | ≈ US$1,200 | After pre-approval, one-off | Adviser sources |
| Annual license fee (B2C or B2B) | ≈ US$15,850 | On approval and each renewal | Most adviser sources; one cites US$17,200 |
| Additional domain | ≈ US$500 | Per domain | Adviser sources |
| Principal License | On enquiry | Not published | |
| Company formation (any jurisdiction) | Varies | Year 1 | No Tuvalu company needed |
| Indicative year 1, government fees | ≈ US$17,050 | excl. company, policies and advisers |
There is no official fee schedule on the TGA site; the agent gives terms on enquiry. Confirm the fees in writing before filing and ask whether they are paid to the TGA or to the agent.
Tax
- GGR levy
- According to the agent's commercial information, no local levy on gross gaming revenue is charged. Without a statute or independent official confirmation, treat this as a stated commercial condition, not a legislatively verified tax exemption.
- Tuvalu corporate tax
- The license does not require a Tuvalu company; tax is driven by where the license holder is incorporated and managed
- VAT
- No Tuvalu VAT on licensed online gaming, according to advisers — a stated condition, not legislatively verified
- Group tax
- Management-and-control, CFC and permanent-establishment rules where owners and staff live still apply — take structuring advice
Legal framework
| Instrument | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Tuvalu Gaming Authority Act 2023 (as published by the TGA) | Establishes the TGA and requires an Online Gaming License; published text is marked draft, with no cap, gazette or assent details |
| Online Gaming Regulation 2023 (agent cites "CAP 50.03") | Licensing standards, AML/KYC, responsible gaming, as described by the agent |
| Gaming and Lotteries Act (Laws of Tuvalu) | Long-standing statute restricting gaming and lotteries, with Minister approvals; amended 1991 and 2021 |
| Gaming and Lotteries (Pyramid Scheme Ban) Amendment Act 2021 | Most recent gaming amendment on the official PacLII index |
| Tuvalu AML/CFT framework | Under development; Tuvalu joined the APG in 2023 and received its first support visit in May 2026 |
Local substance and eligibility
- According to the agent, the applicant can use a company incorporated in another accepted jurisdiction; choose the legal form and country with tax and banking requirements in mind
- No local office, director, staff or resident compliance officer
- A named compliance officer (name, email, phone)
- No minimum capital, deposit or bank guarantee published
- KYC on directors and UBOs; fit-and-proper review by the TGA
- Signed platform agreement, RNG certificates where relevant, and proof of domain ownership
Structuring the applicant in an eligible jurisdiction, and why you do not form a company in Tuvalu: the company for a Tuvalu license.
How to get a Tuvalu license
- Week 0
Legal and partner check
Get a legal opinion on the TGA's statutory basis and written confirmation from your platform, PSPs and banks that they accept the license.
- Week 1
Enquiry and structure
Confirm license type (B2C, B2B or Principal), domains and fees with the agent; incorporate or choose the applicant entity.
- Week 1
Pre-approval
Submit corporate and UBO identity documents; the TGA reviews in 4–5 days at no cost.
- Weeks 1–2
Full file
Business plan, platform agreement, domain proof, RNG certificates, AML, RG, privacy and T&C policies, compliance officer details.
- Week 2
Pay and submit
Pay the application fee after pre-approval and file the full application.
- Weeks 2–4
Review and issue
Regulatory review of about 2–3 weeks; license number issued and listed on the TGA register; annual fee due.
Document checklist
KYC and UBO
- Passport and utility bill for each director, UBO and key manager
- Source of funds statement
- Compliance officer details
Corporate
- Certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles
- Registers of directors and shareholders
- Board resolution to apply
Operational and technical
- Business plan
- Signed platform or supplier agreement
- Proof of ownership of each domain
- RNG and game certificates where applicable
Policies
- AML/CFT and KYC policy
- Responsible gaming and self-exclusion policy
- Privacy policy and player T&Cs
- Complaints procedure
After the license
Renewal
Annual fee and renewal on each anniversary.
Register
Check that your license number and domains appear correctly on the TGA register.
Domains
Use only approved domains; add new ones before use.
AML and RG
Player KYC, sanctions and PEP screening, transaction monitoring, age verification, self-exclusion.
Geo-blocking
Block access from any jurisdiction where the activity cannot lawfully be carried on under the license. Set the restricted list from local law and written license conditions; treat the advisers' list (US, UK, Australia, certain EU states, jurisdictions named in FATF statements, sanctioned countries) separately from each market's own law.
