Холдинговая структура
Holding Structure
A holding structure is a scheme in which a parent company owns several legal entities and splits the brand, licenses, payments and technology between separate companies in the group.
What is Холдинговая структура (Holding Structure)?
A holding structure in gambling, betting and fintech is a group of legal entities under a common owner (the holding company), where each company handles one function: licensing, operations, payments, technology or marketing. The scheme is used to spread risk, operate in different jurisdictions and connect different licenses and payment channels.
## How it works
The holding company usually owns several companies: a licensee (the company that holds the regulator's license), an operating company (owns the brand and domains and works with players), a technical or IP owner (the platform, game content or code) and payment agents or processing companies. Transactions within the group are documented by contracts between the legal entities, so money and obligations move under transparent rules.
## Why the industry uses this structure
Separating functions makes it possible to isolate claims: problems with one legal entity do not necessarily affect the others. The structure also helps build operations across several licensing jurisdictions and change contractors faster without re-registering the whole group.
## Where it is found
In online casinos and bookmakers, holding structures often place the licensee in one jurisdiction and the operator in another, while brands are run through separate companies. In fintech and payments, such groups combine e-money, processing, acquiring and currency exchange operations, and each part may have its own regulatory obligations.
## What it affects
The structure determines who obtains the license, who passes KYB and AML checks by partners and banks, how settlements between companies are organized and how taxes are calculated. Financial organizations are usually required by regulators to disclose ultimate beneficial owners, so ownership transparency becomes mandatory.
## Common mistakes
FAQ
Why does an online casino use a holding structure?
To split licenses, brands and technical functions between companies, operate in different jurisdictions and reduce risks for the whole group. The specific scheme depends on regulator requirements and the chosen markets.
How does a holding company differ from a licensee?
A holding company is the owner of a group of companies, while a licensee is a specific legal entity to which the regulator has issued a permit to operate. The licensee is part of the holding structure, but it is not necessarily the holding company itself.
What do banks and payment partners check in a holding structure?
They usually request the ownership scheme, ultimate beneficial owners, documents for each legal entity and the purpose of payments between the group's companies. This is part of KYB and AML procedures.