Updated 29 September 2026. Author: Gambling Soft team.
Short answer: for a first casino on a limited budget, take Anjouan ($28,000 with company registration at Gambling Soft, typically 4-8 weeks). For a Canadian regulator at a middle price, look at Tobique ($50,000). For a long-established Canadian regulator with steady recognition among banks and game studios, Kahnawake ($60,000). For EU-facing business and the strongest reputation, Malta ($70,000, typically 6-12 months and the strictest requirements). For the best-known offshore license with wide acceptance by payment providers and game providers, Curacao ($75,000, or $70,000 with the Premium package, typically 2-4 months). Timelines and requirements in this article are typical, check with the regulator. The Gambling Soft platform starts from $7,500 (Casino Lite) with a technical launch in 7 business days, so the cheapest licensed start is $35,500. All license prices are on the pricing page.
Gaming license comparison table
Prices are ours, for the license together with company registration in the jurisdiction. The other columns describe how each license usually works in practice.
| License | Price at Gambling Soft (USD) | Typical timeline | Main requirements | Recognition by PSPs and game providers | Renewal | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan (Comoros) | $28,000 | 4-8 weeks after a complete package | Local company, KYC of founders, AML/KYC policy, business plan | Medium: crypto processors and most aggregators accept it, some card acquirers and premium studios do not | Annual, the cheapest of the five | First casino, crypto casino, budget under $60,000 |
| Tobique (Canada) | $50,000 | Depends on the regulator’s queue, quoted before the invoice | Company, KYC of owners, AML/KYC and responsible gaming policies, platform description | Medium and growing: a newer regulator, accepted by part of PSPs and aggregators | Annual | Operators who want a North American regulator without Malta-level costs |
| Kahnawake (Canada) | $60,000 | Depends on the regulator’s queue, quoted before the invoice | Background checks of owners, AML/KYC policies, technical review, hosting with an approved provider | Medium to high: a long track record, accepted by many PSPs and studios | Annual fees and reviews | Established operators who want a regulator with a long history |
| Malta (MGA, EU) | $70,000 | 6-12 months | EU company with real presence, share capital, key function holders, system audit, regular audits | The highest: card acquirers, banks and premium studios | Annual fees, audits and reporting, the highest running cost | EU-facing operators, regulated markets, B2B partners |
| Curacao (LOK) | $75,000 ($70,000 with Premium) | 2-4 months after a complete package | Local company, KYC, AML/KYC and responsible gaming policies, business plan, local presence, reporting | High: most offshore PSPs and almost all aggregators and studios | Annual payments and reporting | Growing operator with a budget of $90,000+ who wants card payments and official games at launch |
Timelines, requirements, recognition and renewal terms are typical, check with the regulator. They change with the rules and depend on the case, so we confirm the current picture before issuing an invoice. Full descriptions of each license are on the list of licenses.
Anjouan: the entry license
Anjouan is an island of the Union of the Comoros whose regulator issues offshore online gambling licenses to local companies. One license covers casino, sports betting and poker. The typical time is 4-8 weeks after a complete document package (typical, check with the regulator), plus 1-2 weeks for company registration. Requirements are basic: KYC of founders and directors, AML/KYC policy, business plan. Crypto processors and most game aggregators accept it; some card acquirers and premium studios ask for Curacao or Malta. At $28,000 it is the cheapest of the five, and since 2023-2024 it has become the usual first license for new operators. Details: Anjouan gaming license cost 2026.
Tobique: a Canadian regulator at a middle price
The Tobique Gaming Commission operates from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada, and licenses online casino and betting operators that serve international players. It is a newer regulator than Kahnawake, so its recognition among payment providers and game studios is still growing: some PSPs accept it, others ask for extra checks (typical, check with the regulator). Requirements typically include KYC of owners, AML/KYC and responsible gaming policies and a description of the platform and games. Our price with company registration is $50,000. It suits an operator who wants a North American licensing body in the footer and a budget well below Malta, and who has checked that the chosen PSPs work with it.
Kahnawake: the long-established Canadian option
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) regulates online gambling from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake near Montreal, Canada, and has licensed online operators for more than two decades. That history is its main asset: many payment providers and game studios know the KGC and accept its licensees (typical, check with the regulator). The review usually includes background checks of owners, AML/KYC policies and a technical review, and the regulator typically expects the main servers to be hosted with an approved provider in Kahnawake (typical, check with the regulator). Our price with company registration is $60,000. It fits established operators and B2B companies that want a regulator with a long record, without the capital and staffing load of Malta.
