After receiving gaming licence approval, your work changes from application to operation. The regulator grants the permit, yet the obligations start the same day. So you move quickly into compliance, reporting, banking and platform certification, because each duty keeps the licence in good standing. This guide explains exactly what happens after receiving your gaming licence, and it sets out the first steps, the ongoing duties, the costs you budget, and the limits you still respect once you go live.
What happens after receiving your gaming licence
The licence marks the start of operation, not the finish line. Once the regulator issues the permit, you activate the company, the platform and the compliance framework together. The table below groups the main areas that demand attention in the first weeks.
| Area | What you do after the licence issues |
| Platform go-live | You complete final technical certification and connect the platform to live payment rails |
| Banking and payments | You finalise the operating accounts and the player-fund account the regulator requires |
| Compliance reporting | You start the reporting calendar and file the returns the regulator sets out |
| Key functions | You keep the compliance and AML reporting roles active and available to the regulator |
| Player protection | You run the responsible-gaming tools and the self-exclusion process from day one |
Because these areas run in parallel, you treat the licence grant as an operational trigger. To put specialist advice behind each duty from the start, read our guide on gaming operator legal support, which connects the licensing, compliance and contract work you now manage at once.
First steps after receiving your gaming licence
The first month follows a clear sequence. Each step prepares the operation to take real players under the conditions the regulator set. So you work through them in order.
- Confirm the licence conditions and note every deadline the regulator attaches to them.
- Complete final platform and random number generator certification with an approved lab.
- Activate the operating and player-fund accounts, then test the deposit and withdrawal flows.
- Switch on AML monitoring, KYC checks and sanctions screening before the first deposit.
- Publish the player terms, the responsible-gaming policy and the complaints procedure.
- Build the reporting calendar so each return reaches the regulator on time.
Once these steps run cleanly, you go live with confidence. Because the banking layer often takes the longest, you settle it early. Our guidance on opening a gaming company business bank account shows how to keep payments ready when the licence issues.
Compliance and reporting duties you take on
Compliance defines daily life after receiving a gaming licence. The regulator expects you to report on schedule, keep records current and answer questions on demand. The table below sets out the duties that recur most often.
| Duty | What it involves |
| Periodic returns | You file financial and player-activity reports on the dates the regulator sets |
| AML monitoring | You screen transactions, flag unusual activity and report it to the relevant unit |
| Record keeping | You retain player, transaction and KYC records for the period the law requires |
| Change notifications | You notify the regulator when directors, shareholders or key staff change |
| Player protection | You apply deposit limits, self-exclusion and age verification consistently |
The Malta Gaming Authority publishes its reporting requirements, anti-money-laundering rules and player-protection standards on the Malta Gaming Authority compliance pages, so you check the exact filings against the source. Because these duties never pause, our gaming licensing compliance service keeps the framework current with every regulator you report to.
Key functions you keep staffed
A licence names the people responsible for compliance, and you keep those roles filled at all times. The regulator expects a Compliance Officer and an AML Reporting Officer who answer questions directly and sign off on filings. So a gap in any key function puts the licence at risk.
As your operation grows, you add roles and update the regulator on each appointment. Because key-function staff carry personal accountability, you appoint people who know the regime and the reporting cycle. Our post-licensing key functions service supplies the compliance and AML roles a regulator requires, so you cover the duty without a gap from the day the licence issues.
Costs to budget after receiving your gaming licence
Headline application fees end once the licence issues, yet the running costs begin. So you budget the annual and operational charges from day one. The table below uses published Malta figures as a worked reference, and you confirm equivalent amounts with any other regulator.
| Cost item | Malta reference figure |
| Annual licence fee (B2C) | 25,000 EUR for Class 1 or Class 2 |
| Compliance contribution (B2C) | 25,000 EUR annual |
| Compliance contribution (B2B) | 10,000 EUR annual |
| Key-function staffing | Ongoing salary or service cost for compliance and AML roles |
| Audit and platform testing | Annual independent audit and recurring technical certification |
Beyond the regulator fees, you count banking charges, software licences and ongoing legal review. So you plan the first-year cash runway around operation, not just the application. Our gaming accounts and audit service prepares the financial statements and the independent audit your regulator expects each year.
