B2B Gambling License
A B2B gambling license authorises a supplier to serve licensed gambling operators. The license covers platform software, game content, aggregation, odds feeds and random number generators. A B2B license is not an operator license: it does not let you take bets or run games for players. Selling to players directly needs a B2C license.
Choose the regime your customers' regulator accepts. Price comes second, because a cheap licence your operators cannot use is a wasted year.
Regulators split supply from operation, then use their own name for the supply half. Malta calls it a Critical Gaming Supply Licence. The United Kingdom calls it a gambling software operating licence. Ireland and the offshore regimes call it B2B. Vendors also sell it as a gaming supplier license, a casino supplier license, a gaming vendor license or a B2B iGaming license. The regulator and the scope change. The idea does not.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Licence name | Regulator | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | Critical Gaming Supply Licence | Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) | Suppliers to EU and other regulated operators |
| United Kingdom | Gambling software operating licence | UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) | Suppliers to operators licensed in Great Britain |
| Ireland | B2B licence | Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) | Suppliers to the Irish market, from 2027 |
| Isle of Man | Software supplier licence | Gambling Supervision Commission | Suppliers wanting a tier one licence outside the EU |
| Curacao | Supplier licence | Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) | Suppliers established in Curacao |
| Anjouan | B2B licence | Anjouan Gaming | Cost led entry, offshore operators |
Operator licensing sits on a separate page. For the full range of regimes and licence types, start at our gambling license hub.
Who needs a B2B gambling license?
Any business that supplies the machinery of gambling to a licensed operator needs a B2B gambling license. That includes game studios, platform and turnkey providers, content aggregators, random number generator suppliers, odds and data feeds, and companies that host or maintain gaming software. The trigger is who you sell to, not what you build.
The usual candidates:
Game studios and content providers that build slots, live dealer titles or poker software.
Platform and turnkey providers that run an operator's front end, wallet and back office.
Aggregators that route third party content into an operator's lobby.
Random number generator and game engine suppliers.
Odds compilers, sports data feeds and risk management services.
Hosting, maintenance and software upgrade providers, where the software is used for gambling.
Payment and fraud tools sit on the edge. The Gambling Commission does not treat software used by gambling and non gambling businesses alike as gambling software. The Commission says it does not intend to license companies that supply general Microsoft, Oracle or Apple applications. Test the product against the definition before you assume a license applies.
Malta splits supply in two, and the split decides whether you need a licence at all. A critical gaming supply needs the B2B licence. A material gaming supply does not: Directive 3 of 2018 lets material supply providers apply to the Malta Gaming Authority for a certificate of approval, and article 25 makes that route voluntary.
Event odds, fraud management, customer due diligence and the supply of gaming devices fall on the material side in Malta. Ireland draws the line elsewhere: GRAI counts odds, risk management and fraud management inside the gambling related services a B2B licence covers. Check the classification in each regime before you assume one licence covers the product everywhere.
How does a B2B license differ from a B2C license?
A B2B license authorises supply to operators. A B2C license authorises operation to players. The B2B holder never holds player funds, never runs a player account and never takes a bet. The B2C holder does all three, and answers to the regulator for player protection. One business can hold both, under separate licenses.
| Aspect | B2B licence | B2C licence |
|---|---|---|
| Who you may serve | Licensed gambling operators | Players |
| Core activity | Software, platforms, content, aggregation, odds and data | Casino, sportsbook, poker and bingo operation |
| Player funds | Never held | Held and protected by the licensee |
| What the regulator tests | Technical standards, certification, corporate and owner probity | Player protection, responsible gambling, AML on players |
| Malta name | Critical gaming supply licence | Gaming service licence |
| United Kingdom name | Gambling software operating licence | Remote casino, bingo or betting operating licence |
Malta writes the split into law. The Gaming Act 2018 divides authorisations into a gaming service licence for B2C and a critical gaming supply licence for B2B. The United Kingdom reaches the same result through a separate gambling software operating licence. The Irish Gambling Regulation Act 2024 creates B2B and B2C as distinct licence classes.
Which jurisdictions issue B2B gambling licences?
