Head of International Corporate Law and Fintech Practice
Expert in fintech, crypto, and international corporate law with over 20 years of experience. Specializes in crypto licensing (VASP/CASP), iGaming business support, and international structuring, asset protection, and OSINT analytics for risk assessment and due diligence.
GAMBLING LICENSES
Today, the regulated gambling market is not only a matter of business opportunities, but also of clear legal rules. Gambling licenses are required for legal activities in the gambling sector, including online poker, betting, lotteries and gaming equipment. In 2025, various jurisdictions around the world demonstrate active work on issuing, monitoring and controlling such licenses.
The law firm “Prikhodko & Partners” has practical experience in supporting licensing processes in various countries, including Ukraine, the EU and other international markets. So what are gambling licenses, where are they issued, what are the requirements and how to effectively go through the procedure for obtaining them?

What are the types of gambling licenses in different countries?
Different jurisdictions offer different types of gambling licenses:
- for online or offline casinos, poker, betting;
- for lotteries;
- for suppliers of gambling equipment, etc.
The most attractive jurisdictions by popularity among our clients:
- United Kingdom (UKGC) — one of the most expensive, but prestigious markets with the highest standards of compliance and player protection (UK Gambling Act 2005, LCCP).
- Malta (MGA) — EU licenses allowing to operate throughout the EU (Gaming Act Chapter 583).
- Gibraltar — popular among large operators.
- Isle of Man — technically reliable jurisdiction with flexible legal standards.
- Curacao — affordable jurisdiction with the possibility of wider coverage, but with lower compliance requirements.
- Alderney — prestigious, but technically more complex license.
- Spain (DGOJ) — clear requirements for online operators.
- Italy (ADM) — strict control, but a large market.
- Denmark (DGA) — transparent processes and requirements.
- Ukraine (Play City) is a new but rapidly growing market with a transparent policy on online gambling licenses.
These jurisdictions differ in capital requirements, compliance, documentation requirements, review periods and control conditions.
Key requirements for a potential owner
Regardless of the jurisdiction, candidates for a gambling license are expected to:
Transparency of corporate structure
- Disclosure of ultimate beneficiaries
- No ties to sanctioned jurisdictions
- Compliance with “fit and proper” standards
Financial capacity
- Confirmation of capital
- Origin of funds
- Proof of ability to fulfill obligations to players
Compliance and policies
- AML/KYC
- Responsible Gaming
- Protection of personal data, including GDPR requirements in the EU
Technical standards
- Security of IT systems
- Fraud protection mechanisms
- Transaction control
The first important step is a preliminary analysis of the package of documents to understand the readiness for submission.
Estimated cost of legal analysis: €3,000 – €10,000.
This includes:
- audit of the ownership structure;
- analysis of compliance policies;
- review of technical descriptions;
- recommendations for revisions.
Such analysis avoids package returns and unnecessary costs.
The main difficulties in obtaining a license
The global online gambling market in 2025 exceeds $100 billion, and more than 70% of the turnover falls on regulated jurisdictions. This means one thing: operating without a license is no longer an option. A gambling license is not only the right to operate, but also access to banks, payment providers, investors and international partners.
- Incomplete or incorrect documents
- Insufficient compliance procedures
- Opaque company structure
- Lack of proper technical description
- Errors in financial confirmations
In 2025, more than 30% of applications were returned for revision precisely for these reasons.
Find out the cost of legal support
The law firm “Prikhodko and Partners” provides full support for obtaining gambling licenses in various jurisdictions:
Audit and initial assessment
We analyze all aspects of your project:
- corporate structure;
- business logic;
- compliance processes;
- technical documentation.
Preparation of a package of documents
Our lawyers prepare a high-quality package taking into account the requirements of the regulator:
- business plans;
- AML/KYC policies;
- technical descriptions;
- financial models.
Submission support and interaction with the regulator
We take on the responsibility of communicating with regulators, responding to inquiries, preparing explanations and arguments.
Post-license support
After obtaining a license, we:
- conduct regular compliance audits;
- update internal policies;
- assist with the integration of payment solutions;
- prepare for regulatory inspections.
Obtaining a gambling license is a complex, multi-component process that requires in-depth legal understanding and practical training. Betting, poker, lottery and other gambling markets have their own requirements, but they all boil down to transparency, compliance and financial reliability.
The global regulatory landscape continues to increase the requirements for operators. Prikhodko & Partners has practical experience in all key jurisdictions and supports clients from the initial idea to obtaining and maintaining a gaming license.
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