Renewals, audits and ongoing obligations
A gaming licence runs for a fixed term, so you track the renewal date from the moment it issues. Most regulators require updated corporate documents, current compliance evidence and proof of paid fees before they renew. Therefore, you keep the file ready throughout the year rather than scrambling at the deadline.
Audits follow the same logic. An independent auditor reviews your accounts and your player-fund position each year, and the regulator may request the report. Because anti-money-laundering rules evolve, you also update your policies as the law changes. The European Commission sets out the EU framework on its anti-money-laundering pages, so you align your controls with the current rules and then meet the specific requirements your regulator adds.
What your gaming licence still does not cover
Operators value a clear scope, so you confirm what the licence permits before you market in a new country. A gaming licence authorises the named gaming services for the players the regulator defines, under the conditions in the permit. To widen that scope later, see our guide on adding products to your gaming licence. Each country runs its own gambling regime, and no single licence acts as a passport across every market. Therefore, when you target several countries, you apply for a separate licence in each one and run the processes together.
The licence also carries continuing duties rather than a one-time clearance. You file the returns, you keep the AML controls current, and you pay the annual fees on time. So you keep a live compliance calendar and treat each obligation as part of normal operation.
FAQ
What happens after receiving your gaming licence?
After receiving your gaming licence, you move straight into operation. You complete platform certification, activate the banking and player-fund accounts, switch on AML and KYC controls, and start the regulator reporting calendar. The licence grant triggers these duties on the same day it issues.
What are the first obligations after receiving a gaming licence?
Your first obligations cover compliance, reporting and player protection. You file periodic returns on the regulator schedule, run AML monitoring and KYC checks, retain records for the required period, and keep the responsible-gaming tools active. You also notify the regulator of any change to directors, shareholders or key staff.
Do I need to keep key functions staffed after the licence issues?
Yes. The regulator requires a Compliance Officer and an AML Reporting Officer at all times, and a gap in any key function puts the licence at risk. You appoint people who know the regime, and you update the regulator on each appointment.
What ongoing costs apply after receiving a gaming licence?
Running costs replace the application fee. As a Malta reference, the annual B2C licence fee is 25,000 EUR, with a 25,000 EUR compliance contribution for B2C activity or 10,000 EUR for B2B. You also budget key-function staffing, the annual audit, platform testing and banking charges.
How often do I report to the regulator?
Reporting follows the schedule the regulator sets, and it usually runs monthly, quarterly and annually. You file financial returns, player-activity data and compliance evidence on those dates. The Malta Gaming Authority publishes its reporting requirements on its compliance pages.
When does a gaming licence need renewal?
A licence runs for a fixed term, and you track the renewal date from the day it issues. Most regulators require updated corporate documents, current compliance evidence and proof of paid fees before renewal. You keep the file ready through the year so the renewal stays straightforward.
Does my licence let me take players in every country?
No. A licence authorises the named gaming services for the players the regulator defines, and it does not act as a single passport across all markets. Each country runs its own regime, so you apply for a separate licence in every market you target.
What audits apply after receiving a gaming licence?
An independent auditor reviews your accounts and player-fund position each year, and the regulator may request the report. You also complete recurring technical certification of the platform and the random number generator with an approved lab.
Run your licence with one team behind it
DD Consultus supports gaming operators after the licence issues, across compliance, key functions, accounts and audit. First, we set up the reporting calendar and the AML framework. Next, we supply the compliance and AML reporting roles your regulator requires. Then we prepare the annual accounts and manage the renewal. So you keep the operation current after receiving your gaming licence, with one team handling the duties that follow the grant.
Phone: +356 99408536 | Email: contact@licencegaming.com