Australian Online Gambling License

In previous articles we talked lots about social gambling, live dealer casinos and casino white labeling , but today we want to talk about a crucial component for any gambling business. We all know that lots of online gambling operators who work without a proper license and they get by pretty well.

A gaming venue Licence, as well as a permit/Licence for each gaming machine, is required to operate gaming machines in Australia. The only exception to this is in relation to a casino operator Licence, which typically includes permission to operate gaming machines within the casino premises. Australia Gambling License is one of the most popular license for online casinos worldwide. Australia was one of the first countries to address the legality of online gambling and did so back in 2001 with the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (IGA). Laws concerning online gambling in Australia are covered primarily by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (IGA). This act makes it illegal for Australian companies to offer certain gambling services to Australian residents; only sports betting and lottery games are allowed. Regulation is carried out by both central government and local.

Some companies even make a living through legalizing sketchy gamblers, saving them some time and maintenance expenses, and basically giving them a fast-track ticket to the business. Looks like an easy way to accumulate some quick profit, but there are more disadvantages of going underground than you might think – some countries are very serious when it comes to illegal gambling (even online), so your dreams of wealth could easily end up in a jail cell. There is no need to risk working in the shadows when you can make this legal and easy, with certain countries even offering very liberal gambling jurisdictions.

Rules on Getting a License

Getting an online gambling license has to be your priority as it's a direct pass into the business. Nothing happens without a gaming license. You'll need it to open bank and merchant accounts, work with electronic payment system providers and buy legal gaming content. Not to mention you'll need a license for more effective marketing and increasing customer loyalty though the reputation of your casino. It's actually easy to get a license if you play by the rules, so follow these steps before applying for a gaming license:

• Choose countries that meet your current needs and possibilities. Do research on gambling jurisdictions: their requirements, costs, taxation policy and application processing time. You can speed up research by consulting with a lawyer.
• Start preparing personal documents in advance. You'll need a copy of your passport, proof of address, a criminal background check and a reference from your bank.
• Make sure your casino software meets jurisdiction requirements. Prepare a list that includes detailed descriptions of software functionality and games, agreements with software providers and a certificate of the RNG.
• Check if the online casino website contains information required by your gambling jurisdiction. Many gambling jurisdictions check for information on terms and conditions, responsible gambling, self-exclusion policy, withdrawal policy, etc.

Every country has different rules when it comes to gambling regulation. Gambling laws – much like all country laws in general – tend to vary from country to country. In many places, such as the UK, gambling is heavily regulated by both government and non-government organizations to ensure that people are safe from scams. Some countries are very strict on gambling laws, thus making operators turn to cheaper and less regulated jurisdictions. You should consider offshoring if you get caught in a situation where starting a gambling service in your home country is just too expensive and difficult. Getting an online gambling license abroad could be a lot easier and faster.

However, each offshore area has its own rules and laws, and the cost of the gambling license may vary from several thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands. Before making the final choice, you need to consider all nuances of gambling jurisdictions. Here is a list of popular locations for offshoring your online casino.

Read also: Online Gambling In Eastern Europe – Brief Guide To Legislation

Antigua and Barbuda

Online Gambling License

Setting up a gambling service in this island country can be very costly. The application fee is $15,000 and the annual gaming license cost for obtaining an interactive gambling license is $100,000. On average, the application process takes up to 2 months. You can get two types of licenses: one for interactive gaming companies including online casinos, and the second one is for interactive wagering companies. Before opening an online casino you have to reserve of no less than $100,000. This will act as a form of security for your website players. The annual monitoring system fee is $25,000 per license. Plus, similar to health warnings on cigarette packages, it is obligatory to place a website banner warning users about compulsive gambling and about contacting organizations that can help them to deal with their addiction.

Curacao

Curacao is the fastest and cheapest solution to open an online casino. Getting a gambling license takes just 6 weeks. You can apply for a master license covering all game types, software providers, and product operators, or you can get a sublicense to work under the auspices of the master license. The application fee is just about €2,000; the monthly license support fee is €1,500. If your gambling business is registered in another country, you can apply for a special Ezone permit to benefit from a low net corporate income tax rate of 2%, and a 0% tax rate on gross bets. Curacao is a good choice for businesses who want to open their online casino as soon as possible. They can get a fast Curacao online gambling license while waiting for the approval of their application in another gambling jurisdiction.