Regulatory watch
Track TGA circulars and any enactment or gazetting of the Act; keep a fallback license plan.
Tuvalu compared
| Tuvalu | Anjouan | Curaçao | Nevis | Kunaisa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license fees | ≈ US$15,850 (estimated, commercial sources) | €17,828 | €47,450 B2C · €24,490 B2B | €28,000 | €19,500 (communicated, Aug 2026) |
| Tax on GGR | 0% per agent (unverified) | 0% | 0% intl GGR | 0% foreign GGR | 0% declared (Kunaisa levy) |
| Time to license | 3–4 weeks | 2–4 weeks | 2–5 months | 8–12 weeks | 6–10 weeks (estimate) |
| Local substance | None | None | Seat, MD, office, MLRO, key persons | IBC/LLC, agent; B2C: Reporting and Compliance Officer | Non-Panama company; agent |
| Status | Offshore, statute unverified | Offshore | Offshore (Kingdom of NL) | Offshore | Offshore (indigenous territory, Panama), authority unverified |
All jurisdictions side by side, with filters: compare gambling license jurisdictions. How we run an application: gambling consulting services.
Written and reviewed by Alex Szilaghi
Founder of Szilaghi Consulting, licensing gambling businesses since 2004 across EU, UK, Canadian and offshore jurisdictions, based in Romania and working before ONJN on Class 1 and Class 2 files. We act as Romanian representative and local director for foreign ONJN licensees and file their monthly regulatory reports, so these guides reflect how the rules are applied in practice, not only how they read.
Last legal review . Last reviewed 13 October 2026. Reflects documents and conditions published by the TGA and its agent, and the legal-verification limits flagged in this guide. General information, not legal advice.
Tuvalu gambling license — FAQs
What is the verifiable legal status of the TGA license?
The TGA publishes a license register and issues validation documents, but a register alone does not establish a valid statutory basis or recognition elsewhere. Licenses are being issued: the TGA register listed 88 unique licensed entities on 10 October 2026, and some payment and software providers report working with them. What we could not verify, as of October 2026, is the statute. The TGA Act 2023 and Online Gaming Regulation 2023 could not be found in Tuvalu's official legislation database or the PacLII index, the published Act text is marked draft, and we found no Government of Tuvalu website that refers to the TGA. Ask for the gazette reference and a local legal opinion before you rely on it.
How much does a Tuvalu gaming license cost?
Advisers quote about US$15,850 a year (one quotes US$17,200), plus about US$1,200 as an application fee after a free pre-approval and about US$500 per extra domain. Estimated year-1 license fees are therefore about US$17,050 before company formation and adviser fees. No official fee schedule is published.
How long does it take?
The agent quotes 4–5 days for pre-approval and 2–3 weeks for review, so 3–4 weeks on a complete file.
Do I need a company or people in Tuvalu?
No. Companies incorporated in most jurisdictions can apply, and there is no local office, director or resident compliance officer requirement. You must name a compliance officer.
Which markets can I serve?
Advisers list the US, UK, Australia, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, FATF-blacklisted and sanctioned countries as excluded, plus any market that requires a local license. The agent does not publish a list; confirm it in writing.
Will banks and payment providers accept it?
Acceptance is limited. The providers named publicly are mostly crypto and high-risk PSPs, and the agent itself describes many integrations as pending. Tier-one acquirers and mainstream EMIs generally look for MGA, Crown, Curaçao or at least Anjouan.
Tuvalu or Anjouan?
Cost and speed are similar. Anjouan has a longer track record, a published fee schedule and a B2B recognition rule that the market already works with. Tuvalu is newer and its legal basis is still unverified. For most clients we recommend Anjouan or Curaçao first.
Sources
Information was reviewed against material published by the TGA, its agent and advisers, and the available legislative databases. The regime's legal basis and official fee amounts could not be independently confirmed.
- Tuvalu Gaming Authority — home and license register (accessed 10 Oct 2026)
- TGA — published Act and Regulation (accessed 10 Oct 2026)
- Tuvalu On-line Legislation (Attorney General's Chambers database)
- PacLII — Tuvalu Acts index 1975–
- PacLII — Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 1991
- APG — first implementation support visit to Tuvalu (15 May 2026)
Find out if Tuvalu fits before you pay a fee
We check your ownership structure, the cited legal basis and bank and processor acceptance for your markets, and estimate year-one licensing, company and compliance costs. We coordinate the preliminary checks and, once eligibility is confirmed, the filing through the available channels.
Book a Tuvalu license assessment