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Casino Licenses Around the World
This guide will give you an overview of the casino licenses and regulations in each country. We will start exploring those inside the EU and then proceed with the rest of Europe, before moving on to American, African and Asian licensing options. Always check the license information for an online casino before you sign up to ensure it comes from a reputable jurisdiction!
All Licenses Featured on Slotsoo
Table of Contents
European Casino Licenses
Europe is a highly regulated and fragmented market. The aim of the casino licenses, particularly those in the EU, is to ensure player safety and tax revenue. Most countries have their own national licenses, with multiple restrictions for the players and high tax rates for the companies. There are a few exceptions to this rule, as you will see if you continue reading our casino license guide.
- Malta
- Estonia
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Norway
- The Netherlands
- Germany
- Austria
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Greece
- Cyprus
Malta
The Malta Gaming Authority was established in 2001. Since then, its role in European iGaming has grown exponentially. After joining the EU in 2004, the MGA helped Malta to become the first EU nation with a comprehensive legislative framework for online casino gaming. Its reputation for operational excellence and player protections, combined with its clear-cut path to licensing, has made it very desirable to become an MGA casino.
This casino license will grant an operator access to any other nation within the EU, plus to many countries outside this region. For players within the EEA, gaming winnings are tax-free, and the casino operators only pay between 1%-5% tax, based on their gross gaming revenues. There are special B2B licenses for game providers to prove their legitimacy.
Estonia
All operators looking to offer gambling have to be licensed by the Estonia Tax and Customs Board, locally known as the Eesti Maksu- ja Tolliamet or EMTA. The board has been licensing local operators since 2010, and opened the market to companies beyond its borders in 2011. The tax rate is 6% GGR (gross gaming revenue), which is low for a European country.
Players at Estonian casinos pay no tax on winnings and there are no restrictions on bonuses or gameplay. Responsible gambling is still taken seriously and there is a license-wide, product-specific self-exclusion register in place. The license costs 47,940€ and to get it the operator needs to pass security controls and have at least 1 million euro in share capital. Currently, only 35+ companies hold the Estonian license for games of chance online.
Sweden
The Swedish casino license was introduced in the beginning of 2019, along with the national self-exclusion register Spelpaus. The Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) aka Spelinspektionen is in charge of licensing for both online and offline gambling and they also run the Spelpaus website.
While Swedish players don’t have to worry about taxes, the Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) does require companies to pay 22% tax on their gross gaming revenue. This, along with the bonus restriction (players can only receive a bonus after their first deposit, and it is counted per license holder, not per site), have made many casinos say no thanks to Sweden.
Finland
In Finland, an online gambling monopoly still exists. It’s currently overseen by Veikkaus under the terms of the current Finnish Lotteries Act. However, this state-owned private limited liability firm is relinquishing its grip. In July 2024, Finland drafted its new Finnish Gambling Act, with plans to liberalise the market by 2027.
According to the law draft, gambling licenses will be offered to B2B and B2C operators for a maximum of five years. Veikkaus is set to retain its exclusivity on such areas as retail casino gaming, lotteries, and scratch cards. Currently, Veikkaus doesn’t offer bonuses to Finnish players in a bid to promote responsible gaming, and the draft proposes to keep the restrictions, along with implementing a ban for affiliate marketing.
Norway
The state-owned company Norsk Tipping has a monopoly on online casino (Kong Kasino), and land-based casinos are completely prohibited. While other countries have opened up their market, Norway continues to tighten their monopoly position.
The Norwegian gambling authority Lotteri- og Stiftelsestilsynet (Lottstift) is in charge of “protecting” its citizens from online casinos licensed elsewhere. Banks have to block payments to casinos, so those who want to play have to use e-wallets or crypto to go around it. In 2025, Norway even started to DNS-block websites that they deem illegal (even though it’s totally legal for Norwegians to play on them).
Denmark
Spillemyndigheden, or the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA), regulates the entire gambling and social gaming scene of Denmark. It’s among the oldest gambling regulators in Europe, having been founded as an arm of the Danish Ministry of taxation in 2000. In 2012, the regulator pivoted from regulating game machines and land-based casinos to managing the licensing and the online space.
