How to Open an iGaming Site in Antigua and Barbuda: Expert Opinion

This is one of the Caribbean countries that got its melodic name in honour of the largest islands of the region. This is not only a beautiful resort that attracts tourists from all over the world but also a jurisdiction that is included in the top 10 most popular states for licensing digital casinos.

In Antigua and Barbuda, there are no restrictions for those who wish to obtain a permit but there are several requirements. Theoretically, anyone can launch a gambling establishment here and license it. The same applies to web platforms. However, the legalisation procedure is complicated by the high requirements imposed by the regulator.

Learn more about this famous destination and its legal nuances from Rosloto. We also assist with permit obtainment and offer turnkey gambling sites.

How to Open a Casino in the Country

To establish an entertainment business, you will need to:

• register a firm on one of the islands as an organiser of a project;
• prepare a package of documents to file a request to the Gambling Department;
• pay state fees;
• obtain a licence;
• organise the operation of a casino under the rules established by the regulator.

The Department is known for being critical of casino owners. Antigua and Barbuda strives to provide the highest level of service, especially when it comes to such sensitive issues as gambling, winnings, and losses.

The package of documents must include data about each of the shareholders, directors, and top managers of the company that will offer games for money. The regulator’s decision may be influenced by positive credit histories, biographies, recommendations of business partners, certificates of good conduct, and a list of investments over the past 3 years.

The Department sets many requirements for potential operators but this is compensated by opportunities that are opened for businessmen after they certify projects. The secret of the jurisdiction's popularity among investors is the huge prospects.

Advantages of the Country’s Licence

There are several key benefits of obtaining a local permit:

• In the first 12 months of operation, the company receives tax holidays, so it does not pay taxes.
• Operators can apply even if they do not have authorised capital or documentary evidence of its existence.
• Local licensees gain access to the UK advertising market, which allows them to easily promote services in one of the most active gambling destinations.
• Information about clients and financial transactions does not have to be stored in the jurisdiction (it is enough to place a transit server within the country, and its main facilities can be located anywhere in the world).

The company registration process in the region is simple. It can be done by any brand that has performed such actions:

• registration of a legal address after the rental or the acquisition of an office on one of the islands;
• appointment of a director (an individual or a legal entity);
• obtaining investments from at least one shareholder (an individual or a legal entity).

Compliance with these requirements is enough to obtain a permit. After paying the fees, the company is considered registered, and from that moment, entrepreneurs start collecting the necessary documents.

Contributions to the local state budget when licensing a digital casino:

• $15,000 for consideration of papers;
• $100,000 as a mandatory annual contribution to the growth of the gaming industry (the amount of money does not depend on the income of an enterprise).

Technical Nuances

Business certification in the country is a costly but simple procedure. It is important to pay a lot of attention to the tech aspects. The regulator maintains a high standard for customer service and casino operators.

Software used in the work (and this is not only gaming platforms but also slots, solutions for collecting statistics, and affiliate programs) must be certified. All products are examined and audited but only if operators use non-standard software by individual order.

This is exactly the case when it is better to trust the manufacturer and order a ready-made solution — a platform with slots, modules, chats, etc. The logic is simple: large providers are engaged in software certification. Therefore, by purchasing such a program, entrepreneurs are exempt from the need to carry out the platform’s expertise.

It is important for the jurisdiction that players are provided with the highest level of service. For this, transit servers are installed. From time to time, the regulator selectively checks how clearly and transparently business owners work.

The Country’s Requirements for the Customer Service

Let us overview the core notions in this field:

• The condition to provide players with data on the completion of the transfer, if they won more than 25,000 dollars, within 2 days is very indicative. In case of delay with the payment, the state takes the side of gamblers and commences proceedings.
• Operators are required to ensure that people under the age of 18 and residents of countries where iGaming is prohibited are not allowed to place bets. To do this, project owners must collect the personal data of users and prevent underage casino visitors from playing.
• The main page of the site must contain details about the danger of ludomania, the risks of its development, as well as the contacts of the nearest organisations that can provide urgent psycho-social aid.

Thanks to this approach, platforms licensed in the jurisdiction have earned the trust of gamblers all over the world as experienced users know perfectly well how casinos work. That is why the state is considered a great place for opening new businesses.

The Main Things about Casino Licensing in Antigua and Barbuda

The process of obtaining a licence in this island country can hardly be called cheap. It is necessary to decide what prospects such a permit will open. If the jurisdiction can help operators to achieve goals, then they have made the right choice and can start preparing for the certification procedure. Otherwise, it is worth considering other options.

Such offshores and European countries as Curacao, Gibraltar, Malta, or Alderney can give no fewer advantages to a new gambling project. Each jurisdiction has its differences: in one state, you will pay less tax, and in another, you will get access to closed markets.

Sometimes it is not easy to make the right decision, especially when it comes to financial investments and future success. It is worth contacting specialists who are well-versed in gambling legislation and can offer the jurisdiction, which is best for you.

The Rosloto studio employs excellent lawyers, consultants on the casino niche, and local representatives. To them, you can entrust not only the preparation of documents but also the resolution of issues that may arise along the way.

From us, it is also possible to order the following useful services:

• turnkey gaming site development;
• creation of HTML5 slots;
• drafting a business plan;
• promotion of already existing projects, and much more.

For all questions, please contact our manager.