| Larisa Petrosyan Attorney at Law | Michael Hovhannesyan Senior Partner, Attorney at Law |
Why Documentation Is the Starting Point
Before an iGaming company can go live in Armenia, it needs a gambling licence. There is no workaround — operating without one is illegal and carries serious administrative and criminal penalties. And to get that licence, you need to put together a complete document package.
This is not just a formality. The Ministry of Economy, which handles iGaming licence applications as of 2025, reviews each application carefully. If anything is missing, inconsistent, or incorrect, the process stalls — and the clock does not pause while you chase down a missing certificate. Getting the paperwork right the first time is genuinely the fastest path to launch.
One piece of good news: once you have an Armenian iGaming licence, you do not need to renew it. It is issued for an indefinite period, provided you continue to meet your regulatory obligations. That makes the upfront investment in a clean application even more worthwhile.
How Long Does the Review Take?
Once a complete application is submitted, the Ministry of Economy has 23 working days to issue a decision. If the case requires additional examination — for example, technical or financial review — this period can be extended by a further 23 working days. In practice, delays almost always come from incomplete submissions rather than from the authority itself.
What Documents Does the Application Actually Require?
The application package covers four main areas: your company’s legal standing, financial capacity, technical setup, and the rules under which you intend to operate. Here is what falls under each.
Corporate Documents
These confirm that your company exists, is properly registered, and has a clear and transparent ownership structure. You will need your company charter, registration certificate, tax registration proof, and a chart showing the full ownership and beneficial ownership structure.
Financial Documents
Two financial requirements stand out. First, you need a certificate from the State Revenue Committee confirming that your company has no outstanding tax debts or payment obligations as of the most recent reporting period. This certificate is time-sensitive, so it should be obtained close to the date of submission.
Second, you need to demonstrate financial guarantees — typically a deposit held with an Armenian-registered bank. The amount and form of this guarantee are set by the applicable regulations and should be confirmed at the time of application.
Technical and Operational Documents
This is where iGaming applications differ from standard business licences. You need to disclose the URL(s) of your gambling website, describe the gaming applications and platforms you will use, and confirm where your servers are located. The location of servers is a specific regulatory requirement in Armenia and must be addressed clearly in the application.
You also need to submit the rules and procedures governing how your iGaming activities will be organised and run. These must be formally approved by your company’s management body before submission — a board resolution or equivalent corporate approval is typically required.
Physical Gaming Hall (If Applicable)
If your iGaming operation includes or extends to a physical gaming hall, additional premises-related documentation applies. Most online-only operators will not need to address this, but it is worth flagging if your business model involves a hybrid setup.
Document Checklist
Use the table below to track your preparation. Every item in this list must be ready before submission.
| # | Document | Ready ✓ |
| Corporate documents | ||
| 1 | Licence application form | □ |
| 2 | Company charter / articles of association | □ |
| 3 | Certificate of state registration | □ |
| 4 | Proof of tax registration | □ |
| 5 | Corporate structure chart showing ownership and beneficial owners | □ |
| Financial documents | ||
| 6 | Certificate from the State Revenue Committee confirming tax and payment compliance (current reporting period) | □ |
| 7 | Evidence of financial guarantees (bank deposit held with an Armenian bank, per applicable requirements) | □ |
| 8 | Proof of capacity to pay the annual state licence fee (AMD 600,000,000) | □ |
| Technical and operational documents | ||
| 9 | Rules and procedures governing the iGaming activities, approved by the company’s management body | □ |
| 10 | URL(s) of the website(s) through which gambling services will be offered | □ |
| 11 | Description of gaming applications and digital platforms used | □ |
| 12 | Disclosure of server location(s) supporting the gambling operation | □ |
| Additional (if operating a physical gaming hall) | ||
| 13 | Premises-related documentation per applicable regulatory requirements | □ |
Tip: The State Revenue Committee certificate has a short shelf-life. Obtain it as close to your submission date as possible.
The State Fee: What You Need to Budget
The annual state fee for an Armenian iGaming licence is currently set at AMD 600,000,000 (approximately USD 1.5 million at current exchange rates). This is one of the largest upfront costs in the licensing process and must be planned for well in advance.
It is worth noting that this fee has been on a rising trajectory. Armenia doubled its online gambling licence fees in April 2025 and has scheduled further increases through 2028. Anyone evaluating the Armenian iGaming market in 2026 should factor in not just the current fee but the direction it is heading.
Beyond the licence fee, operators should also budget for the financial guarantee deposit, ongoing regulatory compliance costs, and the 10% turnover tax on gambling activities introduced in mid-2025. The Armenian market is becoming more tightly regulated — and more expensive to operate in — with each passing year. That is not necessarily a deterrent, but it is something every prospective operator needs to price in honestly.
What This Means in Practice
The document requirements for an Armenian iGaming licence are manageable, but they require advance planning. Several items — particularly the State Revenue Committee certificate, the financial guarantee documentation, and the approved operational rules — take time to prepare properly and cannot be rushed at the last minute.
The companies that move through the process most smoothly are the ones that treat the document package as a project, not a checklist to fill in at the end. Identifying gaps early, resolving corporate structure questions before submission, and coordinating with your bank on the guarantee deposit are all steps that pay off in a faster and cleaner approval.
How Retrieve Legal & Tax Can Help
We advise iGaming companies on Armenian licensing, corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and multi-jurisdiction operational setup. If you are preparing an iGaming licence application in Armenia, or evaluating whether Armenia fits your business structure, we are happy to discuss the specifics with you.
Contact us at retrieve.am to arrange a consultation.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements described reflect our understanding of Armenian law as of early 2026 and are subject to change. Retrieve Legal & Tax accepts no liability for decisions taken in reliance on the contents of this article.