The Tobique gaming license is issued by the Tobique Gaming Commission (TGC) on behalf of Tobique First Nation, also known as Neqotkuk, in New Brunswick, Canada. Established under the Tobique Gaming Act 2023, the framework covers online casinos, sports betting, poker, bingo, lotteries, and other gaming verticals under one B2C license. A separate B2B certification is available to game and platform suppliers.
The license is intended for operators serving international markets where local authorization is not required. It does not provide access to regulated markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Ontario, or New Brunswick, which must be geo-blocked. Equilex handles Tobique gaming licensing, including application preparation, corporate structuring, and market-access assessment.
What Is the Tobique Gaming License?
The Tobique Gaming Commission began operating in October 2023 under the Tobique Gaming Act. It is a licensing body established by Tobique First Nation, a Wolastoqiyik community in New Brunswick.
The license is issued on the basis of Tobique First Nation's asserted right to self-government and operates outside Canada's federal and provincial gambling licensing systems. This should not be interpreted as an established legal priority over Canadian federal or provincial law. Operators remain responsible for determining whether they may lawfully accept players from each target market.
Tobique is generally considered alongside Curaçao, Anjouan, and Kahnawake by operators seeking an international gaming license. Its main features are a relatively short application process, no requirement to incorporate in Tobique, and broad product coverage under one authorization. Its main limitation is that it does not provide entry into countries or provinces that require local approval.
The Commission offers two principal authorization types:
- A B2C license for companies operating online casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms, bingo, lotteries, and other consumer-facing gaming products
- A B2B certification for game developers, platform providers, aggregators, and other suppliers
The license is issued to the approved company and is not transferable. Material changes to the licensed operation may require regulatory approval.
Tobique Gaming License Cost
The Tobique gaming license cost consists of regulatory payments and professional fees. The confirmed fee structure is:
- License application and preliminary assessment: €22,000, payable to the TGC as a one-time fee
- Equilex professional fee: €22,000 for application preparation and assistance
- Annual renewal: €18,000, payable to the TGC
The professional fee covers the application package, due diligence, regulatory forms, policies, and communication during the review.
The Tobique framework does not impose a tax on gross gaming revenue. The operator must still assess corporate, withholding, payroll, VAT, and other tax obligations in the jurisdictions where the company is incorporated, managed, or commercially active. A zero gaming-tax rate under the license does not make the wider business structure tax-free.
Several material expenses fall outside the stated licensing fees:
- Incorporation and corporate administration
- Banking and payment-provider onboarding
- Geo-blocking and geolocation systems
- Game and random number generator certification
- Platform or information-security audits
- AML, KYC, and transaction-monitoring tools
- Responsible gambling systems
- Accounting and ongoing legal support
These expenses vary according to the operator's structure and technical setup. Applicants should prepare a full first-year budget rather than assess the license by its application fee alone.
Tobique Gaming License Restricted Countries
Geo-blocking is a condition of the Tobique license. It is not sufficient to mention restricted countries in the website terms while continuing to accept registrations, deposits, or play from those locations. Failure to apply the required restrictions may lead to regulatory action, including suspension of the license.
The principal restricted categories are:
- Regulated markets requiring local authorization: These include the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Canadian provinces operating their own gambling regimes: Ontario and New Brunswick must be blocked.
- FATF-listed jurisdictions: Countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force as high-risk or subject to increased monitoring are restricted.
The operator must also follow the complete restricted-jurisdiction list applicable to its license. The absence of a country from that list does not automatically mean that the operator may accept local players. National gambling laws, sanctions, payment restrictions, and advertising rules must be reviewed separately.
Controls should cover more than IP addresses. They may include identity and address verification, payment screening, VPN detection, and restrictions within registration and account-management systems. Marketing and affiliate activity should follow the same territorial rules.
FATF classifications and national gambling rules change over time. Geo-blocking therefore requires ongoing monitoring rather than a one-time configuration completed during the application. The operator remains responsible for the legality of its activity in every market it serves.
If you are comparing Tobique with Curaçao or Anjouan for an international-facing operation, schedule a call with the Equilex licensing team to map the license to your target markets.
Requirements and Application Process
A company does not need to be incorporated in Tobique to apply. The operating entity may be established in another suitable jurisdiction, selected with reference to tax treatment, management, banking access, payment-provider requirements, and the legality of online gaming activities.
The application covers the following stages.
1. Corporate and ownership review
The applicant provides incorporation records, an ownership chart, and information on its directors, shareholders, beneficial owners, key personnel, and funding arrangements.