In 2013, the DGA went independent to oversee Danish gambling. Now, not only do operators need a casino license to offer games to Danish players, but their game suppliers also need a license. Danish casino licenses are issued purely for businesses looking to set up gambling services within the country. The casinos are subjected to high levels of taxation – they must pay a 28% tax on their gross gaming revenues.
The Netherlands
The Dutch iGaming market has been live since April 1st, 2021. It’s overseen by the Netherlands Gaming Authority, known as Kansspelautoriteit (KSA). All operators must secure an online casino license with the KSA, which costs approximately 45,000€. Casino gaming and traditional sports betting are allowed, while virtual sports, fantasy sports and esports are prohibited.
The Netherlands takes a strong and forthright approach to responsible gaming. Its Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (CRUKS) acts as a central self-exclusion system and database for Dutch players, protecting vulnerable gamblers from harm. However, recent stats show that 51% of all online gambling happens outside the Dutch license system, which KSA is working hard to tackle.
Germany
For a long time, individual federal states would regulate gambling in Germany (most of them didn’t). In 2021 that changed when the Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder, or GGL for short, became the national regulator. GGL specializes in licensing online slots and has introduced a lot of special rules, such as a 1€ bet limit per spin, and a ban on progressive jackpots, autoplay and turbospins.
German online casinos also have a mandatory 1000€ monthly deposit limit. To run online table games, like Roulette or Live Roulette, operators still need state-specific licenses. It took until September 2024, but Schleswig-Holstein became the first state to give out this type of casino license.
Austria
It’s very much still a monopoly situation in Austria, since the partially state-owned Casinos Austria holds all available licenses for both online and land-based casinos. There can only be one online casino license at a time and their site win2day.at has it until 2027 (and will most likely get to renew it).
According to Austrian law, gambling outside the national system is illegal, but no player has been prosecuted for this. Instead, the court has been busy with the lawsuits between Austrians and foreign licensed casinos. The court has ruled that the foreign sites should pay back any losses to Austrian players, but they can also refuse to pay out winnings, since any contract made between the two parties are void.
France
France is one of the originators of the modern casino, seen as the home of legendary games like roulette. Land-based casinos have been fully regulated and licensed for decades, and yet, online casinos are outlawed. Autorité Nationale des Jeux regulates the online scene, but it doesn’t give out any casino licenses to allow sites to operate in France.
Spain
Slots, table games, and other online casino games are all permitted under Spain’s Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) – the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling. They will give licenses to platforms that meet their requirements, although some Spanish regions require a specific local online casino license. This is the case in the Basque Country, Castile-Leon, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, and Valencia.
The Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla (both situated on the Moroccan coast), are branding themselves as new hubs for iGaming. They don’t have their own licenses, but casino companies who want the DGOJ license can enjoy a 50% reduction in gaming tax by having a presence there instead of in mainland Spain (10% instead of 20%).
Italy
Italy amended its laws back in 2011 to legalize online gambling. In late 2024, those rules changed. The Italian government thought it best to change the regulations for gambling that the Ministry of Economy and Finance oversees.
The changes create very strict eligibility criteria as well as a €7 million authorization fee for every casino license granted, which is valid for up to nine years. There’s also a concessionaire’s operating fee of 3%. The licenses permit online casinos to serve anyone within the EEA, not just Italy.
Greece
Securing an online casino license in Greece requires operators to go through the Hellenic Gaming Commission. The cost of a license is said to be in the region of 3,000,000€, with each license issued for a maximum period of five years. The Hellenic Gaming Commission enforces compliance from all licensed operators, with players in Greece having the ability to file against operators which they deem to have failed their customers.
There are some special restrictions in place. The bet limits in games of chance powered by RNGs, such as slots, are capped at 2€ per spin. The Greek license has also applied a ceiling of 5,000€ winnings per session.
Cyprus
In 2015, the Casino Operation and Control Law brought in the National Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission of Cyprus. However, the presence of this regulator doesn’t mean that casino licenses are up for grabs. In fact, in Cyprus online casinos aren’t allowed, as people can’t bet on games of chance (online betting is fine though).