Malta: the strictest and most respected
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is an EU regulator and the most demanding of the five. Typical requirements: a Maltese company with real presence, share capital, named key function holders for compliance and AML, a system audit before go-live and regular audits after it. The typical timeline is 6-12 months (typical, check with the regulator). In return, Malta has the highest recognition among card acquirers, banks and premium studios. Our price with company registration is $70,000, but the running costs (capital, local staff, audits, annual fees) are the highest of the five. An MGA license does not replace local licenses in EU countries that require their own.
Curacao: the best-known offshore license
Curacao has licensed online gambling since the 1990s. Under the new law (LOK) every operator applies directly to the Curacao Gaming Authority instead of working under a master license holder, which raised the requirements and the price (typical, check with the regulator). The typical timeline is 2-4 months after a complete package (typical, check with the regulator). One license covers casino, live games, betting and poker. Recognition is high: most offshore PSPs and almost all aggregators and studios work with Curacao licensees. Our price is $75,000 with company registration, or $70,000 with the Casino + Betting Premium package. Details: Curacao gaming license cost 2026.
How to choose a gaming license: 5 criteria
- Target markets. None of the five licenses covers markets with their own local licensing, such as the UK, most EU countries, Ontario or the regulated US states. Start with the list of countries you want and exclude the rest in the platform settings. If EU players and EU partners matter, Malta is the only real choice among the five.
- Payment methods. A crypto-first casino works well under Anjouan. Card acquiring in several markets is easier with Curacao, Kahnawake or Malta. Ask your preferred PSPs which licenses they accept before you pay for any of them; a PSP can refuse a market that the license formally allows.
- Game content. Aggregators with slot catalogs accept all five in most cases. Some premium studios and live casino providers work only with Curacao, Kahnawake or Malta licensees (typical, check with the regulator).
- Total cost of ownership. Compare the entry price plus two or three years of renewals, audits, local staff and accounting. Malta costs $70,000 at entry but has the highest running costs; Anjouan is the cheapest to keep.
- Time to market. The platform is ready in 7 business days after the advance, so the license sets the date of the first real-money deposit: typically 4-8 weeks for Anjouan, 2-4 months for Curacao, 6-12 months for Malta (typical, check with the regulator).
A common path is to start with Anjouan, collect 6-12 months of real numbers and move to Curacao or Malta when payment volume justifies it. The casino software does not change when the license changes; the company, the license number in the footer and the payment contracts do.
Start budget with each license
The table combines the entry platform, the Casino Lite package at $7,500, with each license. Casino Lite includes the casino engine with 350 games paid as 9% of GGR, 1 month of hosting, a domain for 1 year, the standard Violet design, crypto payments and 1 language.
| License | Platform | License price | Total to start (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | Casino Lite, $7,500 | $28,000 | $35,500 |
| Tobique | Casino Lite, $7,500 | $50,000 | $57,500 |
| Kahnawake | Casino Lite, $7,500 | $60,000 | $67,500 |
| Malta | Casino Lite, $7,500 | $70,000 | $77,500 |
| Curacao | Casino Lite, $7,500 | $75,000 | $82,500 |
| Curacao with Premium | Casino + Betting Premium, $59,000 | $70,000 | $129,000 |
Hosting after the first month, payment provider fees, renewals and marketing are extra; industry estimates put the running costs of a small casino from about $1,000 per month before marketing. Operators who take Malta or Curacao usually want card payments and official games at launch, so they often pair them with a larger package than Casino Lite. A full breakdown of the other budget lines is in how much it costs to start an online casino in 2026. Prices are one-time, in USD, and valid for 30 days from the date above.
FAQ
What is the cheapest gaming license in 2026?
Of the five licenses we work with, Anjouan: $28,000 with company registration at Gambling Soft, typically 4-8 weeks after a complete package (check with the regulator). With the Casino Lite platform ($7,500) the start costs $35,500.
Which gaming license is the most respected?
Malta (MGA). It is an EU regulator with the strictest requirements, and card acquirers, banks and premium studios accept it most readily. Among offshore licenses, Curacao has the widest recognition, followed by Kahnawake.
Why is Malta cheaper than Curacao on your price list?
Our prices cover the service with company registration: $70,000 for Malta, $75,000 for Curacao. Malta’s share capital, local staff, audits and annual fees come on top and make it the most expensive license to keep over several years (typical, check with the regulator).
Can I change the license later without changing the casino?
Yes. Moving from Anjouan to Curacao or Malta is a normal path. The platform stays the same; you get a new company and license, update the footer and sign payment contracts under the new license.
Do I need Gambling Soft software to order a license?
No, the licensing service is sold separately. Most clients combine it with a platform because the application describes the software, games and payment methods, and we prepare that part faster for our own product. Ask for a quote via contacts, Telegram @GamblingSoftOriginal or WhatsApp +357 96 566 090.
See also: pricing 2026, list of licenses, Anjouan gaming license, Curacao gaming license, cost to start an online casino, contacts.