Local Licences, Global Reach: How 1xBet Adapts to Each Market’s Rules

1xBet has operated under a Curacao Gaming Authority licence since 2007, but the article’s real point is broader: the old “single umbrella licence” model no longer does all the work in iGaming. For high-risk PSPs, that matters because local licensing now shapes KYC, AML, dispute handling, and which payment methods can realistically stay in play.

1. Since its founding in 2007, 1xBet has been operating under a licence issued by the Curacao Gaming Authority, which was the industry standard at the time. Back then, a single international licence was enough to run legally across many markets; by the early 2010s, that started to break down as Europe began building locally regulated iGaming markets with transparent oversight.
2. The local-licence model changed the economics for everyone involved. Governments collected more through licence fees and taxes, operators and affiliates gained legal status and long-term stability, and players got extra layers of protection. The practical payoff for disputes was straightforward too: handling complaints inside the country became cheaper and easier than dealing with them in Curacao.
3. Local regulators also tightened the operating rules. KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), betting limits, and self-exclusion tools became mandatory conditions for licensing. On paper that is a compliance burden; in practice it is also what gives players more reliable payment options and a safer gaming environment, with more confidence in the payment process.
4. Local licensing has also made iGaming materially more transparent. Licensed operators compete within each jurisdiction’s regulatory framework, while illegal platforms are blocked by the relevant authorities. That predictability is why affiliates benefit from working with betting companies that hold a broad portfolio of licences across different regions.
5. Spain is one of the early European examples. In 2011, after the approval of Ley 13/2011, of 27 May, on the Regulation of Gambling, Spain created the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), which is responsible for issuing licences and supervising gambling operators.

For PSPs and acquirers, the takeaway is simple: the licence map now matters as much as the merchant profile. In regulated iGaming, market access, dispute flow, and payment approval logic are increasingly tied to the specific jurisdiction, not just to the brand name on the front door.