2. Personal due diligence
Directors, beneficial owners, and relevant personnel undergo fit-and-proper checks. Supporting documents may include identification, proof of address, professional histories, criminal record certificates, source-of-funds evidence, and regulatory declarations.
3. Business and compliance documentation
The business plan describes the products, target markets, revenue model, suppliers, payments, and operational structure. Required policies cover AML and CTF controls, KYC, responsible gambling, complaints, player funds, and data protection.
4. Technical review
The platform must support identity verification, geo-blocking, transaction monitoring, player controls, and regulatory records. Games require appropriate certification. The license includes a limited number of domains; additional domains may require approval and separate fees.
5. Regulatory review and issuance
The Commission reviews the company, individuals, documents, and technical arrangements. Requests for clarification or missing evidence may extend the confirmed licensing timeline.
The license is valid for one year and renewed annually. Ongoing obligations include reporting, game certification, geo-blocking, AML controls, and notification of material changes. Changes to ownership, key personnel, domains, or the platform may require prior approval.
Tobique or Curaçao: Which Fits an International Operator?
Tobique and Curaçao both support international-facing gaming businesses, but they differ in regulatory history, local substance, costs, and commercial acceptance.
Curaçao has operated as an online gambling jurisdiction for considerably longer and is familiar to a wider range of payment providers, game suppliers, and industry partners. Its reformed licensing framework has introduced more developed substance, governance, and compliance requirements. This may increase the cost and time needed to establish an operation.
Tobique has operated since 2023 and has a shorter regulatory track record. Operators should confirm its acceptance with intended banks, payment providers, aggregators, and other partners before applying. Its main advantages are broad vertical coverage under one license, a relatively fast process, and no requirement to incorporate or maintain an office in Tobique.
Neither license authorizes entry into regulated markets that require domestic approval. The decision should therefore reflect the operator's actual player locations, launch schedule, budget, banking strategy, platform, and compliance resources.
A wider overview of Tobique and other licensing options is available in Top 10 Countries for Starting a Licensed Gambling Company.
| Criteria | Tobique | Curaçao | Malta MGA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Tobique Gaming Commission (TGC) | Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) | Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) |
| Timeline | Up to 8 weeks | Approximately 6–9 months | Approximately 6–9 months |
| First-year cost | From €44,000 | Approximately €80,000–€100,000 | From €45,000, excluding local substance and operating costs |
| Verticals under one license | Casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, lotteries, and other B2C verticals | Multiple B2C gaming verticals under one license | Multiple game types may be approved under one B2C license; B2B requires a separate license |
| Access to EU markets | No. National licenses are required in regulated EU markets | No. National licenses are required in regulated EU markets | Malta-regulated base, but no automatic access to every EU market; local licenses may still be required |
| Best for | International-facing startups and mid-sized operators seeking a faster, lower-cost license | Established international operators seeking a more mature offshore framework | Established B2C operators and B2B suppliers requiring stronger regulatory standing and PSP acceptance |
FAQ
Who issues the Tobique gaming license?
The Tobique Gaming Commission issues the license on behalf of Tobique First Nation, also known as Neqotkuk, in New Brunswick, Canada. The Commission operates under the Tobique Gaming Act 2023 and licenses companies on the basis of the First Nation's asserted right to self-government, outside federal and provincial gambling licensing systems.
How much does a Tobique gaming license cost?
The application and preliminary assessment fee is €22,000. Equilex charges a separate €22,000 professional fee for application assistance, and the annual renewal fee is €18,000. Incorporation, payment solutions, geo-blocking, game testing, technical audits, and ongoing corporate or compliance support are budgeted separately.
Which countries are restricted under a Tobique license?
Licensees must geo-block regulated markets requiring local authorization, including the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Ontario, New Brunswick, and jurisdictions restricted under applicable FATF classifications. Operators must also assess the laws of every target country, since absence from the TGC list does not establish legal market access.
Do I need a company registered in Tobique?
No. The applicant may use a company incorporated in another suitable jurisdiction. The choice should account for tax treatment, management, banking, payments, and whether the country of incorporation permits the proposed gaming activity. The Tobique license is issued to the approved company and cannot be transferred to another entity.
Is a Tobique license accepted in the EU?
The license does not provide access to EU countries that require national gambling authorization. Operators targeting Malta, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, or another regulated European market must obtain the applicable local license. Tobique is intended for international markets where services may lawfully be provided without a domestic gaming authorization.