Malta, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Isle of Man license B2B supply inside regulated markets. Anjouan and Curacao license it offshore, at lower cost and with lower recognition. The right choice follows your operators: you need the license their regulator accepts, not the cheapest one on the market.
Malta: Critical Gaming Supply Licence (MGA)
The Malta Gaming Authority issues the Critical Gaming Supply Licence under the Gaming Act 2018 (Cap. 583). MGA splits critical gaming supply into two limbs. The first is supply and management of material elements of a game. The second is supply and management of the software that generates, captures, controls or processes essential regulatory records, or of the control system that software runs on. Which limb you fall into decides what you pay.
Minimum issued and paid up share capital is EUR 40,000. Licences run for ten years. The MGA compliance contribution schedule covers B2C licence types only, so no compliance contribution band applies to a B2B licensee. Full detail sits on our Malta gaming licence page.
Group supply carries an exemption. Directive 3 of 2018 states that where entities inside a B2C corporate group licence provide a critical gaming supply solely to other entities within that group licence, no B2B licence is required. Supply to anyone outside the group licence needs one.
United Kingdom: gambling software operating licence (UKGC)
Section 41(1) of the Gambling Act 2005 makes it an offence to manufacture, supply, install or adapt gambling software in the course of a business except in accordance with an operating licence. Section 41(2) defines gambling software as computer software for use in connection with remote gambling, and excludes anything for use solely with a gaming machine.
The demand side is where this bites. LCCP condition 2.2.1 requires that all gambling software used by a remote casino, bingo or betting licensee must have been manufactured by the holder of a gambling software operating licence. Only a holder of that licence may supply, install or adapt it. Supply operators with British licences and you need the licence too. Our United Kingdom gaming licence page covers the operator side.
Ireland: B2B licence (GRAI)
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland took over licensing on 5 March 2025 under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. GRAI states that a B2B licence authorises the holder to sell or supply, directly or indirectly, and advertise for sale, a gambling product or gambling related service. Gambling related services include odds to licensees, online hosting, risk and fraud management, and software installation and upgrades.
Timing matters more than fees in Ireland. GRAI began issuing remote betting licences on 1 July 2026. Applications for gaming, lotteries, B2B and charitable licences open across 2027 and 2028, and no B2B fee has been published. Suppliers to the Irish market should plan for a 2027 window at the earliest. See our Ireland gaming licence page for the phasing.
Offshore: Anjouan, Curacao and Tobique
Anjouan Gaming publishes a flat rate. A B2B licence costs EUR 17,828 to issue and EUR 17,828 a year to renew, the same as the B2C rate. A B2B licence carries no extra domain allowance, where a B2C licence adds URLs at EUR 500 each. The authority publishes no processing timeline. Costs and conditions sit on our Anjouan gambling licence page.
Curacao changed the rules for suppliers. The supplier licence under Article 1.5(1) of the LOK applies only to suppliers established in Curacao. The LOK came into force on 24 December 2024 with a two year transitional period, so the requirement becomes enforceable on 24 December 2026. The Curacao Gaming Authority confirmed that deadline in June 2026 and asked local suppliers to apply by 1 September 2026. The licence requirement does not reach suppliers established elsewhere. Our Curacao gambling licence page tracks the LOK regime.
Tobique issues a licence for companies that develop or sell gaming and betting software, and a vendor licence for other services to the sector. The Tobique Gaming Commission publishes no public fee schedule. Figures circulating in the market come from intermediaries, not from the regulator, so treat them as indicative until the commission confirms them. Background sits on our Tobique gambling licence page.
What do you need to get a B2B gambling license?
Every B2B regime asks for the same four things: a corporate vehicle, clean people, a documented business model, and technical evidence that the product does what you claim. AML and KYC policies, terms and conditions, and proof of funding sit on top. The regime you pick changes the depth of each file, not the list.
Corporate structure. An incorporated company, its statutory documents, the full ownership chain to the ultimate beneficial owner, and share capital that meets the minimum. Malta sets EUR 40,000 for a Critical Gaming Supply Licence. The Gambling Commission sets no fixed figure and assesses your finances case by case.
People. Government issued identification, proof of address, personal declarations, professional history and source of funds evidence for every beneficial owner, director and key person.