Malta

An independent republic and a member of the European Union, Malta is a large and reputable gambling jurisdiction offering affordable rates. The gaming taxes in Malta can vary depending on the class of your license. In general, online casino-style games require a Class 1 license. In this case, the gaming taxes are €4,660 per month during the first six months, and then they rise to €7,000 per month. The minimum share capital required for a Class 1 license is €100,000. The license application process is quite long because you need to go through five stages including several compliance audits. You'll need to provide your personal and financial information and business plan with a detailed review of marketing strategies and growth targets.

Montenegro

Montenegro has been offering gambling licenses for online casinos, sports betting, poker games, etc. since 2012. They have a special 'all-in-one' service packet that includes all operational costs for opening and registering your business, getting a license and payment processing. The package fee is €25.000 for the first year and €15.000 for each successive year. Montenegro offers a fast and easy license application process. A new business can be registered just for two days, and there is practically no minimum capital requirement to form a limited liability company and get an online gambling license. Another advantage of the Montenegro jurisdiction is a low 9% corporate and personal tax rate.

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Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is an independent self-governing island providing a stable environment for gambling businesses. The Gambling Supervision Commission offers 3 levels of a gambling license: Network Services license, full license and sub-license. The full gaming license is a single license for your gaming business – the application fee is £5,000, the annual fee is £35,000. The licensing process takes 10-12 weeks. In order to gain a gambling license, the business should be registered in the Isle of Man and all related casino servers must also be hosted in the Isle of Man. The island offers an attractive 0% corporation tax rate, but you will need to pay the gambling duty – 0.1- 1.5% depending on the gross profit.

Panama

If you are looking to open an online casino in Panama, you should know that the laws here allow operators to be exempt of all taxes – as long as the income comes from outside Panama, there are no taxes, including income tax, sales tax or VAT. Offshore companies are also not subject to foreign exchange control, but operators must monitor game payouts and make sure that records of all transactions are available for inspection by the Government. More than that, all operators must comply with international money laundering regulations. An online gambling license costs $40,000, and the additional annual fee costs $20,000. The license lasts for 7 years.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar has very good grounds for starting a gambling business. The cost of the license depends on the gambling type and the company structure – it may be between $30,000 and $70,000. The license is issued for 5 years with the annual extending cost around $2800. Seems like the gaming license is pretty expensive, but the main advantage of this jurisdiction is taxes. Gambling business tax is 1% from revenues. Moreover, tax can't be higher than £425,000 and lower than £85,000 per year. This tax is very profitable and almost zero for huge companies with higher revenues.

What to Choose?

Getting an online gambling license can be tricky if you lack understanding on how certain jurisdictions work. It's very important to prepare in advance and get your paperwork ready before applying. Don‘t forget that your software, finances and reputation will also be under the scope, so make sure everything is clear – it‘s better to get ready in advance than waste time gathering documents and choosing countries. Every country is different when it comes to gambling laws; that‘s why your goal is to choose a state that meets your specific needs. Choosing a country with liberal gambling laws might be beneficial, because you‘ll likely save time and money on processing and maintaining a license.

With today's technology, gambling online is easy and accessible. But you should understand what protections you have as a consumer when using an online gambling service.

Generally, Australian consumer law applies to any product or service you buy in Queensland or around Australia. So, for example, it is illegal for businesses to:

Australia Online Gambling License

• take unfair advantage of anything you don't know or understand
• take advantage of a customer with a disability, impairment or low English-speaking skills
• claim to offer gifts, rebates or prizes and then not provide them
• offer gifts or benefits as an incentive to buy, but only if you refer another person to the business.

Online wagering providers based in Australia, as businesses that offer services, are also obliged to maintain your consumer rights, as well as meet their gaming licence requirements.

These providers are regulated in the state they are licensed in. In Queensland, the regulator is the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).

An independent republic and a member of the European Union, Malta is a large and reputable gambling jurisdiction offering affordable rates. The gaming taxes in Malta can vary depending on the class of your license. In general, online casino-style games require a Class 1 license. In this case, the gaming taxes are €4,660 per month during the first six months, and then they rise to €7,000 per month. The minimum share capital required for a Class 1 license is €100,000. The license application process is quite long because you need to go through five stages including several compliance audits. You'll need to provide your personal and financial information and business plan with a detailed review of marketing strategies and growth targets.

