23/09/2026
Eritrea: the iGaming world’s most underrated licence
By Gabriel Jatombliansky, IVYASCENT
When a new operator comes to me, he opens with the same question: where do we
license?
It used to be an easy answer. It isn’t any more, and the reason is worth setting out plainly,
because I think a lot of the market is about to make the same mistake twice.
Curaçao was the default for two decades. Under the LOK framework it now costs €47,450 a
year, takes three to six months, and has left provisional licence holders waiting on final
decisions with no published timeline. On top of that, operators must build a local structure
and pay up to 3% of their profits locally.
The regulator’s supervisory board resigned in 2025. A jurisdiction that once licensed around
1,200 entities now lists closer to 300. For a mid-sized operator, that is a lot of money and a
lot of uncertainty for a credential that no longer differentiates you.
Most of that displaced business was relocated to Anjouan, which offers a 0% tax regime,
limited requirements regarding the management team, no local substance requirements, and
minimal reporting obligations. However, this year, it began requiring operators to establish an
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) team to address and resolve player complaints before
they are escalated to a formal level.
This licence also functions as a market convention, with operators, content providers, and
payment processors accepting it regardless of the issuing authority. It is essentially an
agreement among all parties to accept the conditions without demanding much in return. It is
still very valid, but without an official authority behind it.
Having a formal authority behind brings some extra confidence to the operation, nevertheless
what is important, in a license, is that all the players of the market onboard you in first place,
and that the license possess sufficient standing to position yourself in the player's mind as a
trustworthy casino.
The Eritrean Internet Gaming Regulatory Framework is authorised by the Government
of the State of Eritrea under Government Gaming Specific Authorisation Ref.
EGC/GSA/2026/0714-001.
The structure separates three functions deliberately. The Government provides the enabling
authority. The Eritrean Gaming Commission is the regulator and the sole licensing
decisionmaker. Eritrea Gaming administers the process. Every license and every approved
domain is published on a public register at eritreagaming.com, all the information is public
and with 24/7 access to all the parties.
The commercial terms
Two categories are open. The B2C Operator Licence covers online casino, live casino,
sportsbook, poker, bingo, esports, crypto-enabled gaming and prediction markets. The B2B
Service Provider Licence covers game studios, platform providers, aggregators and software
suppliers.
Both are €10,000 to issue and €10,000 a year to renew, with additional approved domains at
€300. No minimum capital requirement, and no GGR tax — no revenue charge, no turnover
levy, no revenue share. The fee schedule is the entire cost of holding it. Fees can be paid in
cryptocurrency. Indicative processing is five to seven days from a complete application.
And if the Commission refuses the application, the licence fee is refunded in full — which,
having watched clients write off application fees elsewhere, I do not take for granted.
Why it is workable in practice
Documentation is limited to what actually gets reviewed: ID, proof of address, corporate and
ownership evidence, accredited RNG and game certificates, proof of domain ownership, an
internal AML/KYC policy, plus the standard suitability and source-of-funds forms. Plain
scans — no notarisation, no apostille, no certified translations, no document-age rules.
Avoiding notary fees and saving the time otherwise required for apostilles and related
formalities.
There is no mandatory testing house. Accredited certification a supplier already holds is
accepted as submitted.
And B2B licensees may supply operators licensed anywhere. An Eritrean B2B licence does
not oblige your customers to hold one.
The framework does enforce market restrictions — the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, the
Netherlands, Austria, Australia and Eritrea domestically are out without separate local
authorisation. It is not a substitute for a local licence where one is required, and the
Commission says so rather than letting operators find out later.
Who it suits
If you require Tier 1 EU card acquiring and intend to target regulated European markets, you
will still need to obtain a local license, bear the associated costs, and meet the applicable
capital requirements in each jurisdiction. That has not changed.
But for a crypto-friendly operator, these requirements may be less restrictive, as crypto
payment solutions can reduce reliance on traditional EU card acquiring and, in some cases,
allow the operator to serve certain markets without obtaining a local license—subject to the
applicable laws, AML/KYC obligations, and payment-provider requirements. For a B2B
supplier who needs credentials, Eritrea is one of the most sensible options on my desk right
now, and for new merchants or crypto-friendly operators, this can be a highly competitive
and materially cheaper alternative to comparable licensing and payment setups.
Key factors to consider when choosing an online gaming license—whether launching a new
operation or relaunching an existing company—include:
• Cost: Licensing fees, ongoing renewal costs, compliance expenses, taxes, and operational
overhead.
• Scope and capabilities: The permitted gaming verticals, target markets, product coverage,
and operational flexibility.
• License prestige and market recognition: How the license is perceived by players, payment
providers, affiliates, and business partners.
• Connectivity options: Access to payment providers, software suppliers, aggregators,
platforms, and other essential infrastructure.
• The people behind the license: The most important factor of all—who operates and supports
the licensing structure, their experience, reputation, responsiveness, and ability to provide
reliable long-term assistance.
A competitive license is not defined solely by its jurisdiction or headline price. Its real value
depends on the combination of affordability, commercial usability, market credibility,
connectivity, and—above all—the quality and reliability of the team behind it.
And that is where Eritrea stands out: it brings together competitive costs, broad
operational capabilities, market prestige, strong connectivity options, and—most
importantly—a reliable and experienced team behind the license.
In other words, Eritrea offers the complete package for operators launching or
relaunching an online gaming business.
