Gaming licences are issued by national or regional regulators, and each covers specific activities such as online casino, sports betting or lottery. Rules on ownership, player funds and responsible gambling differ widely, so the jurisdiction matters as much as the licence type.
| Buy existing | Apply new | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to operate | Depends on the regulator's change-of-control review | Full application, often long |
| Ownership checks | New owners and key people are vetted | Owners and key people are vetted |
| Main risk | Past compliance or tax issues, player fund shortfalls | Refusal or conditions |
| Markets | Limited to the markets the licence allows | As granted on application |
Every sale is subject to regulator approval of the new owners. Timelines are set by the regulator and are not guaranteed.
No. A gaming licence is tied to its issuing jurisdiction and the markets it permits. Operating in other countries needs local permission.
Yes. Gaming regulators usually review the new owners and key individuals before approving a change of control.
They are separate activity classes. A licence lists exactly what the operator may offer, so check the class before buying.
Generally no. Gaming licences usually stay with the company, which is why buyers acquire the company itself.
Tell us the licence type, region and budget. We reply with matching companies under NDA.