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Comparison with Malta, Curaçao and Costa Rica (Antigua and Barbuda)
Comparison with Malta, Curaçao and Costa Rica
Resume Summary
Antigua and Barbuda is one of the pioneers of remote licensing: separate online licenses Interactive Gaming (casino/poker) and Interactive Wagering (bookmaking) under the auspices of Directorate of Offshore Gaming (FSRC). Rigid procedural packages (Schedules), focus on KYC/AML and "Tier-1" positioning.
Malta (MGA) is a mature European model: B2C-Gaming Service and B2B-Critical Gaming Supply licenses, unified supervision and a fresh fact map for 2025. High standards of conformity and recognition in the EU.
Curacao - in active reform: the new LOK law ends the old master/sub-license system and introduces centralized oversight (CGA) with new procedures and transition deadlines 2024-2025.
Costa Rica - No profile gambling license: Companies operate through a data processing license/municipal permits and generally do not accept bets from Costa Rican residents. This is an operating mode without a specialized gambling regulator.
Antigua and Barbuda (starting point)
What is licensed:- Interactive Gaming (online casino/poker, etc.) and Interactive Wagering (online bookmaker). Regulation is spelled out in Interactive Gaming & Interactive Wagering Regulations (2007); applications and supervision are conducted by the Directorate of Offshore Gaming/FSRC.
- Detailed Schedules (A-E) for legal entity, beneficiaries (ownership threshold), Key Person, renewals; mandatory sections on verification of age/personality/residency, IT architecture, reporting. The regulator declares the goal to maintain the status of "Tier-1 jurisdiction of choice."
For the operator, this means: a predictable procedure, strict documentation and compliance framework, the historical reputation of an early and mature online regulator.
Malta (MGA): European benchmark
License types:- B2C — Gaming Service licence; B2B - Critical Gaming Supply license (providers of "material elements of the game"). Structure and terminology confirmed by official materials and fact sheet 2025
- Separation into B2C/B2B with separate sets of documents and System Documentation Checklist at the start of submission; presence in the EU and a high bar for compliance. (The 2025 reference guides are consistent with the MGA line.)
- B2B licensing as an independent formation (Antigua - emphasis on B2C operators according to the dual Gaming/Wagering scheme); in the EU context, Malta is often used for pan-European work and issuing recognition notices.
Curaçao: from "master/sub" to LOK
What changes:- The new Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK) law abolishes the previous master → sub-license model, introduces a single regulatory circuit (via CGA), phase transition and deadlines: launching the framework in 2024, closing old exceptions and completing transit in 2024-2025.
- A number of materials indicate that the acceptance of new applications was restarted in stages in 2025 (first B2C, then B2B), and the portal was closed for the transition period - the detail is important for scheduling timings. Check the controller's website.
- LOK reform "aligns" Curaçao toward centralized oversight and moving away from a flexible sub-license system: expectations for stricter due diligence and activity control.
Costa Rica: Operational "workaround"
Key fact:- There is no specialized license for gambling and there is no specialized regulator. Companies operate through a data license (municipal/commercial), are registered with the tax office, and generally do not serve Costa Rican residents.
- Lower entry threshold but also weaker "regulatory brand" compared to Antigua/Malta; payment providers and partners often require additional validation of KYC/AML procedures and geo-restrictions. (Supported by 2025 consulting and reference guides)
Key Block Matching
1) License types and coverage
Antigua: two "B2C modes" - Interactive Gaming (casino/poker) and Interactive Wagering (bookmaker).
Malta: a clear B2C/B2B section - Gaming Service (B2C) and Critical Gaming Supply (B2B).
Curaçao: Transition to new LOK licenses with centralized supervision (moving away from master/sub).
Costa Rica: no industry license; data-processing/municipal is applied.
2) Regulator and supervision
Antigua: FSRC/Directorate of Offshore Gaming, "Tier-1" positioning, detailed forms and control.
Malta: MGA with established procedures and checklists for 2025
Curaçao: CGA and LOK phased implementation (reforms from 2023-2025).
Costa Rica: There is no dedicated gambling regulator.
3) Compliance: KYC/AML/RG
Antigua: KYC/AGE/Geo questions and IT contours are directly hardwired into Schedules to IGIWR.
Malta: systematic approach to documents and checks (B2C/B2B).
Curacao: due diligence expected to tighten under LOK.
Costa Rica: requirements are determined by general laws and internal company policies - reputationally weaker.
4) Reputational profile
Strong brand: Malta, Antigua (historical pioneer, "Tier-1" narrative).
In the process of strengthening: Curaçao (LOK reform, abandoning "sabs").
Functional but not "regulatory": Costa Rica.
What to choose for the operator (practical logic)
Need a "classic" online B2C license + transparent supervision: Antigua (Gaming/Wagering) or Malta (Gaming Service). The first is Caribbean, with a deep history and strict Schedules; the second is the EC context and the developed B2B circuit.
Focus on an updated, more accessible Caribbean jurisdiction, but without sub-licenses: Curacao by LOK (check the timing/status of the portal and application windows).
The minimum "formal" entry threshold without a specialized gambling license: Costa Rica (but take into account restrictions on the admission of local players and a weak "regulatory brand").
In 2025, Antigua and Barbuda remains a strong point for a remote B2C operator due to a clear dual Interactive Gaming/Wagering model and a rigid documentary framework under the auspices of the FSRC. Malta is a standard of European regulation with B2C/B2B separation and high standards. Curaçao goes through a "restart" through the LOK, moving away from sub-licenses to centralized supervision. Costa Rica offers an operating route without a profile license, but with restrictions and weaker recognition. The choice depends on geography, payment infrastructure, reputation and your willingness to meet a given compliance depth.