Antigua and Barbuda was the first jurisdiction in the world to license internet gaming, beginning in 1994 under the Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations. Oversight sits with the Division of Gaming inside the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC), which monitors AML controls, audits and server integrity.
The structure differs from the newer offshore regimes in two ways that matter. First, casino-style gaming and sports betting are separate license classes with separate fees, so an operator running both pays twice. Second, licensed operators are classified as financial institutions under Antiguan law, which brings the Money Laundering Prevention Act and CFATF standards to bear on the operation rather than a gaming-specific AML regime.
Fees are premium and the published figures vary by source and by whether the operator maintains its primary server in Antigua. Expect an application fee, a separate non-refundable due diligence contribution, a substantial annual license fee differing between gaming and wagering classes, and a guarantee deposit. A 3% tax applies to net win, with software licensing and development costs deductible up to a capped share of net winnings.
This is the jurisdiction for operators buying regulatory heritage rather than speed or price. If your budget is under EUR 50K or you need to be live this quarter, Anjouan, Tuvalu or Nevis are the honest answer and we will tell you so. Because published fee data conflicts between sources, we confirm the current schedule with the FSRC directly before issuing a quote.
Antigua is a premium jurisdiction and published figures vary by source. Expect an application fee, a separate non-refundable due diligence contribution, a substantial annual fee that differs between the gaming and wagering classes, and a guarantee deposit. With our application management, budget from approximately EUR 95K. Because public sources conflict, we confirm the current FSRC schedule directly before issuing your fixed written quote.
Yes. Antigua issues an Interactive Gaming license for casino-style content and an Interactive Wagering license for sports betting as separate classes, each with its own fee. An operator running both pays for both.
Typically 3 to 6 months from submission of a complete application, which is considerably slower than the Anjouan, Tuvalu or Vanuatu regimes.
3% on net win, with software licensing and development costs deductible up to a capped proportion of net winnings. Non-resident operating companies are otherwise outside the Antiguan tax net.
It depends entirely on what you are buying. Antigua brings genuine regulatory heritage and a regulator inside a financial services commission rather than a standalone gaming board, which reads well to banks and institutional counterparties. If you do not need that specific signal, the cost is difficult to justify against Anjouan or Nevis.
No. Antigua and Barbuda licenses are not recognized in the United States, and the long-running WTO dispute between the two countries did not change that. US-facing operations require domestic state licensing.