Business model. A plan that names the operators you supply, the markets they hold licences in, your commercial terms and your financial forecasts.
Technical file. Game or platform certification from an accredited laboratory, random number generator reports, and, for the British market, evidence against the remote technical standards.
Compliance policies. AML and counter terrorist financing procedures, KYC, data protection, responsible gambling support and incident reporting.
Commercial evidence. Domain ownership, hosting arrangements and contracts, signed or draft, with the operators you intend to supply.
Anjouan Gaming lists three document families on its own site. These are corporate formation documents, information on directors and beneficial owners, and financial documentation covering audited statements, bank references and source of funds evidence. Our intake asks for a little more, because banks and payment providers ask for it later.
How it works
How do you apply for a B2B gambling license?
Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step.
Five steps run in every regime. What changes is where you incorporate, how deep the review goes and how long you wait. Pick the regime first, because that choice sets the company you form, the capital you lock up and the technical evidence you produce. Working the other way round costs a restructure.
How much does a B2B gambling license cost?
Regulator fees for a B2B gambling license start at EUR 3,000 a year in the Malta software supply limb. At the top of the British scale they reach GBP 76,289 a year, rising to GBP 191,880 on 1 October 2026. Your regime and revenue decide the figure. Company formation, certification and advisory sit on top of every line below.
| Jurisdiction | Application fee | Annual fee | Minimum share capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta, game supply limb | EUR 5,000 | EUR 25,000 to EUR 35,000 by revenue, or EUR 10,000 for Type 4 supplies only | EUR 40,000 |
| Malta, software supply limb | EUR 5,000 | EUR 3,000 up to EUR 1m revenue, EUR 5,000 above | EUR 40,000 |
| United Kingdom | GBP 9,138 at the entry band, GBP 7,212 from 1 October 2026 | GBP 5,809 at the entry band, up to GBP 76,289 at the top. From 1 October 2026: GBP 7,394 to GBP 191,880 | None fixed, finances assessed case by case |
| Ireland | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Isle of Man | GBP 5,250 | GBP 36,750 software supplier, GBP 52,500 token based | Not set in the fee regulations |
| Curacao | EUR 4,592 plus EUR 150 per beneficial owner | EUR 24,490 | Not published |
| Anjouan | EUR 17,828 on issue | EUR 17,828 | None |
Regulator fees above were checked against MGA, the Gambling Commission, GRAI, Anjouan Gaming and the Isle of Man fee regulations on 20 August 2026. The Curacao Gaming Authority does not publish its fee amounts, so the Curacao line is indicative. Fees change, so confirm the current figure with the regulator before you budget.
Malta charges by limb and by revenue. A supplier of material elements of a game pays EUR 25,000 a year up to EUR 5m of annual revenue. The rate rises to EUR 30,000 between EUR 5m and EUR 10m, and to EUR 35,000 above EUR 10m. A supplier of Type 4 gaming supplies only pays EUR 10,000.
A supplier under the software and control system limb pays EUR 3,000 up to EUR 1m of annual revenue and EUR 5,000 above it. The application fee is EUR 5,000 either way.
The British scale moves on 1 October 2026. Fee bands switch from gross value of sales to gross gambling yield. At the entry band the application fee falls from GBP 9,138 to GBP 7,212 while the annual fee rises from GBP 5,809 to GBP 7,394, so first year cost barely moves. At the top the annual fee goes from GBP 76,289 to GBP 191,880. Apply before that date if your volumes sit near the upper bands.
Two figures that circulate widely are wrong for B2B. A Malta B2B licence does not require an investment of EUR 80,000 to EUR 100,000. The statutory floor is EUR 5,000 application plus EUR 25,000 annual in the game supply limb, and EUR 5,000 plus EUR 3,000 in the software supply limb, against EUR 40,000 of share capital that stays in the business.
Curacao entry does not start at EUR 50,000 for a supplier. EUR 47,450 is the B2C annual figure, and the B2B annual figure is EUR 24,490.
How long does a B2B gambling license take?
