From Licensing to Compliance: The Legal Roadmap for International iGaming Startups

The start of a new iGaming venture is an exciting time, but it also comes with legal and regulatory issues that need to be carefully considered, from choosing the right license to finding the right approach to ensuring long-term regulatory compliance. These are complex matters that can stop a gambling business in its tracks if they aren’t dealt with properly.

By understanding the different steps, you get a clear view of the roadmap and how to proceed. Let’s go through the process one stage at a time, to see how to get started and then make it into a successful, ongoing business that is fully compliant.  

Step 1 – Choose the Right Jurisdiction and License

Choosing the right gambling license is a crucial matter that begins by looking at the various options open to you. Malta, Curaçao, the Isle of Man, Kahnawake, Tobique and Anjouan are among the most popular regulatory authorities that issue gambling licenses. 

It’s not always necessary for the business to be located there, but each authority has a list of requirements that need to be met. The benefit of obtaining a license from some of these regulators is that they’re highly respected, and their licenses allow the holders to operate in many parts of the world legally with complete confidence.  The benefits from the rest is to have a legal umbrella under which you will operate as a legitimate business.

The license that suits your business best will depend on various factors such as your business model, the markets you want to access, and the budget you’re working with. The costs differ upon the type of license issued in some cases. Looking at Malta, for example, there are four types of licenses for different kinds of services with varying prices between them.

Find out the pros and cons of each jurisdiction and the gambling licenses they offer by speaking to the experts and making sure you have all the relevant details before proceeding. You can’t afford to go past this vital step without being completely clear on which authority to apply to and the reasons why they’re the best fit for your business.  

Step 2 – Prepare for the Application Process   

The next stage in the process of how to start an online gaming business is where you find out about the legal documentation needed and the process of corporate setup that will have you operating smoothly. This is where due diligence and background checks are carried out. You’ll need to let the regulator see that you meet their criteria and definition of being suitable for holding a license.

The timeline for completing this part of the process varies according to the authority you plan to apply to. For example, the less complex jurisdictions, including Curaçao and Anjouan, may take weeks to issue a license, while Malta and other authorities with more complex regulations may need months to complete the process. The processing period may also vary according to demand at different types of year, so it makes sense to build some contingency time into your plans.     

This is why you’ll want to get started as soon as possible, so that you can gather all the documents you need and work out a timeline for moving forward. Gaining that sense of clarity early in the process is invaluable when it comes to making plans and knowing what comes next.