Licence by product · Esports
Esports Betting Licence
Esports betting is a sportsbook with a younger, crypto-native audience and its own data and integrity stack. The licence routes are the same — the product decisions aren't.
overview
What licence does an esports betting site need?
Esports betting is licensed as betting — every offshore bookmaker route (Anjouan, KUNAISA, Tobique, Kahnawake, Curaçao) covers wagers on CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant and the rest of the competitive calendar under the same authorisation as football or tennis. No esports-specific permit exists, and none is needed.
What is esports-specific: your audience is crypto-native (Anjouan's Travel-Rule-aligned regime and Tobique's crypto-first stance fit naturally), your data comes from specialist esports feeds rather than the traditional sports providers, and integrity risk is real — match-fixing in tier-2 esports is an active problem, so regulators and payment partners look for suspicious-bet monitoring and sensible market limits on low-tier events.
Skin gambling is the line not to cross: wagering with in-game items on third-party sites sits outside — and against — the game publishers' terms and most regulators' comfort. Real-money esports betting under a proper licence is the durable model, and it's what every route on this page licenses.
your options
Licence routes for an esports betting site
Anjouan or KUNAISA — full esports coverage plus traditional sports on the same licence, crypto rails included, live in about a month.
Tobique — the crypto-first regime for books where digital assets are the primary deposit method.
Same licence covers casino verticals — most esports books add crash games and slots for the same audience within months.
head to head
Esports betting routes compared
| Route | First-year cost | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | from €17,828/yr | 4–8 weeks | Cheapest full-coverage esports book |
| KUNAISA | €19,500/yr (incl. 2 domains) | ~4 weeks | Fastest to first bet |
| Tobique | €36,000 first year | 4–6 weeks | Crypto-primary deposits |
| Kahnawake | ≈$50–75k initial all-in | 8–16 weeks | Established name for PSPs |
| Curaçao (CGA) | €47,450/yr + ≈€4,592 app | 3–6 months | Card processing at scale |
requirements
Esports betting licence requirements
step by step
How to get an esports betting licence
- Scope call Your esports book, target markets, payment mix and budget — we shortlist the licence routes that actually fit and give you an all-in number. Day 1
- Company & structure We set up the licensed entity where the regulator wants it and the operating structure around it — cleanly, so banking doesn't choke later. Week 1–2
- File & evidence KYC on owners, business plan, AML/RG policies, esports data agreements and integrity procedures — we assemble the full file and handle every regulator query. Week 2–4
- Licence & rails Licence issued; merchant accounts, PSPs and crypto rails plugged in around it. You launch, we stay on for renewals and compliance. From week 4
Want the shortlist for an esports betting site?
Tell us your product, target markets and payment mix — we'll confirm the route that gets you live fastest at the lowest all-in cost, with the number itemised.
costs
How much does an esports betting licence cost?
Regulator schedules only; specialist esports data runs cheaper than official traditional-sports data but is a real line item. Our fee is itemised separately — all-in numbers via the calculator.
go deeper
Where to license an esports betting site
Esports betting licence FAQ
Is there a special esports betting licence?
No — esports betting is licensed as betting. Every offshore bookmaker route covers esports titles alongside traditional sports under one authorisation.
What does an esports betting licence cost?
From €17,828/yr (Anjouan) or €19,500/yr (KUNAISA, incl. two domains). Crypto-first Tobique runs €36,000 first year. Same schedules as any sportsbook.
Can players deposit in crypto?
On the right routes, natively — Anjouan aligned its regime with the FATF Travel Rule for virtual assets, and Tobique is crypto-first by design. That matches how the esports audience actually pays.
What about skin betting?
Skin gambling (wagering in-game items) violates game publishers' terms and sits outside licensable models — we don't structure it. Real-money esports betting under a proper licence is the durable business, and converts the same audience.
How do regulators treat match-fixing risk?
As your problem to manage: they expect suspicious-bet monitoring, sensible limits on low-tier matches and documented escalation procedures. We include the integrity framework in the application file — it's also what serious PSPs ask to see.
other products
Licensing something other than an esports betting site?
Reviewed by the Vantegris licensing team. This page is general information, not legal advice. Fee schedules and timelines mirror our jurisdiction pages and change when regulators change them.
Free consultation
Start your esports betting licence file.
Tell us the product — we'll map the licence, banking and structure that gets it live. Free, confidential, no obligation — most enquiries get a reply within 24 hours.