This guide replaces our 2021–2022 article. The basics of a sportsbook have not changed — markets, license, technology, risk and payments — but the licensing map has: new regulated markets in Canada, Peru and Ireland, higher betting duties in the UK, stricter B2B supplier licensing, and Brazil’s sudden ban in September 2026.
Step 1: Target markets
Decide where your bettors are and check each market’s rules. Our guide to where online gambling is legal in 2026 summarizes the main markets. In-play restrictions, bonus bans and advertising limits vary widely and affect the business model.
Step 2: The betting license
| Option | What it covers | Indicative cost | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Class B | Online betting in Cyprus only | €30,000 a year; €500,000 capital; €550,000 guarantee; 15% of net revenue | Cyprus |
| Ireland (GRAI) | Remote betting in Ireland | License fees plus 2% betting duty on turnover | Ireland |
| Malta | Betting and casino, B2C and B2B | €25,000 a year plus compliance contribution | Malta |
| Isle of Man | Betting and casino | £36,750 a year; duty from 1.5% of GGY | Isle of Man |
| Curaçao | Betting and casino | €47,450 a year (B2C) | Curaçao |
| Nevis | Betting and casino | €28,000 a year | Nevis |
Regulated markets such as the UK, Italy, Romania and Ontario require their own licenses.
Step 3: Sportsbook technology
- White label — the provider runs the platform, trading and often payments; fastest launch, least control.
- Turnkey — your license and brand on a provider’s platform, with control over margins, limits and promotions.
- Custom build — full control, long development and certification time.
Whichever you choose, check that the platform and its suppliers are certified and, where required, licensed in your markets (for example Romania Class II, Sweden’s B2B license or the UK’s software license).
Step 4: Odds, data and risk
- Official or licensed data feeds for the sports you offer;
- Trading and risk management — in-house, outsourced or a hybrid;
- Liability limits and a cash reserve for winning bets, especially at launch;
- Integrity monitoring of suspicious betting patterns and cooperation with sports bodies.
Step 5: Payments and banking
Prepare a full compliance file — license, corporate documents, AML policies and source of funds — before approaching banks and payment providers. Several markets ban credit-card betting (UK, Ireland, Australia, Sweden). See our banking preparation service.
Step 6: Compliance
AML/CFT and KYC, responsible gambling tools and national self-exclusion registers, advertising and bonus rules, data protection and regulator reporting.
Step 7: Launch and grow
Start in your licensed markets, block the rest and add licenses as you scale. Our online casino launch guide covers adding a casino vertical.
How Gambling Consulting Expert can help
We map the betting licenses your markets require, set up the licensed company through our company formation service and prepare the license application, supplier contracts and compliance framework. Contact us.