Company Formation & Licensing for iGaming Founders
Launch legally. Anywhere players are.
An iGaming launch is two projects at once: a gaming license and an operating company, run in parallel to save weeks. Anjouan or Curaçao get you live fastest and accept crypto; an MGA license unlocks Europe and tier-one payments. The standard setup pairs the license with a BVI operating company. OnScale coordinates both under one fixed price and one point of contact.
License and company are a package, not a sequence
Founders often think license first, company later - but they gate each other, so running them in parallel is how you launch in weeks instead of months. The license determines which markets you can serve and which payment processors will onboard you; the operating company holds the player relationship and the funds. The reputation ladder is the real decision: Anjouan is the cheapest, fastest entry; Curaçao adds provider and payment coverage post-reform; the MGA buys European market access and tier-one banking at a much higher cost. Most operators start low and upgrade as revenue justifies it - so structure the company to migrate licenses without rebuilding the business.
Recommended structures
Curaçao or Anjouan license
The fastest routes to a live casino or sportsbook - Anjouan in 2-5 weeks at the lowest cost, Curaçao under the new CGA regime with broader provider and payment acceptance. Both crypto-tolerant.
BVI or Malta operating company
The entity that holds the player wallet and runs the brand, set up in parallel with the license. BVI for a fast, private offshore operator; Malta when you need an EU-regulated MGA setup.
KYC/AML compliance package
Full player-onboarding and anti-money-laundering setup - the policies and controls every regulator and payment processor now expects before go-live.
Payment processor coordination
Documentation and introductions to gaming-friendly PSPs and EMIs, the step that most often stalls an otherwise-ready launch.
Jurisdictions we recommend
Key terms
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to launch an online casino?
An Anjouan gaming license paired with a BVI operating company is the lowest-cost recognised route - low five figures all-in for the first year, live in roughly 2-5 weeks once KYC clears. The saving trades against thinner payment and provider acceptance versus Curaçao or the MGA.
Do I need the license or the company first?
Neither in isolation - they gate each other, so the fastest path runs them in parallel. The operating company holds the player funds and brand; the license authorises the activity. Setting them up together is how operators launch in weeks instead of months.
Can I accept crypto with a Curaçao or Anjouan license?
Yes - both are the most crypto-tolerant of the recognised gaming regimes, subject to AML controls on deposits and withdrawals. This is a major reason crypto casinos concentrate under the Curaçao and Anjouan flags rather than the stricter MGA.
Not sure which setup fits?
Answer a few questions and OnScale matches you to the right entity and license - one fixed price, one point of contact.