Tuvalu Gambling License

What is a Tuvalu gaming license?

A Tuvalu gaming license is an official permit that provides legal certainty and favorable conditions for online operators when scaling their business. When introducing licensing innovations, the Tuvalu regulator focused on the international market (online casinos, sports betting, poker, etc.) and created simplified conditions for both new and existing companies to enter the market.

The license allows gaming services to be provided online worldwide, except in countries where a local license is required, such as the US, UK, Australia, and the EU (permission from the local regulator is required).

According to data for 2025, 17 international licenses have already been issued in Tuvalu, with the regulator's revenue amounting to €12.8 million.

The license allows operators to legally integrate with international PSP/EMI, accept payments via Visa/Mastercard bank cards, crypto payments (BTC, ETH, USDT), e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, etc.), and bank transfers.

Who Is Tuvalu Ideal For?

The Tuvalu Gaming Authority (TGA) has created attractive conditions for the development of:

• Startups and fast-growing projects that have decided to test a new product and enter the market without significant investment and a lengthy application process.
• Technology platforms that legally launch both classic online games and innovative web content on the global market.
• Crypto/Web3 projects, as it is one of the most friendly jurisdictions supporting the fintech sector and crypto payments, subject to passing AML procedures.
• Operators of new casinos (medium/small businesses) who have decided to scale up their operations due to the low cost of licensing and the absence of tax burdens.
• Bookmakers without the need to register a local company.

Activities Covered Under the License

The gambling license in Tuvalu covers key areas of the industry:

• Online casinos (B2C): slot casinos, live casinos.
• Poker rooms: PvP poker, online tournaments.
• Lotteries: digital lotteries, instant draws, tombola, raffle, keno.
• Online bingo, TV tickets.
• P2P betting platforms, virtual sports, live betting, fantasy sports.
• Crypto casinos, Web3 gambling.
• B2B providers - casino software, game server hosting, RNG game developers.

No license is required for:

• Affiliates (webmasters) who advertise casinos but do not accept bets.
• Platforms without payment acceptance and without RNG (if the company is focused solely on website creation).

Overview of the Tuvalu Gaming License

The key regulator is the Tuvalu Gaming Authority (TGA), which is responsible for:

• Issuing offshore licenses for online casinos, sports betting, lotteries, etc.
• Monitoring compliance with AML/KYC standards.
• Monitoring domains and gaming systems.
• Renewing licenses for one year and conducting audits of operators.

Tuvalu Gaming Licensing Inc. is a TGA agent that accepts applications and interacts with operators in a timely manner when applying for a gaming license in Tuvalu.

This modern jurisdiction is focused on supporting innovation and optimizing the regulatory and administrative burden when entering the market because:

• There is no obligation to register a local company; you can use the existing corporate structure of any jurisdiction.
• There are no taxes (0% corporate tax), no requirements for authorized capital and hiring resident employees or an AML manager.
• Minimal bureaucracy, prompt decision-making on licensing within 1 month, which is significantly faster than in the EU, US, and other strictly regulated jurisdictions.
• A wide range of activities from online casinos and sports betting to crypto projects.
• Interaction with various payment providers and EMI is available.

Comparison: Tuvalu vs Malta vs Curacao vs Anguilla

Requirements and compliance for obtaining a Tuvalu iGaming license

The regulator has set moderate requirements for submitting documents for a Tuvalu online gaming license. The main goal of the TGA is to protect the rights of customers and the reputation of operators without establishing excessive oversight or complex bureaucratic procedures.

When applying to the TGA, you must provide:

• Passport details of the UBO and key managers, which will be used for verification against sanctions lists, PEP, court registers, etc.
• Proof of residence (valid for up to 3 months), documents confirming permanent residence.
• Company incorporation documents (from any jurisdiction): Articles of Association, Memorandum, Minutes/Resolutions, register of directors, register of shareholders.
• Detailed description of the business model, including the type of games, target market, company structure, game provider, and payment provider.
• Description of AML policies: KYC for all players (identity verification), age verification (18+), prevention of registration from prohibited countries, verification through sanctions lists, international databases (OFAC, EU).
• Transaction monitoring, reporting of suspicious activity, risk assessment.
• Agreements with game providers, supplier licenses, RNG certificates, DDoS protection protocols.
• Name of hosting provider, country of location, information on data protection and backup.
• Fair play rules, dispute resolution mechanisms, self-exclusion procedures.

The following are not required for registration in Tuvalu:

• Local office, address.
• Local server, which can be located in any country in Europe, Asia, etc.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Minimum capital or reserve.

Costs

At the stage of obtaining a Tuvalu betting license, the operator incurs the following costs:

Initial Fees:

• There is no regulatory fee for reviewing the application.
• There is no minimum amount of authorized capital.
• No financial guarantees or deposits are required.

Annual Fees:

• Annual license fee - $15,850.
• Corporate tax - 0%.
• No additional gaming taxes apply.

Optional Costs:

• Legal entity registration (outside Tuvalu).
• Opening of payment accounts (PSP, EMI).
• Preparation of AML policies.
• Integration of technical providers.

Taxation

Tuvalu gambling regulation provides international operators with favorable tax conditions:

• 0% corporate tax on income from gambling activities outside the jurisdiction.
• No income tax.
• No direct taxes on turnover or gross revenue from gambling.
• There is no tax on dividends and payments to beneficiaries.
• There are no local audit requirements.

Why Work With GoFaizen & Sherle

Comprehensive legal support from GoFaizen & Sherle allows investors and operators to focus on developing their business, attracting new customers, and expanding their activities without spending time on:

• Preparing documents for submission to the TGA.
• Completing KYC/Due Diligence procedures.
• Preparing applications.
• Interacting with the regulator.
• Registering a legal entity in the chosen jurisdiction.
• Opening bank accounts.
• Setting up compliance procedures.

GoFaizen & Sherle ensures full compliance with international compliance and AML/KYC standards, compliance with applicable local legislation, and successful interaction with regulators.