How to Obtain a Gaming License in Western Sahara: Requirements & Process 

• The availability of a Gaming License in Western Sahara is becoming an attractive prospect for potential investors seeking emerging gaming jurisdictions with few regulations on gaming. Differences between the way that gaming licenses can be obtained and how these are structured, as well as the associated risks, require that an investor have sufficient knowledge of the legal status of the territory and the limitations and expectations for international compliance therein. 

• The online gaming industry has a global market that generates approximately US$150 billion in annual revenues, (of which) a large chunk is generated by operators that operate digitally and across multiple jurisdictions and as such are looking to increase regulatory efficiency and operational flexibility. Therefore, an investor considering the opportunity to establish a Western Sahara Gaming License must undertake a thorough analysis of the legitimacy of obtaining a license as well as their Anti-Money Laundering / Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations, payment processing possibilities, and whether or not they will be able to do business with International Banks and service providers in similar industries. 

• It is imperative that a license application strategy is sufficiently structured to ensure that corporate structure, compliance frameworks, and banking arrangements are all in line with international best practices.  Tetra Consultants supports investors at all stages of international company formation, regulatory structure, banking support and assists its clients with the establishment of compliant and defendable gaming operations and focuses on long-term sustainability. 

List of requirements for gaming license in Western Sahara 

• Signed application form containing the proposed gaming operations  

• Copy of notarized passport, proof of address, and income proof for shareholders, directors, and individual UBOs  

• Bank reference  

• Business reference  

• Certificate of incorporation or registration  

• Extract from commercial register  

• Business license  

• Tax registration documents  

• Criminal record statement for business owner, board members, and beneficiaries (no penalties for certain crimes in the past 3-5 years, notarized)  

• Minimum of 1 director (no residency requirement, clean criminal record certificate required)  

• Minimum of 1 shareholder (no residency requirement)  

• No minimum capital requirement  

• At least 1 certified registered agent  

• Local office address in Western Sahara  

• AML and KYC compliance policies  

• Detailed personal information for directors and shareholders (names, addresses, phone, email, references, IDs) 

Process for obtaining gaming license in Western Sahara 

Step 1: Determining the structure of your business 

• Tetra Consultants’ first task is the incorporation of your company.  In order to have your company legally established in Western Sahara, Tetra Consultants will register your company as an International Business Company (IBC) under the umbrella of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).   

• We will assist you by reserving your company name and building out the necessary infrastructure to have an internet connection, as well as ensuring that your company is compliant with any state-specific laws.  Typically, incorporating a company in Western Sahara, which is helpful to have in place before moving forward with the licensing process. 

Step 2: Complete all regulatory requirements 

• Tetra Consultants’ teamwork with you in appointing at least 1 director and 1 shareholder. No residency in Western Sahara is necessary. They are to provide you with the necessary documents (criminal record checks) for each of the identified Key Personnel. They will also provide you with the formal appointment of a registered agent to represent your company and will assist you in establishing and maintaining the corporate office in Western Sahara.  

• Tetra Consultants will ensure that your company complies with the Western Sahara Management & Advisory Corporation (WSMAC) requirements, specifically in the establishment of an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Policy to enable compliance during the establishment and license application phases of your project. 

Step 3: Determine the license type 

• The final step in this phase is to determine the type of license you will need. Tetra Consultants provides recommendations on the appropriate type of license to operate your business, such as online gaming or land-based gambling, to be issued only by WSMAC.   

• We will also provide specific guidance on how to obtain licensure based on the type of business that you are starting, thereby impacting the types of documentation that must be submitted and the pathways to approval for the business. 

Step 4: Preparation of required document 

• In this step, Tetra Consultants will assemble your entire application by preparing a comprehensive packet of information that includes: a signed application form indicating the type of business that you wish to establish; a notarized copy of your passport; proof of address and income for each of the shareholders, directors, and UBOs associated with the business; bank and/or business references; copies of incorporation certificates; copies of tax registration documents; and, where applicable, a notarized statement of criminal history indicating that none of the individuals associated with your business has been convicted of any disallowed crimes within the last three to five years. Tetra Consultants will carefully review the completed application packet for errors/omissions to avoid rejection by WSMAC during the application submission process. 

Step 5: Application submission 

• Upon the completion of your application documents and your AML/KYC policies, Tetra Consultants will proceed to fully submit the application to WSMAC, demonstrating that all materials respect the regulatory requirements of WSMAC and that the application was prepared in accordance with the WSMAC requirements. Tetra Consultants will handle the submission process in the most efficient manner possible to provide optimal conditions for a rapid turnaround/review of the application by WSMAC, which commences the formal “approval” process. 

Step 6: Payment of Fees 

• During this phase of the process, Tetra Consultants will submit all application fees and any annual fees associated with your eGambling (Category 1) License application for review to WSMAC. Also, during this phase of application submission, Tetra Consultants will track the status of the approval process. The average turnaround time for an eGambling application is usually several weeks. Throughout this period, Tetra Consultants will communicate with WSMAC and provide updates on the progression of your application. 

Step 7: License issuance 

• Once WSMAC has confirmed that the application(s) for your Business has met WSMAC’s regulatory requirements, Tetra Consultants will assist you in receiving your Business License and will allow you to undertake legal gaming activities in Western Sahara. Additionally, Tetra Consultants will provide assistance related to your newly acquired Business License, establishing appropriate banking (operations) for your new company, to ensure that the launch of your new business is seamless. 

Conclusion 

• Tetra Consultants can assist any business in obtaining a Western Sahara Gaming License through the Western Sahara Management and Advisory Corporation (WSMAC). The procedures utilized by Tetra Consultants allow a business to remain in compliance from the beginning to the end of the process, beginning with Offshore Company Formation (also known as a Western Sahara International Business Company) through to the final issuance of the License. An overview of the steps needed to complete this process is as follows: 

• Tetra Consultants offers the complete package of services necessary for obtaining a Western Sahara Gaming License, including the following offshore company incorporation, preparing all documents, including notarized Passports and criminal records, developing an Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer (AML/KYC) Policy; filing the application for the gaming license with WSMAC; obtaining a nominee director and shareholder services for privacy or local requirements through a Safe Trust agreement with advisable professionals, corporate bank account opening and providing ongoing assistance with regulatory compliance consulting. Selecting Tetra Consultants to help you enter Western Sahara’s gaming market will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on your business, as there is no residency requirement for directors or shareholders. 

• Contact us to know more about gaming licenses in Western Sahara and we will get back to you within 24 hours.