Guide
How long does it take to get a gambling licence?
The regulator's review is only one part of the timeline. Here is where the time goes, what slows files down, and how to shorten the process.
The short answer
From the first decision to going live, plan for many months. The regulator's review is the part people ask about, but it is only one of three phases: preparing the file, the regulator's review, and the set-up that follows approval.
Regulators generally measure their own timelines from a complete application. Everything you do before that point, from structuring the company to collecting source-of-funds evidence, is on your side of the clock, and it is usually the largest and most controllable part.
Where the time goes
| Phase | What happens | What speeds it up |
|---|---|---|
| Decide and structure | Choosing the jurisdiction and licence type, setting up the company and mapping ownership to the UBOs. | A clear business model and an ownership chain that is already simple. |
| Prepare the file | Collecting identification and source-of-funds evidence, writing policies, the business plan and the technical description. | Starting the evidence collection early, and writing policies for how you really operate. |
| Regulator review | The regulator checks the file, asks questions, and may request independent testing before deciding. | A complete, consistent file and answers to queries within days. |
| Set-up and launch | Banking and payment onboarding, technical integration and go-live on the approved terms. | Starting banking and payment conversations in parallel with the application. |
Regulator review times, in outline
| Topic | Curaçao | Malta | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical timeline | Several months from a complete file to decision | 4 to 8 months from application, excluding preparation | Around 16 weeks from a complete application, longer if the Commission asks for more |
Indicative and for orientation. Timelines depend far more on how complete your file is than on the regulator.
What slows files down
- An unclear ownership chain, or UBOs who are slow to supply identification.
- Thin or inconsistent source-of-funds evidence.
- Policies copied from a template that do not match how the business really operates.
- Personal licence applications for key individuals started late.
- Slow or inconsistent answers to the regulator's questions.
- Banking and payment onboarding left until after approval.
Most of these are the preventable issues behind rejected applications. See the five most common reasons applications are rejected.
How to shorten the process, in six steps
- Start with ownership. Make the chain to the UBOs as short and as clear as you can before anything else.
- Collect source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence early, for every UBO, and keep it recent.
- Write policies for the business you actually run, not a template.
- Identify key individuals and their personal licence needs at the start.
- Answer regulator questions within days and make sure every answer matches the file.
- Run banking and payment onboarding in parallel with the application.
A complete file beats a fast regulator
A well-prepared file in a demanding jurisdiction often beats an incomplete file in an easier one. The jurisdiction you choose should follow your market, not the shortest published timeline. Our comparison of Curaçao, Malta and the UK sets the three side by side.
Questions about timing
Keep reading
Guide
How to get an online gambling licence
The decisions to make, the eight steps of an application, the documents regulators ask for, and where operators lose time.
Guide
How much does an online gambling licence cost?
The four cost layers, what we can say about Curaçao, Malta and the UK, the costs that are easy to miss, and how to budget.
Guide
UBO, source of funds and source of wealth
What regulators actually ask for, what a good file looks like, and where files go wrong.
Want to know how long your application would take?
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