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🇹🇻 Tuvalu — Pacific offshore gaming permit

Tuvalu — Gaming Commission licence.

The Tuvalu Gaming Commission provides offshore gaming licences with straightforward requirements and competitive annual fees.

Timeline

3—5 wk

Application to grant

Min. Capital

USD 0

No capital requirement

Year-1 Cost

USD 20—40K

Fully loaded yr-1

Regulator

Tuvalu GC

Tuvalu Gaming Commission

01 — Is this right for you?

A considered route,
not a shortcut.

This jurisdiction rewards operators who treat the application as the start of a supervisory relationship.

A strong fit

When this is the right choice

Operators wanting a Pacific offshore gaming base at minimal cost

Tuvalu's Gaming Commission provides a fast, affordable offshore gaming licence suitable for operators launching new brands in grey-market territories. Application timelines and fees are competitive with Anjouan and Bougainville.

Crypto-native gaming operators

Tuvalu does not require fiat banking infrastructure and accommodates crypto-funded gaming models. Suitable for Bitcoin and stablecoin casino brands seeking a Pacific sovereign regulatory address.

Operators diversifying their licence portfolio geographically

For operators already holding an Anjouan, Curaçao, or Mwali licence, a Tuvalu licence adds Pacific jurisdiction diversification — relevant where brand or geographic positioning matters to the target audience.

A poor fit

When to consider an alternative

Operators requiring universal aggregator acceptance

Tuvalu is a small and relatively new offshore gaming jurisdiction. Major B2B aggregators do not universally accept Tuvalu licences. Operators needing guaranteed access to Evolution, Pragmatic, or Play'n GO from launch should choose Anjouan or Curaçao as their primary licence.

Operators targeting premium regulated markets

Tuvalu is an offshore permit jurisdiction. It does not provide access to regulated EU, UK, or tier-1 markets. Operators targeting audiences who expect an MGA or UKGC stamp should invest in those licences directly.

Operators requiring formal payment infrastructure

Tuvalu licensing alone does not unlock tier-1 PSP relationships. Operators who need robust payment processing should combine Tuvalu with a more widely accepted licence for PSP and banking access.

02 — Licence categories

Permissions under
one Act.

Choosing the right tier and scope is the most consequential decision in the application.

Offshore Gaming Operator Licence

The primary Tuvalu permission covering online casino, sportsbook, poker, and other gaming verticals for international markets. Broad-scope single permission, simple application process.

Sub-Licence / White-Label Permission

Tuvalu's framework accommodates white-label operations and sub-licences under a master-licensed operator. Used by brands launching under an established Tuvalu-licensed platform.

Crypto Gaming Permit

A specific permit for blockchain and crypto-native gaming platforms. Covers Bitcoin casino, provably fair gaming, and stablecoin-settled sports betting models operating from or licensed in Tuvalu.

03 — Path to grant

Phases to licence grant.

Entity and AML documentation

Week 1

Offshore entity established or registered in Tuvalu's licensing framework. UBO documentation, AML/KYC policy, and application dossier prepared.

Application submission

Week 1—2

Gaming Commission application submitted with corporate documents, business plan, UBO and director declarations, AML framework, and licence fee payment.

Gaming Commission review

Weeks 2—4

Tuvalu Gaming Commission reviews application. Standard applications with complete documentation typically reviewed within 2–3 weeks.

Licence issuance

Weeks 4—5

Licence issued. Annual renewal obligations activated. No Tuvalu substance or resident director required for offshore licence maintenance.

04 — Year-one economics

Cost and regulatory
burden.

Year-one spend is dominated by substance — resident director, office, compliance officer, external audit — not the licence fee itself.

Cost item	Amount
Gaming Commission application fee	USD 3,000 — 7,000
Annual licence fee	USD 5,000 — 12,000
Entity formation	USD 1,000 — 2,500
AML/compliance advisory	USD 4,000 — 10,000 / yr
Registered agent	USD 1,000 — 2,000 / yr
Year-1 total	~USD 20K — 40K

Tuvalu is a cost-efficient Pacific offshore gaming jurisdiction with no minimum capital, no substance requirements, and simple annual renewal. Works best as a secondary or brand-diversification licence within a broader multi-jurisdictional structure. Do not rely on Tuvalu as a sole licence if aggregator acceptance is a day-one requirement.

05 — Common questions

What founders
ask before filing.

The questions we get on every diagnostic call. If yours isn't here, raise it in the consultation.

Tuvalu is a small Pacific island nation that has developed offshore financial and gaming services as part of its economic strategy. Tuvalu is internationally known for its .tv top-level domain — a separate revenue stream that has funded government services since 2000. Gaming licence revenue contributes alongside other offshore financial services.

Tuvalu acceptance by B2B aggregators is limited. As a newer and smaller offshore jurisdiction, Tuvalu does not have the same aggregator recognition as Anjouan, Curaçao, or Vanuatu. Operators should confirm acceptance with target content providers before relying solely on a Tuvalu licence for content library access.

Annual licence renewal, renewal fees, and basic AML/KYC compliance. No external audit is required. No local Tuvalu substance or resident director is mandated for offshore licensees.

All three are low-cost island offshore jurisdictions with similar price points and fast processing. Mwali (MISA) has the most established operator track record; Bougainville offers a PNG common law framework; Tuvalu is distinguished by sovereign nation status. Practical differences are small — selection often comes down to fee differences and which PSPs and aggregators are being targeted.

Yes — Tuvalu's framework accommodates crypto-native and blockchain gaming models including provably fair casinos, Bitcoin-funded sportsbooks, and NFT-based gaming platforms. No fiat banking requirements are imposed on crypto-native operators.

Ready when you are

Tell us where
you want to
operate.

Forty-five minutes with a partner. Jurisdiction memo within seven days. No retainer required to start.

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First call with a partner.
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Tuvalu — Gaming Commission licence.

A considered route,not a shortcut.