B2C vs B2B Licence
The distinction between licences for operators that offer gambling directly to players and licences for suppliers that provide games or platforms to those operators.
Definition
Many regulators split gambling licences into business-to-consumer and business-to-business categories. A B2C licence authorises an operator to offer gambling directly to players, taking their bets and managing their accounts. A B2B licence authorises a supplier, such as a game studio, platform provider, or payment or content aggregator, to provide critical gambling supplies to licensed operators without dealing with players itself. The split lets regulators oversee the whole supply chain: the consumer-facing operator and the underlying providers of games and technology are each licensed and held to standards appropriate to their role.
Worked example
A studio that develops slot games holds a B2B licence to supply them to operators, while each operator that puts those games in front of players holds its own B2C licence.
Why it matters
For learners it clarifies who in the industry needs which licence. For professionals, correctly classifying a business model determines the licence required and avoids operating outside the scope of an authorisation.