Western Sahara eGambling Licence Categories Explained
Western Sahara eGambling licence categories divide the online gambling authorisation into two functions, not into separate product verticals. One category covers organising gambling operations. The other covers conducting gambling transactions, and many operators need both. This guide explains what each category authorises, who needs one or the other, and where the framework still leaves gaps to confirm in writing. For the full filing sequence, see our guide to the Western Sahara gaming licence application process.
Key facts
- Regulator: Central Reserve Authority (CRA) of SADR, working through certified registered agents
- Two eGambling categories, split by function not by product vertical
- Category 1: organising gambling operations (player registration, KYC, the player contract, player funds)
- Category 2: conducting gambling transactions (running the platform, executing transactions, approved hosting centre)
- Operators who hold the player wallet and run their own platform commonly need both categories
- Not covered: the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, each requiring its own national licence
The two Western Sahara eGambling licence categories
The Central Reserve Authority (CRA) of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) has licensed online gambling in the territory since 2017. Some published material also names the Western Sahara Management and Advisory Corporation (WSMAC) as the licensing body. In practice, WSMAC operates as the CRA’s certified agent. So confirm in writing which body signs your certificate before you commit, and check the current position on the authority’s own site.
The Western Sahara eGambling licence categories split by function, not by product vertical. That means casino, poker, sportsbook and lottery activity all fall under the same two categories. Instead of a separate licence per vertical, what matters is what your business does. Does it hold the player relationship and the money, or does it run the software that processes the bets?
| Category | What it authorises | Who typically holds it |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Organising gambling operations: player registration, KYC, the player contract, player funds | Operators holding the player wallet |
| Category 2 | Conducting gambling transactions: running the platform, executing transactions, approved hosting centre | Platform operators and B2B suppliers |
Because the split is functional, the framework does not publish separate certifications for casino, poker or sports betting. If your product spans several verticals under one entity, the same category or category pair applies across all of them. Still, confirm product scope in writing with the certified agent before you build.
Category 1: the licence for organising gambling operations
Category 1 is the licence for organising gambling operations. It covers the player relationship: registering customers, running identity and KYC checks, holding the contract with the player, and managing player funds through the player wallet.
Any operator that takes deposits, credits winnings, or signs players up under its own terms needs this category. For example, an operator that outsources platform hosting but keeps the wallet and the player contract in-house generally holds Category 1 on its own. Most operators of this type set up a Western Sahara IBC as the licence holder. That step sits under gaming company incorporation. The framework sets no gambling tax at SADR level and no minimum share capital for the IBC, though neither point changes which category applies.
Both categories file through the same certified agent channel, so the review runs the same way for each. For a walkthrough of that review, see how the CRA of SADR reviews an application.
Category 2: the licence for conducting gambling transactions
Category 2 is the licence for conducting gambling transactions. These two Western Sahara eGambling licence categories cover different sides of the same bet. Category 2 authorises operating the platform and executing the transactions that run through it, including hosting the platform inside an approved hosting centre.
A pure B2B platform or software supplier, one that serves already-licensed operators, typically needs only Category 2. By contrast, an operator that holds the player wallet and also runs its own platform commonly needs both categories. The two functions sit on different sides of the same transaction. Either way, the category you need follows from where the money and the platform sit, not from how the product is marketed.
Which category your operating model needs
The choice between one Western Sahara eGambling licence category and both usually comes down to two questions. Where does the player money sit? Who operates the platform? If your entity holds both functions, you need both categories. If you outsource one side to a licensed partner, you may need only the category that matches the function you keep.
| Operating model | Category needed |
|---|---|
| B2C operator holding the player wallet and running its own platform | Category 1 and Category 2 |
| Operator holding the wallet, outsourcing hosting to a licensed platform | Category 1 |
| Pure B2B platform or software supplier serving licensed partners | Category 2 |
| White-label front-end holding its own player registrations and wallet | Likely Category 1, confirm in writing |
The white-label row needs a caveat. The framework does not publish a rule for whether a white-label front-end runs under the platform provider’s Category 2 or needs its own Category 1. Still, the functional logic holds: whoever holds player registration and the player wallet needs the organising licence. If that is your model, book a consultation before you finalise the structure.
