Mike de Graaff on BetComply’s Playbook for Regulated Market Entry
Mike de Graaff, Co-Founder & Chief Compliance Officer at BetComply, works at the heart of a company that has built a strong reputation in iGaming regulatory compliance, supporting operators with licensing, market entry and compliance across more than 40 jurisdictions. BetComply was recently shortlisted for the Fraud & Compliance award at the SBC Awards 2026, following its win as European Corporate Service Supplier of the Year at the EGR B2B Awards 2026.
In this CasinoRank interview, de Graaff discusses BetComply’s approach to regulated market entry, the compliance challenges shaping operators’ strategies today, and what strong regulatory frameworks ultimately mean for the players relying on safe and properly regulated gambling environments.
BetComply has become one of the most recognisable names in iGaming compliance, how would you describe the mission today?
Mike de Graaff: We’re incredibly grateful that so many major names in the industry already trust us with their regulatory roadmaps. The mission now is simple: when someone in the industry needs serious compliance support, we want BetComply to be the name that comes up in the room. Always. Think of it as the BetComply bat signal.
You’ve just been shortlisted for the Fraud & Compliance award at the SBC Awards 2026, congratulations! What would a win mean for BetComply and the team?
Mike de Graaff: It would be great external validation for the team and the amount of work they’ve put in. They’ve moved some serious compliance mountains over the past year, so recognition like this means a lot.
You recently wrote about why experience in the UK, Netherlands and Germany shapes how BetComply works everywhere else. What’s the biggest lesson those markets taught you?
Mike de Graaff: Operating in highly regulated, fast-moving markets with real enforcement risk keeps you sharp. It forces you to be precise, practical and creative at the same time and to stay on your toes because the regulatory environment never stands still.
New jurisdictions keep opening up — Ireland, Finland, New Zealand, Alberta and more. How do operator’s decide what’s next?
Mike de Graaff: When we advise operators on market entry, it usually comes down to two things: either their product is a very strong fit for the market, or the barriers to entry make commercial and regulatory sense for their model. Ideally, of course, it’s both.
For players, licensing and compliance can feel invisible — what should someone look for to genuinely confirm a casino is operating under a legitimate, well-regulated licence?
Mike de Graaff: In well-regulated markets such as the UK and the Netherlands, regulators publish registers showing which operators, and often which websites, are actually licensed. It’s worth checking. We do the same when spending money anywhere else online, so gambling shouldn’t be treated differently.
Final Thoughts
Mike de Graaff: Entering a market is about far more than getting a license. You need to understand the technical standards, how the product has to be configured, what has to change operationally, and what it actually takes to get live and stay compliant once you’re there. That practical product and implementation knowledge is a big part of why operators choose to work with us.