The Gambling Commission publishes up to 16 weeks for a remote operating licence, and does not guarantee it. Malta and Ireland run longer, because company formation, capital and technical certification sit in front of the application. Offshore regimes are faster. Anjouan Gaming publishes no timeline at all.
Plan around three blocks of time rather than one number. Company formation and share capital take two to six weeks, depending on the jurisdiction and your bank. Due diligence on owners and source of funds takes four to six weeks and runs on the regulator calendar, not yours. Technical certification takes as long as your laboratory queue.
Ireland is the outlier. B2B applications do not open until 2027 at the earliest, so a supplier that needs Irish coverage should hold another licence in the meantime.
What are the advantages of a B2B gambling license?
A B2B gambling license buys access to customers you cannot otherwise sign. Regulators bar licensed operators from using unlicensed suppliers, so the licence works as an entry ticket rather than a marketing badge. Banks price suppliers by the same signal. Four benefits follow.
Larger contracts. Tier one operators run supplier due diligence before they sign. A licence clears the first gate and shortens the commercial cycle.
Fewer legal surprises. Supplying gambling software without a licence is a criminal offence in Great Britain under section 41 of the Gambling Act 2005. A licence removes that exposure.
Better banking and payments. Banks and payment providers price gambling suppliers by regulatory standing. A recognised licence moves you out of the hardest tier.
Wider market access. Several regulated markets bar operators from using unapproved suppliers, so the licence is what makes those markets reachable.
What are the disadvantages of a B2B gambling license?
Regulated B2B licences cost money and time before they earn anything. Malta and the United Kingdom charge annual fees whether or not you sign a customer, and both run continuous compliance obligations. An offshore licence cuts the cost and the wait, and cuts recognition with it.
Fixed cost from day one. Annual fees fall due before revenue arrives, and in Malta the first annual fee is payable before the licence is issued.
Ongoing compliance load. Reporting, audits, technical standards and change notifications continue for the life of the licence.
No European passport. B2B and B2C licences are not mutually recognised in the European Union. A Maltese licence does not open other member states, because each market applies its own rules.
Offshore friction. An offshore licence is cheaper, but tier one operators, banks and payment providers weigh it differently, and some regulated markets will not accept it at all.
Per market obligations. Supplying several regulated markets means several sets of technical standards and, often, several licences.
Why work with MGL Solutions?
MGL Solutions has delivered 300+ licences across offshore, onshore and EU or UK tier one regimes. On B2B work the value sits in one decision: which regime your operators actually require. Pick wrong and you pay twice, once for the licence you bought and once for the restructure.
MGL maps your customer list and target markets against the regimes that serve them. We then run the application end to end: company formation, share capital, beneficial owner files, technical certification, AML and KYC policies, and the regulator correspondence. Banking and payment introductions follow, because a licence without a settlement route does not pay for itself.
Treat this page as background on how the regimes work, not as legal advice on your business. Confirm your position with counsel in each market you supply before you commit.
FAQ
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Yes. These are regional names for one class of authorisation. Malta calls it a Critical Gaming Supply Licence, the United Kingdom a gambling software operating licence, and Anjouan, Curacao and Ireland a B2B licence. Gaming supplier licence, casino supplier licence and gaming vendor licence mean the same thing.
No. A B2B licence authorises supply to operators only. Taking bets, running games or holding player funds requires a B2C operator licence in the market concerned. A business that wants both sides holds two separate licences.
Not in Malta, in one case. Directive 3 of 2018 states that where entities inside a B2C corporate group licence provide a critical gaming supply solely to other entities within that group licence, no B2B licence is required. Supply outside the group licence needs one.
No. B2B and B2C gambling licences are not mutually recognised across the European Union, and no licence passport exists. A Maltese Critical Gaming Supply Licence carries weight with operators and banks, but each regulated market sets its own rules on who may supply operators there.
Scope follows the regime. A gambling software operating licence covers supply to operators licensed in Great Britain, under the LCCP and the remote technical standards. A Maltese Critical Gaming Supply Licence covers supply from Malta or to Maltese persons. Offshore licences are accepted case by case.
Send us your customer list and the markets they hold licences in. We name the regime you actually need, what the regulator charges and how long it takes.