World report on the number of licensed operators

Counting the number of licensed operators is more difficult than it seems. On the global map, there are simultaneously: full-fledged B2C licenses, provider B2B certificates, sublicenses, white-label contracts, local "quotas" and monopolies. The same brand can have dozens of domains and several legal entities, and some of the licenses are "sleeping." In the report below - how to correctly consider which ranges by region and verticals are realistic, and which forces are reducing/increasing the pool in 2025.

1) Terminology and calculation framework

Whom we consider an "operator" (B2C unit):

1. Has a valid local license/permission to accept bets/games from end users in a specific jurisdiction.

2. Conducts commercial activities (there are active domains/applications, cash desk, reporting).

3. It is considered one operator per jurisdiction, even if it uses several domains.

Who do not consider a separate operator:

Skins/white-label under the license of the parent operator (taken into account within one operator, if there is no separate B2C responsibility).
B2B providers (aggregators, studios, RGS) without the right to accept bets from end customers.
Duplicates of the same legal entity between domains/applications within the same license.
"Sleeping" licenses, if there is no provable operational activity ≥90 days.

Verticals in coverage: online casinos (RNG/live), betting (sports), bingo/movie/instant. Lottery state monopolies are counted as uniform units if they conduct online sales.

2) Methodology and sources of distortion

Method: aggregation of license registers by country/state, normalization by B2C units, removal of duplicates and "skins," filtering of "sleepers" by cash register/reporting activity (if public) or by indirect signs (domain/application update, status change). The bottom line is a range, not a point.

Typical distortions:

White-label inflation: one license generates 10-50 storefronts, which in raw statistics looks like "dozens of operators."
Legal entity ≠ operator: in federal models, one brand is divided into several entities for the sake of taxes/payments.
Different frequencies of registry updates: from daily to quarterly; "dead souls" hang for months.
Cross jurisdictions: one operator with 5-7 licenses is 1 operator × 5-7 markets, not 5-7 operators.

3) Global picture (estimated B2C ranges, 2025)

💡 Ranges reflect the normalized count of active B2C units (without skins/white-label), rounding to the nearest tens.

Europe (EU + EEA + UK): ~ 700-900

North America (US + Canada): ~ 120-180

Latin America: ~ 250-350

Asia-Pacific: ~ 300-450

Africa: ~ 150-220

Middle East: ~ 60-90

Caribbean/Overseas Territories (B2C to local markets): ~ 70-110

Total worldwide (without takes and "showcases"): ~ 1,650-2,300 active B2C operators online at the end of 2025.

Of these, multi-license groups (1 operator is active in 3 + jurisdictions): ~ 180-260.

4) Section by verticals (shares of the number of operators, 2025)

Casino-only: ~ 35-45%

Rates-only: ~ 20-28%

Combo (casino + bets/live): ~ 25-35%

Others (bingo/movie/instant online): ~ 5-8%

Lottery state operators (online channel): ~ 2-4%

Comment: the share of the combo model is growing: regulators tend to issue complex permits, and operators consolidate showcases.

5) What changed in 2025

Consolidation and M & A. Large groups "collect" local licenses, reducing the number of independent B2C players, but increasing the coverage of markets.

Standardization of RG/KYC. Strict requirements for verification and payment logs raise the entry barrier - the number of "small" operators is decreasing.

Reducing white-label noise. Regulators require clarity on who exactly bears B2C responsibility: some of the showcases are transferred to the category of "non-operators."

Telegram/PWA fronts. The growth of light channels does not directly increase the number of operators - it multiplies the entry points of existing ones.

6) Regional profiles (super short)

Europe. The high "depth" of licenses and the density of local rules → many medium and large operators, a minimum of "gray" showcases. Enlargement trend.

North America. Fragmentation by state/province: the number of B2C units is moderate, but the proportion of multi-license groups is high.

Latin America. Growth in legal B2C as rules are set up; a notable proportion of "combos." The key is local payments and affiliate control.

APAC. Heterogeneity: from mature "white" zones to restrictive regimes. Some operators hold several fronts, but legally it is 1 B2C.

Africa. Rapid growth in active B2C due to mobile-first and licenses in a number of countries; it is important to separate real operators from storefronts under one license.

Middle East. A small number of operators, above average size. Regulations evolve, the priority is responsibility and payments.

7) Why "official lists" often inflate numbers

Storefronts and domain aliases are published as separate entities.

Historical records are not always taken on time.

B2B certificates can look like "operator" records in public registries.

Cross-jurisdictional IDs duplicate a single operator in multiple bases.

Normalization practice: summarize the legal owner of B2C rights and the fact of accepting bets from the end user.

8) What will happen to the number of operators until 2030 (scenarios)

Scenario	Trajectory of the number of B2C operators	Drivers
Basic	A slight decrease in the world (− 5-10%) with an increase in turnover	consolidation, growing RG/AML requirements, payments, reporting
Optimistic	Stabilization (± 0-3%) with growth of multi-license groups	clear local licenses, sandboxes for innovation, fast cashout
Conservative	Decrease (− 10-15%)	tightening advertising/taxes, derisk payments, blocking "gray" shop windows

Conclusion: fewer operators does not mean less market: revenue and coverage are growing due to enlargement and multi-geography.

9) Practical conclusions for market participants

Operators (B2C)

Build a portfolio of licenses: 1-2 cores + 2-3 growth options; Prepare unified RG/KYC processes, logs and reporting.

Reduce the noise of shop windows: a single legal liability and an understandable cash register increase trust and reduce costs.

Providers (B2B)

Separate marketing from "carrier" status: B2B certificates ≠ B2C licenses.

Help customers complete local audits and maintain a clean domain structure.

Payment partners

Clarify the operator essence of the client (who is the B2C copyright holder), require visible RG processes; keep backup routes.

To regulators

In the registers, mark the/white-label and B2B certificates separately from the B2C operators.

Publish aggregates by active units (last 90 days), reducing statistical noise.

10) Check list of correct counting in any country

1. Highlight the B2C rights holder and check if they accept bets online.

2. Remove skins/white-label if the parent license is responsible.

3. Filter "sleeping" licenses by activity in 90 days.

4. Normalize domains/applications into one unit per jurisdiction.

5. In multi-markets, count 1 operator × N licenses, but not N operators.

6. Periodically divide historical records and update statuses.

At the end of 2025, the "net" number of active licensed B2C operators in the world realistically fits into the ~ of 1.65-2.30 thousand units. The scatter is explained by the methodology of cleaning from storefronts, white-label and takes, as well as the different speed of updating registers. By 2030, we will have moderate consolidation: fewer independent operators, more multi-jurisdictional groups, stricter standards of responsibility and accountability. Those who know how to correctly consider themselves and show the regulator and the user a transparent structure win - without noise and gray areas.