Licence by product · Lottery
Online Lottery Licence
Lotteries are the most restricted vertical in gambling — state monopolies almost everywhere. The viable commercial routes are offshore, and picking the right one is most of the work.
overview
What you actually need.
Lotteries are different from every other gambling vertical: in most countries they're a state monopoly, and no commercial licence — local or foreign — makes running a domestic lottery legal there. What can be licensed commercially is an international online lottery operation: draws, raffles, number games and instant-win products offered under an offshore authorisation to markets that don't reserve them.
The offshore regimes that expressly include lotteries and draws in their licence scope are the practical routes: KUNAISA lists draws and lotteries alongside casino and betting; Anjouan's single authorisation spans number games and instant win; Curaçao's LOK framework covers games of chance broadly. The work is less about the application and more about product-market design — which draw formats, which GEOs, and how prize funds are held.
Two adjacent models are worth knowing: lottery-betting (taking bets on the outcome of official lotteries rather than running your own draw) is licensed as betting, not lottery — which opens the sportsbook routes; and prize-competition/sweepstakes models sit outside gambling licensing entirely in some markets (see our US sweepstakes page). We scope which of the three models fits your product before any filing.
your options
The routes that work.
Anjouan or KUNAISA — run your own number games, raffles and instant-win products under an authorisation that names them expressly.
Take bets on official lottery outcomes under a betting licence — same offshore routes as a sportsbook, often the cleaner model commercially.
Free-entry-route models that sit outside gambling licensing in specific markets — including the US sweepstakes model we structure separately.
head to head
Lottery routes compared
| Route | First-year cost | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan (own draws) | from €17,828/yr | 4–8 weeks | Cheapest draw/instant-win operation |
| KUNAISA (own draws) | €19,500/yr (incl. 2 domains) | ~4 weeks | Draws & lotteries named in scope, fastest |
| Curaçao (games of chance) | €47,450/yr + ≈€4,592 app | 3–6 months | Banking-led lottery brands |
| Lottery-betting (any betting route) | from €17,828/yr | 4–8 weeks | Betting on official draws |
| US sweepstakes model | structured, not licensed | varies | US-facing prize competitions |
requirements
Eligibility & docs.
step by step
From product to licence.
- Scope callYour lottery, target markets, payment mix and budget — we shortlist the licence routes that actually fit and give you an all-in number.Day 1
- Company & structureWe 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 & evidenceKYC on owners, business plan, AML/RG policies, draw mechanics, prize-fund arrangements and the GEO plan — we assemble the full file and handle every regulator query.Week 2–4
- Licence & railsLicence 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 your exact product?
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
What it costs.
Regulator schedules only. Lottery launches carry two extra lines other verticals don't: prize-fund guarantees and a heavier GEO/legal mapping exercise — both are itemised in our quote.
go deeper
Jurisdictions & related services.
FAQ
Can I get a licence to run an online lottery?
Yes — offshore. KUNAISA and Anjouan expressly include lotteries, draws and instant-win in their licence scope; Curaçao covers games of chance broadly. What no commercial licence does is authorise a domestic lottery in a country that reserves lotteries for the state — the GEO plan is the heart of a lottery launch.
What's the difference between running a lottery and lottery-betting?
Running a lottery = your own draws and prize fund, licensed as a lottery/gaming operation. Lottery-betting = players bet on the outcome of official draws (EuroMillions, Powerball) and you pay winners yourself — licensed as betting, which opens the standard sportsbook routes and is often simpler commercially.
How are prizes guaranteed?
Regulators and PSPs expect prize liabilities covered — either segregated prize-fund accounts or insurance-backed guarantees for large jackpots. We structure whichever fits your draw sizes as part of the file.
What does it cost?
The licence itself from €17,828/yr (Anjouan) or €19,500/yr (KUNAISA). Add RNG certification for your draw engine and, for large jackpots, the insurer's premium — both quoted per product.
Is the sweepstakes model an alternative?
For the US specifically, yes — dual-currency sweepstakes structured around free entry sit outside gambling licensing when built correctly. It's a structuring exercise, not a licence; see our US sweepstakes casino page.
other products
Licensing a different product?
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 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.