Montenegro

Montenegro has been offering gambling licenses for online casinos, sports betting, poker games, etc. since 2012. They have a special 'all-in-one' service packet that includes all operational costs for opening and registering your business, getting a license and payment processing. The package fee is €25.000 for the first year and €15.000 for each successive year. Montenegro offers a fast and easy license application process. A new business can be registered just for two days, and there is practically no minimum capital requirement to form a limited liability company and get an online gambling license. Another advantage of the Montenegro jurisdiction is a low 9% corporate and personal tax rate.

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Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is an independent self-governing island providing a stable environment for gambling businesses. The Gambling Supervision Commission offers 3 levels of a gambling license: Network Services license, full license and sub-license. The full gaming license is a single license for your gaming business – the application fee is £5,000, the annual fee is £35,000. The licensing process takes 10-12 weeks. In order to gain a gambling license, the business should be registered in the Isle of Man and all related casino servers must also be hosted in the Isle of Man. The island offers an attractive 0% corporation tax rate, but you will need to pay the gambling duty – 0.1- 1.5% depending on the gross profit.

Panama

If you are looking to open an online casino in Panama, you should know that the laws here allow operators to be exempt of all taxes – as long as the income comes from outside Panama, there are no taxes, including income tax, sales tax or VAT. Offshore companies are also not subject to foreign exchange control, but operators must monitor game payouts and make sure that records of all transactions are available for inspection by the Government. More than that, all operators must comply with international money laundering regulations. An online gambling license costs $40,000, and the additional annual fee costs $20,000. The license lasts for 7 years.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar has very good grounds for starting a gambling business. The cost of the license depends on the gambling type and the company structure – it may be between $30,000 and $70,000. The license is issued for 5 years with the annual extending cost around $2800. Seems like the gaming license is pretty expensive, but the main advantage of this jurisdiction is taxes. Gambling business tax is 1% from revenues. Moreover, tax can't be higher than £425,000 and lower than £85,000 per year. This tax is very profitable and almost zero for huge companies with higher revenues.

What to Choose?

Getting an online gambling license can be tricky if you lack understanding on how certain jurisdictions work. It's very important to prepare in advance and get your paperwork ready before applying. Don‘t forget that your software, finances and reputation will also be under the scope, so make sure everything is clear – it‘s better to get ready in advance than waste time gathering documents and choosing countries. Every country is different when it comes to gambling laws; that‘s why your goal is to choose a state that meets your specific needs. Choosing a country with liberal gambling laws might be beneficial, because you‘ll likely save time and money on processing and maintaining a license.

With today's technology, gambling online is easy and accessible. But you should understand what protections you have as a consumer when using an online gambling service.

Generally, Australian consumer law applies to any product or service you buy in Queensland or around Australia. So, for example, it is illegal for businesses to:

Australia Online Gambling License

• take unfair advantage of anything you don't know or understand
• take advantage of a customer with a disability, impairment or low English-speaking skills
• claim to offer gifts, rebates or prizes and then not provide them
• offer gifts or benefits as an incentive to buy, but only if you refer another person to the business.

Online wagering providers based in Australia, as businesses that offer services, are also obliged to maintain your consumer rights, as well as meet their gaming licence requirements.

These providers are regulated in the state they are licensed in. In Queensland, the regulator is the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).

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Gambling License Application

National framework to reduce harm for consumers

The national framework was introduced to protect you when placing bets through online providers based in Australia.

The federal and state governments have developed a set of standard minimum protections for online gamblers—the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering—which online wagering providers must follow.

These protections provide consistent, easy-to-use tools and information to ensure that consumers are receiving responsible service and are given better ways to control their gambling.

Read the fact sheet on the framework and its 10 measures for more information.

Complaints

If you have received irresponsible service of gambling from an online provider, talk to the business first to give them the opportunity to explain or investigate the issue.

If they can't give you a satisfactory response, you can make a complaint with the government agency that issued the provider's licence—this should be displayed on the provider's website.

In Queensland, the only licence holder for race and sports wagering is UBET QLD Limited.

Contact OLGR if you have an issue with UBET's online wagering service or learn how to make a complaint when a gaming provider is not meeting their obligations.

Many other online wagering providers are licensed and regulated by the Northern Territory Government—see the list of sports bookmakers and betting exchange operators licensed in the Northern Territory.

If the provider is licensed in the Northern Territory, read about complaints and disputes at NT Consumer Affairs for more information about resolving your issue with the provider.