Mwali Gaming Licence
What is the Mwali gaming licence?
A Mwali gaming licence is an offshore online gaming authorisation issued by the Mwali International Services Authority (MISA) on the Autonomous Island of Mwali, also written Mohéli, in the Union of the Comoros.
The framework follows a single-licence model. First, you register an International Business Company in Mwali. Then that company holds the licence, and one authorisation covers the gaming verticals you choose to run.
The licence sits on the offshore legislation of the Comoros, principally the International Business Companies Act, together with the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2014 and the Anti-Terrorism Act 2007, which apply to every licensed offshore company.
Who can hold a Mwali gaming licence?
The licence is held by an International Business Company registered in Mwali with a registered legal address on the island. You do not need a physical office or local staff, and you run operations from wherever your team is based.
As part of the process, MISA runs suitability checks on both the company and the people behind it. Every beneficial owner and director is disclosed and passes a fit-and-proper test, with certified identity documents and clear source-of-funds evidence.
If you are planning an offshore launch, book a free consultation and our team will map the company, the licence, and the compliance file you need.
Types of Licences
What the Mwali gaming licence covers
A single Mwali gaming licence works across verticals, so you avoid a separate filing for each product line. The licence commonly covers:
- Online casino games and slots
- Sports betting and esports wagering
- Poker rooms and bingo
- Lottery and number games
- Crypto and blockchain-based gambling
One licence, multiple verticals
You expand your product set under the same licence as you grow, rather than reapplying for a new permit. As a result, a startup and an established operator can run different product mixes under the same authorisation.
Crypto and digital assets
The licence commonly covers crypto and blockchain-based gambling. In practice, operators apply the same AML and KYC controls to crypto flows that they apply to fiat, including transaction monitoring and sanctions screening.
Licensing Requirements
Mwali gaming licence requirements
MISA runs suitability checks on the company and the people behind it. Gather these before you apply:
- A company registered in Mwali, with a registered legal address on the island
- Certified passport copies and proof of address for every owner and director
- Disclosure of beneficial owners, each subject to a fit-and-proper test
- A business plan covering gaming verticals, target markets, and operational structure
- Written AML, KYC, and responsible gaming policies
- Proof of domain ownership and a description of the gaming platform
- Confirmation of the software used, with third-party RNG certification where MISA requires it
Compliance and the licence certificate
You appoint a compliance officer responsible for AML and reporting. In addition, licensed operators display the MISA certification on the platform, with the specific Mwali company identified, so players can verify the licence.
How long licensing takes
The regulator review runs one to three weeks once MISA holds a complete file. Because preliminary review, incorporation, and document preparation come first, a realistic end-to-end timeline is about four to eight weeks.
Company Requirements
Mwali gaming licence cost and tax
To start, the first-year cost is commonly quoted at around USD 22,000, and that figure includes company registration. The wider budget then covers compliance setup, technical audit, and banking.
| Cost component | Approximate figure (2026) |
|---|---|
| IBC registration and local representative | USD 1,800 to 2,400 |
| Gaming licence application fee | about USD 1,400 |
| Basic licence fee | about USD 18,000 |
| Year-one all-in (commonly quoted) | around USD 22,000 |
| Annual renewal | charged each year, confirm with MISA |
| Tax on gross gaming revenue | 0 percent |
Fees and tariffs change, and providers bundle incorporation and compliance differently, so confirm the current figures with MISA or your appointed provider before you build a budget. For the full picture of scope and cost, read our Mwali gaming licence 2026 guide.
Tax and the ten-year exemption
Mwali applies 0 percent tax on gross gaming revenue. Moreover, licensed companies are commonly exempt from local corporate income tax on income earned outside the Comoros, and the tax exemption certificate commonly runs for a minimum of ten years from the date the licence is first granted. Your home jurisdiction still determines your wider tax position, so consult a tax adviser about the country of incorporation.
Banking and payments
The licence opens the regulatory door, and banking decides how quickly you launch. Gaming-friendly corporate accounts and payment provider integration run on their own timeline, commonly three to six months. Therefore, start that conversation during document preparation. Our team supports opening a gaming bank account alongside the licence.
Benefits
Why operators choose Mwali
What the licence offers
A Mwali gaming licence suits operators who want fast market entry and contained upfront cost. In particular, it offers one licence across several verticals and 0 percent tax on gross gaming revenue, with a regulator review measured in weeks rather than months.
Who the licence suits
- Startups that want fast market entry and contained upfront cost
- Crypto casinos and Web3 platforms that settle in digital assets
- Established operators adding an offshore jurisdiction
- B2B suppliers that need an authorisation for market access
- Operators who value one licence across several verticals
Where a Mwali licence operates
A Mwali licence opens a wide range of international markets, with demand across Africa, Latin America, parts of Asia, and Eastern Europe. The licence is for international markets, so it does not cover the European Union, the United Kingdom, or the United States, which require their own domestic licences, and it does not permit play by residents of the Comoros. For those markets, you add the relevant local licence alongside your Mwali base.
Get started in Mwali
DD Consultus manages the full process, from IBC incorporation and the licence application through suitability, compliance, and banking groundwork. To begin, book a free consultation, or contact contact@licencegaming.com or +356 99408536.
Reviewed by Denitza Dimitrova, Managing Partner. Former Manager for Legal and Enforcement at the Malta Gaming Authority. About the team
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Mwali gaming licence.