Gambling Licenses Q&A Session with Slotegrator

We are back with another exclusive interview with Slotegrator. Last time we talked about Telegram Casino and this time we will cover everything players should know about gambling licenses and jurisdictions. With us today we have Senior Sales Manager Naman Bajaj. Let’s kick off the session with why Slotegrator is the expert in licensing questions, before we talk about the importance of a license and compare different jurisdictions.

Contributors

• Interviewee: Naman Bajaj, Senior Sales Manager at Slotegrator
• Interviewer: Markus Björk, Head Writer at Slotsoo

Part 1: Slotegrator — the Licensing Expert

Hi Naman, could you give us a quick overview of the services you offer? Which all jurisdictions do you work with and how long have you been in the licensing business?

Apart from the software we develop, Slotegrator also offers consulting and licensing services. These include free consultations about starting a gambling business: picking a market of operation, understanding a target audience, choosing games and acquiring a platform. We also provide license acquisition services where we help operators to understand which license is the best choice for their business, apply for the license, collect all the documents, and fulfill all the regulators’ requirements.

We work with Anjouan, Curacao, Isle of Man, and Kahnawake at the moment, and this service has been in our offer for over five years. Feel free to contact our legal team for a consultation, they do have experience.

What are the benefits of getting a gambling license via Slotegrator versus applying for one independently?

This process can be more complicated than what regulators’ websites describe (not to say some of them provide minimum to no information at all). So, first of all, we make things clear and help to understand the requirements.

Another advantage is our team of experienced lawyers who know how to fill the application, what exactly documents are required, help to register a company and prepare it for the checks, and deal with all the additional requests from regulators and possible complications. It’s always better to rely on someone who’s done this many times before and would cover your back. Besides, with us, it’s quicker.

Do your clients always have their own license directly with the authority in question, or do you offer some kind of white label solution where it is shared with many operators?

We do offer a white label solution that includes both technical and legal solutions for the gambling business. This includes a sublicense. However we don’t provide such a service to first time operators. And, of course, those who already operate and would like to obtain a license for their operation might opt for a separate license.

A gambling license can be a costly procedure, both time and money wise. Which license is the quickest and cheapest to acquire? And which one is the hardest and most expensive?

Anjouan is probably the easiest and quickest to get. The Curaçao license is more expensive however it’s in a transition period, and we can’t provide 100% conditions because we are still waiting for the final confirmation of all details. Kahnawake has the highest initial fee, however the annual fee is lower, than the Isle of Man, for example.

The UKGC license is probably the strictest, and on the other hand the most reputable. The Isle of Man is also a very popular choice, it’s pretty strict but it offers a great support for operators and has a good reputation.

Generally speaking, what requirements need to be fulfilled in order to obtain a casino license? Do you need to be a registered business and is there any minimum amount of people required? What about financial status and criminal background checks?

Requirements differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, some of them are less strict than others, besides, there are different permissions — B2B providers have a different application process than online casinos, betting platforms also differ. That’s why there is no universal list of what’s needed.

However there are conditions that are included in most regulators’ lists:

• Software and games must be tested and certified by independent laboratory
• KYC and AML policies measures must be taken
• Business must protect minors and problem gamblers

Other requirements can but don’t have to include registration of the company in the jurisdiction, local directors, background checks and Due Diligence, minimal turnover and deposit requirements, and other points.

Of course, licensing is not just for casinos, For example the Swedish Gaming Authority introduced a B2B-license for game providers last year, while MGA has been doing it for years. Does Slotegrator also help these companies with licensing? What are the main licensing requirements for game providers?

The main requirement for B2B provider license issuance is certification of the software and games provided. There will also be organizational requirements like registration of company, server location, or directors, as well as fees, in different jurisdictions.

Slotegrator does help B2B providers to get necessary certification.

Part 2: What All Players Should Know about Licenses

Which license or licenses would you recommend for EU players looking for lot of bonuses and freedom, without sacrificing on safety or the tax-free aspect?

First of all, every license gives a permission to work on specific markets, which means not every license gives all European players access to casinos in all countries. And in general, considering playing on any online casino we recommend players to check if this platform is licensed — this is how we don’t sacrifice on safety and quality of services.

What difference does a good or bad license makes to the average Joe? Why shouldn’t you play on a unlicensed casino? Are there any gambling licenses that are completely useless?

Every license is a document confirming that an online casino or sportsbook fulfills the requirements, pays taxes, agrees to protect minors and provide responsible gambling measures, offers certifies software and games, and obeys the advertising rules.

This only means that a company is trustworthy or at least puts some effort into its operation. So we can’t really say that there is a useless license. However it is true that there are more and less strict regulators.

Usually the importance of a respectable license is only seen when you encounter problems. Which gambling authorities actually actively handle player complaints and disputes, and give fines to misbehaving casinos?

You can see how effective the license provider is by checking the requirements as well. Some jurisdictions require a certain message offering help and support contacts to be visible in gambling advertising visuals, some check responsible gaming measures, some of them publish a list of licensed websites on their websites to give players information about where it’s safe.

