Alderney licensing

Alderney regulates remote gambling through the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), which issues eGambling licences to operators running online casinos, betting products and other qualifying remote gambling activities. Licensing splits into two categories covering different parts of an operation, each with its own fee structure. Below: what the licence covers, Category 1 versus Category 2, current costs, the application process, requirements, player protection, and how to verify a licensee. For a broader overview of gambling jurisdictions, see our casino licences section.

What Is an Alderney Gambling Licence?

The AGCC is the regulator, and its authorisation applies specifically to remote gambling — gambling conducted from servers and platforms based in Alderney or Guernsey requires the appropriate AGCC licence before it reaches players. Licensed activities can include casino games, betting and other qualifying remote gambling products, depending on which category a company holds. An operator isn't authorised for gambling generally — the licence covers the specific activities it was granted for.

Feature	Details
Regulator	Alderney Gambling Control Commission
Jurisdiction	Alderney, Channel Islands
Main Licence Types	Category 1, Category 2
Gambling Type	Remote/eGambling
Public Licensee Information	Yes
Approved Hosting Required	Yes, where applicable
Application	Directly to AGCC

The AGCC publishes extracts from its register of current licences and certificates, which is what verification against it actually relies on.

Types of Alderney eGambling Licences

AGCC's framework runs on two licence categories, and a company applies for whichever matches its actual operating model — not automatically both.

Category 1 eGambling Licence

A Category 1 licence authorises the organisation and preparation of gambling operations: registration and verification of players, the contractual relationship a company holds with them, and management of player funds. This is the licence tied to the customer-facing side of the business — who the player deals with legally, and who is responsible for the money in their account.

Category 2 eGambling Licence

A Category 2 licence authorises effecting the gambling transaction itself, including operational management of the gambling platform. That platform runs through an approved hosting centre where applicable — the technical side of delivering the games, rather than the contractual relationship with the player. A company can hold Category 1, Category 2, or both, depending on which functions it handles itself.

Alderney Gambling Licence Costs and Fees

AGCC's fee structure differs for new licensees versus renewals. A company with no previous licensed activity in Alderney pays £17,500 for its first year under either Category 1 or Category 2. Other new applications are generally priced at £35,000, and Category 2 renewal is a flat £35,000 as well.

Category 1 renewal works differently: it's tied to annualised net gaming yield and starts at £35,000 for the lowest band, rising through several revenue bands as yield grows, up to £400,000 at the highest levels. On top of the licence fee, applicants pay an initial investigation deposit of £10,000, with separate deposits for internal control system and gaming equipment approval. Actual investigation costs depend on how much work AGCC's review involves — there's no single number that covers every case, so a flat "licence starts from" figure shouldn't be taken as the full picture.

How to Get an Alderney Gambling Licence

The process runs in stages. A company first has to form an Alderney-registered entity and publish a notice of application in the Alderney Gazette. From there, the applicant submits the application with supporting documents and pays the initial investigation deposit. AGCC then reviews the business plan, ownership, associates and key individuals.

Before commercial operations can start, the licensee still has to complete internal control system approval, obtain approval for the relevant gambling equipment, and demonstrate adequate capitalisation. Once the licence fee is paid and those approvals are in place, AGCC issues a letter of approval to begin operations. AGCC doesn't publish a fixed guaranteed turnaround — how long an application takes varies, so a claim of a flat 60-day approval isn't something to rely on.

Alderney Gambling Licence Requirements

Beyond the application steps, AGCC evaluates a company against standing requirements: company and ownership structure, business reputation, financial resources, the people in key individual roles, AML/CFT controls, player registration and verification, internal control systems, gaming equipment testing, approved hosting arrangements, and ongoing reporting and inspections once licensed.

One concrete financial requirement stands out: AGCC requires the Alderney company to maintain specific financial ratios on an ongoing basis, not just at application. Cash has to exceed player balances, current assets have to exceed current liabilities, and total assets have to exceed total liabilities by at least 25%. These are the actual tests applied, rather than a general expectation of "financial transparency."

Player Protection Under an AGCC Licence

Player protection under an AGCC licence rests on several mechanisms: registration and verification requirements before a player can be onboarded, protection of player funds under Category 1 conditions, approved internal control systems, testing of gambling equipment before it goes live, ongoing inspections, and AML/CFT supervision. AGCC also inspects the main operational centre of a licensee within twelve months of the site's live activation, and annually after that, checking that licence conditions, approved games and internal control systems match what was actually approved.

None of that guarantees fast payouts, an absence of disputes, or that every licensed casino operates safely — it means the operator sits under defined ongoing checks, not that outcomes are assured. Players should still review the available payment methods, withdrawal rules and processing conditions at the specific casino.

How to Check an Alderney Gambling Licence

Verification means checking the operator against AGCC's own published information, not a footer badge alone.

1. Find the operator's legal company name.
2. Open the AGCC current licences and certificates section.
3. Search the eGambling Licensees list.
4. Check the licence category held.
5. Compare the listed websites or domains with the casino in question.
6. Check whether the company is still shown as currently licensed.

AGCC publishes an online extract of its register that includes company names, licence categories, and the websites associated with each licensee.

Alderney Licence vs MGA Licence

Placed side by side, the two regulators draw the line differently.

Feature	Alderney	MGA
Regulator	AGCC	Malta Gaming Authority
Main Structure	Category 1 / Category 2	B2C / B2B
Public Register	Yes	Yes
Hosting Rules	Approved hosting framework	Different technical framework
Main Focus	Remote gambling	Gaming services and supply

AGCC's Category 1/2 split separates player-facing and platform-operation functions, while MGA's B2C/B2B split separates operators from suppliers. Neither structure is ranked above the other — they answer different regulatory questions.

Alderney Licence vs Curaçao Licence

Alderney licenses through its Category 1/2 eGambling framework, while Curaçao now operates under the current CGA/LOK system rather than the older master licence and sublicence model some pages still describe. Both run their own application, compliance and enforcement processes with public verification, but the underlying structure — what gets licensed, how fees are set, and what ongoing checks apply — differs between the two. You can compare these and other regulatory frameworks in our casino licences section.

Alderney Gambling Licence FAQ

What is an Alderney gambling licence?

Authorisation from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission for remote gambling activity, covering either the player-facing side of an operation (Category 1), the platform operations (Category 2), or both.

Who issues Alderney gambling licences?

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), which reviews applications, sets licence conditions, and maintains the public register of current licensees.

What is the difference between Category 1 and Category 2 licences?

Category 1 covers player registration, verification, contractual relationships and management of player funds. Category 2 covers effecting the gambling transaction and operating the platform through an approved hosting centre.

How much does an Alderney gambling licence cost?

A first-year licence for a new licensee is £17,500 per category; other new applications and Category 2 renewals are £35,000. Category 1 renewal scales with net gaming yield up to £400,000, plus a £10,000 deposit and separate deposits for system and equipment approval.

How can I verify an Alderney casino licence?

Check the operator's legal company name against AGCC's eGambling Licensees list, confirm the licence category, and compare the listed website with the casino's actual domain.