How to Open a Gaming Site in Antigua and Barbuda: Expert Advice

If you want to launch a casino platform, it is worth considering the option of obtaining a licence in Antigua and Barbuda.

Stages that you will need to go through:

• create and legalise a company (on behalf of which all activities will be carried out) on one of these islands;
• prepare a package of documents for submission to the Commission;
• go through the certification process;
• pay the necessary fees;
• organise the work of a digital casino following the requirements of the Department.

The country, named after the state's largest islands, is one of the top 10 places in the world where it is considered the most beneficial to get a permit.

Even given the Department's slightly negative attitude towards casino operators, the licences issued by this regulator remain highly sought-after. They provide huge opportunities for enterprises to grow and flourish.

At the Smart Money studio, you can buy a White Label casino with a permit, order juridical assistance and other related services.

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Advantages of a Licence Obtained in the Country

Let us review the benefits of applying for the official document in Antigua and Barbuda:

• Firms that have received such a certificate are not taxed in the first 12 months of operation.
• There is no need to prove the availability of authorised capital when applying for a licence.
• Those entrepreneurs who hold such a permit are allowed to work in the UK business market and are free to advertise their services in one of the key information fields.
• The platform’s servers can be located anywhere in the world but the transit one must be installed in Antigua and Barbuda.

If we evaluate the requirements that the Department puts forward concerning potential holders of a permit, we can consider them to be quite loyal. At the same time, the local regulator is very attentive to the technical side of the organisation of the work of online casinos but we will talk more about it below.

According to the law, in the territory of the jurisdiction, entrepreneurs can establish a company by completing the following tasks:

• rent or build an office on one of the islands, thus obtaining an official address;
• appoint a director (an individual or a legal entity);
• register at least one shareholder (an individual or a legal entity).

And that is all. After paying the fees, the firm is considered registered.

However, it is worth remembering that it is essential to include in the package of documents the credit history of each of the founders and top managers, their biographies, certificates of good conduct, and much more.

In addition to this, 2 contributions to the local state budget must be made:

• $15,000 for the consideration of an application;
• $100,000 — a donation for the growth of the casino niche, which must be made once a year. The amount of money is fixed and should be paid regardless of the company's level of income.

The licence exploitation is paid separately: $100,000 for companies that own online casinos and $75,000 for the operators of sweepstakes.

Tech Requirements

If everything is quite simple with the financial issue (although it is rather costly), then it is more difficult to organise the technical work of a gaming site. The local Gambling Department sets the bar high for potential licensees but with this approach, players can be sure of the quality of the provided services.

The main peculiarities:

1. All types of gambling software must be certified, including gaming platforms, programs for collecting analytical data and maintaining a high level of security, and payment systems.
2. The products are subject to mandatory examination and audit.
3. Such strict control only applies to the software that was created on an individual order. The expertise may also be needed if some modules have been customised.

As for gambling programs developed by major providers, most often, the manufacturers themselves go through all the necessary procedures to obtain certificates for their products. One of them, eCOGRA, can prove that the solution it provides complies with international standards. If you decide to install such a program, the local regulator will not have any unnecessary questions or claims regarding the use of the product.

The jurisdiction is closely monitoring that operators provide gamblers with a high-level service. One of the key markers of this attitude towards players is the tracking of payouts. For example, if a client wins $25,000 or more, then the casino is obliged to demonstrate the confirmation of the payment of this prize within 2 days.

Thanks to this approach, all gambling platforms licensed in Antigua and Barbuda are famous for taking care of their customers, thus gaining the trust of users all over the world. This helps law enforcement agencies to effectively combat money laundering that takes place in casinos, which ultimately also has a positive impact on the reputation of iGaming projects.

Another requirement, which clearly demonstrated the reverent attitude of the jurisdiction to gamblers, states that operators must close access to entertainment for money to minors. It is imperative to warn people about the danger of such a disease as ludomania and indicate contact details of organisations that provide psycho-social aid.

The Main Things about Antigua and Barbuda’s Work Permit

Although the process of obtaining a licence in this jurisdiction is associated with certain difficulties, at the same time, it offers additional opportunities. Before applying for a permit, we recommend determining your business goals. If it is this island country that will help you bring your plans to life as quickly as possible, you can start collecting a package of documents.

Still, consider alternative options. Such countries as Curacao, Gibraltar, Malta, or the Isle of Man also have many advantages that are useful to beginning entrepreneurs. Each jurisdiction has its hidden opportunities: in one region, you will pay less tax, in another, you will get access to closed markets, etc.

To make the right decision, you need to enlist the support of experienced professionals who know all the nuances of laws in different countries and are aware of the latest iGaming trends and blind market niches.

Smart Money experts help operators get started successfully and quickly attract loyal customers. You can entrust us with legal and technical issues — from the collection of documents to the organisation of a transit server.

From us, you can also order the following services:

• creation of a turnkey casino;
• development of exclusive HTML5 games;
• installation of high-quality software;
• promotion of an already existing project, and much more.

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Each application is accompanied by high costs. It is cheaper to choose an experienced contractor who will take care of everything and help you reach your goal on the first try.