Nevertheless, many online casinos are connected with the country. For instance, many iGaming brands have payment processing agents based here. That’s because non-EU businesses can benefit from Cyprus-based payment agents as a gateway to the EU market via European Payment Service Providers (PSPs).
British Casino Licenses
Multiple British casino licenses exist so we think they deserve their own section, even though Slotsoo is an EU-focused website. The regulations differ somewhat for each British license. Some are restricted to only serving players within the UK, while others can be used for a more global player base. These British licenses used to be popular choices before Brexit happened in 2020.
United Kingdom
In 2005, the Gambling Act made online gambling a fully regulated activity in The United Kingdom (=England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). The governing body, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), has been widely credited with fostering a strong and safe environment for UK-based online casino players. However, critics mean that their responsible gaming measurements are too strict, hurting the user experience for regular slot players and making those in the risk zone inclined to seek casinos licensed elsewhere.
The UKGC casino license has banned credit card and crypto payments, and popular slot features like autoplay, turbospin and bonus buy are also forbidden. Since 2025, online slots have a £5 limit per spin for adults aged 25+ and a £2 limit for those aged 18-24. Failure for businesses to comply with the latest UKGC guidelines can lead to severe fines, license revocation and, worse still, legal action.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is one of the British Overseas Territories located on the southern tip of Spain. “The Rock” has long been a hub for the gambling industry, although its importance has diminished post Brexit since a Gibraltar license is no longer enough to offer tax-free gaming for citizens of the European Union.
The government of Gibraltar offers remote gambling licenses, and to get one firms must have their head office based on the small peninsula. Applications cost just £30,000 and the gambling tax is a mere 0.15% of revenue. Although online casinos licensed in Gibraltar must also pay £75,000 a year as a separate license fee, regardless of revenue.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has a fine reputation as a Tier 1 iGaming jurisdiction. It boasts a mature licensing regime, with one license which covers all verticals (casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, esports and any new game types). It also covers both operators (B2C) and providers (B2B).
A license from the Isle of Man is also known as an OGRA-license (from the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001). It isn’t restricted to Manx players and welcomes offshore players too. Licenses are valid for five years, and a full license costs £36,750 per year while a sub license costs £5,250 per year (both also have a £5,250 application fee).
Alderney
In Alderney, online casino gaming is governed by the Gambling Control Commission. It offers relatively competitive rates for companies in Alderney with a £17,500 introductory fee. That said, those based beyond wanting a casino license are subject to a £35,000 (€42,000) intro fee. This license can be used to operate in any country, providing online casinos are legal within their borders.
American Casino Licenses
Online casino gaming is rapidly being embraced by North, Central, and South America. It is estimated that more than 40% of the total online gambling traffic comes from the American continent, even though only 13% of the world’s population lives there. Thus, it is no surprise that the countries are increasing regulations and introducing their own casino licenses. Some of them, like those based in the Caribbean, have long been recognized jurisdictions.
Curacao
Curacao’s involvement in iGaming dates back to the 1990s, when its National Offshore Gambling Decree sparked the issuance of online gambling regulation. The Curacao casino license was simplified in 2024-2025 and nowadays only consists of two options: the B2B license and the B2C license.
Today, 320+ operators hold the B2C license and they can offer all types of online gambling with it. The licenses are administered and overseen by the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA), who has promised to be more active in making sure the operators treat players well. Since the license reform, operators need to pay around 50000€ in different fees each year, a steep increase compared to before.
Kahnawake
The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory is located just outside Montreal, Canada. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) is a respected authority in the iGaming scene, having been active in the industry since 1996. It is the only jurisdiction offering permanent, irrevocable self exclusions.
Today, more than 50 companies hold an active Kahnawake casino license. It comes with a 0% corporate tax rate and there’s no further gambling tax applied either. The license fees are quite steep though, starting at 45000$.
Tobique
The Tobique First Nation is a new license provider founded in 2023 located next to the Maine border (on the Canadian side). Applying for a casino license from Tobique Gaming Commission is both quick and cheap, and companies don’t have to pay tax on their profit. This has made Tobique a good alternative to other American license options.
