The Nevis gaming licence,
explained without the noise.
A practical reference for founders evaluating NOGA licensing in 2026 — what it costs, how the process actually runs, and where Nevis fits between Anjouan and Curaçao.
The middle tier between Anjouan and Curaçao.
Anjouan is fast and cheap. Curaçao is mature and credible but carries serious local-substance overhead. Nevis is built for operators who want stronger banking and PSP standing than Anjouan without taking on a Curaçao-scale presence.
St Kitts and Nevis sits on the FATF whitelist through CFATF. For fiat payment processors and acquiring banks evaluating new licensees, that whitelist standing is the line that matters. Operators who have hit a banking ceiling with Anjouan often surface Nevis as the next step before committing to Curaçao.
The framework is new. The Nevis Online Gaming Ordinance was passed on 29 April 2025, and some periodic reporting detail is still being defined. We treat that maturity question honestly throughout this guide rather than glossing over it.
It is not the right jurisdiction for every operator. For the subset who need fiat credibility and low operational substance at a moderate price point, it is the cleanest fit on the market.
What a Nevis licence actually is.
One year, renewable annually. Practical guidance: start the renewal six weeks before expiry.
B2C and B2B categories. A single licence covers casino, sportsbook, and adjacent online gaming verticals.
No physical office. No local directors. No local employees. A Nevis-resident Reporting Officer is required.
End-to-end 8 to 12 weeks across formation, document preparation, NOGA review, and issuance.
EUR 34,400 base.
EUR 41,900 with us.
The NOGA application fee, Nevis company formation, and the local Reporting Officer make up the floor. Our service package wraps documentation, regulator liaison, and post-licensing setup into a fixed fee, with no annual escalation.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| NOGA application & first-year fee | EUR 28,000 |
| Nevis IBC or LLC formation | EUR 2,200 |
| Local Reporting Officer (annual) | EUR 4,200 |
| Base Year 1 subtotal | EUR 34,400 |
| ICOS service fee (fixed) | EUR 7,500 |
| Year 1 total with ICOS | EUR 41,900 |
Anjouan vs Nevis vs Curaçao.
The clearest way to evaluate Nevis is against the two regimes either side of it. The middle column is where Nevis lands on each axis.
| Anjouan | Nevis | Curaçao | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 budget | ~ EUR 25,000 | ~ EUR 34,400 base | EUR 120k+ |
| Practical timeline | 4–6 weeks | 8–12 weeks | 4–6 months |
| Banking & PSP credibility | Limited | Stronger — FATF-whitelisted jurisdiction | Mature |
| Local substance required | Minimal | Reporting Officer only — no office, directors, or staff | Substantial — office, staff, directors |
| EU market access | No | No | No (use MGA for EU) |
| Crypto-permissive | Yes | Yes | Yes, with conditions |
| Licence term | 1 year, renewable | 1 year, renewable | 5 years |
| Framework maturity | Reformed 2023 | New — passed 29 Apr 2025 | Long-established |
Where Nevis works,
and where it doesn't.
- Operators outgrowing Anjouan's banking and PSP limitations
- Crypto-friendly operators who want a fiat fallback that holds up with banks
- Founders who want low local-substance overhead — no office, no local directors
- Teams planning a phased upgrade path from Anjouan toward Curaçao or MGA
- EU-facing market strategies (Nevis is not EU-passportable)
- Sub-EUR 30,000 Year 1 budgets — Anjouan is the better fit
- Operators needing to launch inside 30 days
- Models that need a long-established regulator with extensive case law
Background reading on Nevis and the 2026 licensing market.
- The Nevis gaming licence explained — what it costs, how it works, and who it suits in 2026Full primer on the NOGA framework, fees, timing, and operator profile.igamingcompliance.blog ↗
- What does the Nevis licence cost via usItemised cost breakdown for Year 1 and ongoing renewal years.igamingcompliance.blog ↗
- How to choose the right gaming licence — a decision framework for 2026Where Nevis fits between Anjouan, Curaçao, and MGA on cost, speed, and banking.igamingcompliance.blog ↗
- The gaming licence compliance calendar — MGA, Curaçao and AnjouanRecurring obligations across the major offshore regimes — useful context for Nevis renewals.igamingcompliance.blog ↗
Considering a Nevis NOGA application?
Free initial consultation. We respond within one business day.