So it’s not just problems that identify regulators. But as a normal practice unlicensed platforms are blocked, and the disputes are solved by every regulator locally.

KYC is a necessary evil, where players have to send in documents to verify themselves. Do the requirements differ much between jurisdictions? Which one has the least documents and highest security limits? Why should you still choose a casino that takes KYC seriously?

Well, let’s not call “evil” something that helps both parties if the deal, but yes, KYC can seem annoying. That’s why we integrated AI in this process on our platform. Our KYC module complies with Curaçao and Malta license requirements.

There are general rules of what to request. The main goal is to make sure that the new player is old enough to play, uses his or her own finance, is not in the list of excluded players and doesn’t already have an account on this gambling platform.

Some online casinos have more than one international license. Why would companies spend money on this? As a player, how do you know which license you fall under?

Logically, by placing a regulators logo on your website you demonstrate that you did everything the regulator wanted to make sure you’re transparent, safe, and fair. If two regulators said you were trustworthy — it’s double trust.

The Isle of Man license covers all counties that allow gambling, Kahnawake all counties except the USA, Anjouan license works everywhere except several European countries, USA, FATF blacklisted countries, and countries prohibited by the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority.

Getting licensed by more than one body can mean wider geography, and players should also keep this in mind.

By checking what countries the license covers, players find out what to look for.

Part 3: Comparing Different License Jurisdictions

Curaçao is one of the hottest topics in 2024 due to its ongoing reform.What trends do you see among your clients?

Curaçao is still in a transition period. We can’t provide any details until we have a 100% confirmation, however we know that the system is changing completely and it’s being specifically done to strengthen the regulators reputation — stricter rules will be a sign of a more responsible approach.

Fees will change, the application process will be more complicated and detailed. Licenses will be issued directly by the authority, not Master license holders, and the process will change accordingly. We will publish updates on our website once we are sure, and by that time you can download our license comparison guide to see what we know now and how Curaçao differs from other licensors.

Responsible gambling is a topic close to our hearts. Kahnawake is to our knowledge the only one that offers permanent self-exclusion that cannot be revoked. Could you walk us through the vulnerable player protection measures in different jurisdictions please?

Responsible approach is widely discussed right now, and we support this trend. It’s important to provide players with safe entertainment and make them confident that they are not going to be scammed or left alone in case of a problem. Healthy gambling industry is our goal, we hope, mutual. Not to mention that such an attitude is one of the main requirements of all regulators.

We already discussed the KYC policy — user verification will be your first step towards responsible gaming. Make sure new players are not in excluded lists, not minors.

Another measure of the responsible gaming policy is self-exclusion tools. Operators also try to detect problem behavior as soon as possible: longer gaming sessions, playing at night, and other signs of a problem may lead to exclusion or time limits, for example.

Regulators often set a bonus limit, some of them also limit sums of bet.

The Anjouan casino license made its entrance recently. Could you tell our readers more about this newcomer from Africa? Is it a good license or one to avoid?

There is no reason to think we should avoid Anjouan, quite the opposite, it appears to be a great alternative to Curaçao while the gambling community is still uncertain about the licensing process there.

Anjouan has a good ratio of quality and price, and the application process is relatively simple. You can find more detailed information about the Anjouan license in our new license guide, but it is definitely worth considering.

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is probably the strictest license worldwide and they have banned popular slot features such as bonus buy, autoplay and turboplay. Thankfully only Brits are covered by UKGC! Which license would you recommend for unrestricted game play?

For players seeking unrestricted gameplay, where features like bonus buy, autoplay, and turboplay are available, I would recommend looking into several licenses that are known for their more flexible regulatory environments.

Anjouan, Kahnawake, Isle of Man are probably among the most popular licenses, they provide a great level of player protection and operators’ reputation, and their requirements seem to be reasonable. However, let’s not expect that there won’t be any limits at all. Responsible gaming measures may include certain limits, as we discussed earlier, and it’s a part of the game.

Alderney, Gibraltar and Isle of Man – all are British territories with gambling authorities. What are the differences between them? Would you say one of them is better than the others from a player safety standpoint?

The thing here with comparison is tricky. There is no one good answer for all gambling businesses. Considering any of the licensing jurisdictions, operators should evaluate budget, potential region of operation, validity period and terms of license issuance, as well as the application process itself. That’s why we decided to release this downloadable guide — it contains tables that clearly compare fees, timeframes, conditions, checks, and other parameters for operators’ initial research. However our team is always there to recommend a license for every individual case so feel free to get professional help.

Last question! The Estonian license is the second EU license that accepts players internationally. Have you heard any rumours of more coming?

Yes, the Estonian license stands out for being accommodating to foreign players. As for the other opportunities, new licenses and regulatory changes are constantly discussed. Although Curaçao, Anjouan, Malta, and the UK have all gained recognition for their global reach, there are rumours that more countries may follow in an effort to draw in a larger player base.

Regulators in jurisdictions like Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, and Curaçao have been known to modify their licensing requirements, so it’s probable that they will eventually accept more foreign players. We notice the shift towards more inclusive policies In order to promote worldwide involvement. To stay updated with any official announcements, make sure to follow the Industry news section on Slotegrator!