Cost matters here too, because holding one category is generally lighter than holding both. No public tariff is published, and the number of categories you hold drives much of the total. So read the full cost of each category before you decide. On timing, a full engagement runs about 14 to 18 weeks from a complete file. Regulator review itself commonly takes a few weeks once the file is complete.
The approved hosting centre requirement
Among the Western Sahara eGambling licence categories, Category 2 is the one tied to infrastructure. It requires the platform to sit inside an approved hosting centre. This applies whether you hold Category 2 alone as a supplier or alongside Category 1 as a full operator.
The framework does not publish the criteria for approving a hosting centre. It also states no position on global cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud or Azure, or on data residency. Do not guess around that gap. Confirm the hosting requirement in writing with the certified agent before you commit to infrastructure, because the answer shapes both your build and your timeline. Platform and RNG requirements sit separately from hosting approval, and that side is covered under RNG testing and platform consultancy.
What the eGambling licence categories do not cover
A Western Sahara eGambling licence, in either category, does not grant access to the European Union, the United Kingdom or the United States. Each of those markets requires its own national licence before you take players from it. Regulated markets such as Romania, Bulgaria and Brazil issue their own licences too, separate from anything held under the SADR eGambling licence categories.
The licence covers online activity only, not land-based gambling. So build geo-blocking in from launch rather than adding it later. On the EU side, the European Commission’s page on online gambling in the EU sets out how member states license the sector nationally. The United Nations also lists Western Sahara among the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, useful background when you brief investors on where the entity sits.
No gambling tax applies at SADR level, and the framework sets no minimum share capital for the IBC. None of this changes the Western Sahara eGambling licence categories themselves, only the markets they let you reach. Some operators weigh this route against other offshore options, including the Mwali gaming licence and the Liberia online gaming licence, each with its own category structure. For the fee angle behind the low headline number, see the advantages behind a low annual fee.
Frequently asked questions
What are the eGambling licence categories in Western Sahara?
The Western Sahara eGambling licence categories divide into two, split by function rather than by gambling vertical. Category 1 covers organising gambling operations: player registration, KYC, the player contract and player funds. Category 2 covers conducting gambling transactions: running the platform and executing transactions through an approved hosting centre.
Do I need one eGambling category or both?
It depends on your operating model. An operator that holds the player wallet and also runs its own platform commonly needs both categories. An operator that outsources one side, either hosting or the player relationship, to a licensed partner may need only one.
What is the difference between organising gambling operations and conducting gambling transactions?
Organising gambling operations, under Category 1, is about the player: registration, identity checks, the contract and the funds. Conducting gambling transactions, under Category 2, is about the platform: running the software and executing the transactions. Different parties can hold each function, which is why the framework separates the two.
Which category does a B2B platform provider need?
A pure B2B platform or software supplier that serves already-licensed operators typically needs only Category 2, the licence for conducting gambling transactions. This holds as long as the supplier does not register players or hold player funds. If either changes, Category 1 may also apply.
Do the categories change for casino, poker or sports betting?
No. The split is by function, not by product vertical, so casino, poker, sportsbook and lottery activity all fall under the same two categories. The framework publishes no separate vertical certifications. Confirm product scope in writing with the certified agent.
Does a Category 1 eGambling licence let me run my own platform?
Category 1 alone authorises organising gambling operations, not operating the platform. To run your own platform instead of outsourcing hosting, you generally need Category 2 as well. Holding both is common among operators who want full control of the player and the platform.
Can I host the platform on a cloud service like AWS?
The published framework does not address this directly. It requires the platform to sit in an approved hosting centre, but it sets no public criteria for approval and no position on global cloud providers or data residency. Confirm this in writing with the certified agent before you choose an infrastructure setup.
Do the eGambling categories allow EU, UK or US players?
Neither category, alone or combined, grants access to the European Union, the United Kingdom or the United States. Each of those markets requires its own national licence. Regulated markets such as Romania, Bulgaria and Brazil require separate authorisations too.
Choosing your eGambling category
The one-versus-both decision turns on two facts: where the player funds sit, and who runs the platform. Once you settle those for your business, the right Western Sahara eGambling licence category, or category pair, usually follows. Confirm the issuing body and the exact category scope in writing before you file, rather than assuming.
To talk through your operating model with the DD Consultus advisory team, contact contact@licencegaming.com or +356 99408536.