The TGC hands out both B2C and B2B licenses and they cover all types of gambling. Currently there are 65+ companies with Tobique casino license so EU players should start seeing the fish logo on more and more casino sites.
Costa Rica
The Central American nation is home to 300+ online gambling operators, despite the fact that there is no specific igaming authority or Costa Rica casino license. This doesn’t mean the operators can go totally rogue. They still need to register the company, pay fees and taxes (approximately 5000$ per year), and follow all the typical security rules that exist for online businesses.
EU players are attracted to these sites because of the freedom they offer (crypto-friendliness is a plus too). Costa Ricans themselves are not allowed to play online, and the land-based casinos are for tourists only.
United States
In May 2018, the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 opened the floodgates to online gambling in the United States. During the federal ban, gambling was only allowed inside Native American reservations (aka tribal gambling), but now it is up to every state to decide if they want to legalize gambling and to what extent.
30+ states have opened up to online betting, while 6 states so far have gone all-in and also included online casinos (New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Michigan, Connecticut and West Virginia). In Nevada online casino gaming is still illegal, so Las Vegas is still thriving.
African Casino Licenses
Africa is seen as one of the next big markets for online casino gaming. With high smartphone penetration, and access to reliable internet connections on the rise, many countries on the vast continent will soon be even more attractive for online casino companies. For now, though, there’s a limited count of regulators offering an official casino license in Africa.
Anjouan
Anjouan, known locally as Nzwani, is one of the Comoro Islands off the eastern coast of the continent. While not a globally renowned regulator, the 2023-founded Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. has become a viable alternative for international casinos looking for less licensing hassle and lower fees.
Fewer regulations for the operators generally mean less protection for the players, so please be careful and stick to vetted sites only (like those on Slotsoo). That said, many casino entrepreneurs choose the Anjouan license primarily because of the flexibility it offers – one license covers all types of gambling!
Nigeria
It’s no surprise that Africa’s largest nation enjoys a vibrant iGaming market. However, the waters in Nigeria are muddied by the lack of federal involvement in the industry.
Online casino licenses in Nigeria are overseen by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB). They each have the authority to issue their own licenses. The former is the most expensive license at 4,000€, with annual fees of 10,000€ on top, plus an additional 5% of an operator’s turnover.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, online casino services are fully regulated and licensed by the Gaming Board of Tanzania. This board issues licenses for sportsbook operators too.
License fees amount to a monthly payment of 500€. To be considered for a license, prospective online casino operators must also commit significant upfront investment into Tanzania – approximately $300,000 for a local operator and $500,000 for offshore-based operators. The licenses are only valid for 12 months, so must be renewed annually.
Asian Casino Licenses
Asia is a relatively untapped market for online casino gaming, since many Asian nations still prohibit it. However, there are a handful of Asian casino licenses available and some of them even accept European players. We would advise you to avoid playing on these sites though. Instead, stick to casinos targeting your region so that you get access to familiar payment methods and the most popular slots.
Turkey
Turkey has strict laws when it comes to online gambling. Online casino games are banned, and the government actively blocks access to foreign gambling sites. Only state-run services like the sports betting platform IDDAA and the national lottery Milli Piyango are legal for Turkish players. They can be fined if caught using unauthorized sites.
Philippines
In the Philippines, online casino licenses are handled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). The main quirk of online casino licenses in the Philippines is that they cannot serve players living within the country. As a matter of fact, their primary audience is Chinese players (but sometimes Europeans are accepted too).
India
India’s legal landscape for online gambling varies across states. Slots and other games of chance remains largely unregulated or prohibited. However, some states offer licenses for games of skill like poker. For example in Nagaland this type of license costs 1 million Indian rupees per year.
Singapore
Online casino gaming is prohibited in the Lion City state of Singapore. In fact, you can be fined or even jailed for playing at unlicensed operators. There are only two operators exempt from this legislation – Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. These organizations have certificates of exemption. It’s possible for other operators to apply for exemption under the terms of the Betting Act and Common Gaming Houses Act.
