1xBet is set to return to the Liberian market through LIPAY Inc. after the National Lottery Authority (NLA) restored the company’s licensing status following a settlement of the regulatory dispute.

A September 25 report reproducing an NLA statement says that LIPAY Inc. was issued a one-year licence on September 22, 2026 for the 2026/2027 licensing period. The authorisation covers sports betting, online casino, and online lottery activities in Liberia. The statement also identifies LIPAY Inc. as the local representative of the 1xBet brand.

This development follows a period of regulatory restrictions that began in December 2025, meaning LIPAY Inc.’s status has shifted significantly, though the company remains subject to ongoing regulatory obligations under Liberian law.

It is important to understand the arrangement precisely. The license was issued to LIPAY Inc., not directly to 1xBet. 1xBet is treated as a brand within the NLA’s framework, and earlier proceedings dismissed a complaint against 1xBet’s management without prejudice due to misjoinder and the failure to sue the relevant legal entity.

The restoration followed a settlement agreement dated September 14, 2026 between LIPAY Inc. and the NLA. The reported terms require the company to comply with licensing requirements, regulatory conditions, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) obligations, and responsible gaming requirements.

The agreement also provides for the removal of restrictions previously imposed on LIPAY Inc., subject to continued compliance with the conditions agreed with the regulator. The NLA statement described the administrative matter as concluded and confirmed the company’s licensing status for the new period.

This settlement is significant because the earlier regulatory action had imposed major limitations on LIPAY Inc. In June 2026, the NLA ruling ordered immediate revocation of its sports betting licence, imposed administrative fines totalling US$10,000, and prohibited the company from applying for or obtaining another gaming licence in Liberia for two years. The later agreement therefore reflects a regulatory resolution rather than a straightforward renewal of an uninterrupted licence.

The dispute dates back to December 16, 2025, when the NLA suspended LIPAY Inc.’s operational licence. In its final ruling, the Authority said the suspension was based on concerns regarding the use of the 1XBET brand in Liberia and the relationship between LIPAY Inc. and DIDIANE LTD.

The ruling stated that LIPAY Inc. had entered into a trademark licensing agreement with DIDIANE LTD, described in the document as a company registered in Cyprus, granting LIPAY the right to use the 1XBET trademarks in Liberia. The agreement was dated May 13, 2025. The NLA also examined how the 1XBET name was presented to the public and the regulator’s understanding of the associated operational and financial arrangements, which formed the basis of the administrative proceedings.

LIPAY Inc. denied the allegations and argued that the agreement was a branding arrangement rather than a transfer of its gaming licence. The company also maintained that 1XBET was a brand, not a legal entity capable of holding the Liberian licence.

After reviewing the evidence presented at the hearing, the NLA hearing officer found LIPAY Inc. liable for violations of Sections 6.4, 6.9, 14.1(b), and 14.1(d) of Gaming Regulation 001. The findings related to disclosure requirements, the non-transferability of a sports betting licence, operation by an unlicensed foreign entity, and breaches of licence conditions.

The ruling also referenced provisions of Liberia’s Intellectual Property Act and General Business Law concerning the use of names and identifiers in ways that could mislead the public.

These findings were administrative conclusions in the NLA’s ruling, not a criminal conviction against LIPAY Inc., and they should not be treated as liability findings against 1xBet itself.

The NLA imposed four separate administrative fines of US$2,500 each, totalling US$10,000, and ordered LIPAY Inc. to cover costs related to the proceedings. The ruling also indicated that additional amounts could be recovered related to licensing fees and activities during the period covered by the enforcement action.

The latest development shifts attention back to Liberia’s licensing framework. Gaming Regulation 001 provides the legal structure for several categories of gaming in the country, including sports betting, casino gaming, and other games of chance. It sets out requirements covering licensing, transfers, renewals, conduct of gaming, penalties, and responsible gaming. The regulation also confirms that a gaming licence is formal permission granted under the National Lottery Authority Act.

For operators seeking to maintain a presence in Liberia, compliance is therefore an ongoing requirement rather than a one-time exercise. The settlement statement similarly emphasises continued AML/CFT compliance and responsible gaming obligations. Liberia’s Financial Intelligence Agency identifies gaming as a reporting sector under the country’s AML/CFT framework, requiring relevant reporting entities to identify and monitor financial crime risks.

One detail requires caution when assessing the current status of 1xBet in Liberia. The NLA’s public licensed-operators page, as shown at the time of review, still lists LIPAY Bet under an older sports betting licence issued on May 9, 2025 with an expiration date of May 8, 2026. The page does not yet reflect the reported September 2026 licence.

This likely indicates an update lag in the public register. For publication purposes, the most accurate framing is that LIPAY Inc.’s licensing status was restored and that a new 2026/2027 licence was reported as issued by the NLA. That distinction matters because the regulator’s online operator list had not yet been updated at the time of the review.

The development gives 1xBet a renewed pathway into Liberia through LIPAY Inc. The reported scope of the new licence is broader than sports betting alone, covering online casino and online lottery as well.

However, because of the history of the dispute, future operations are expected to remain closely tied to strict adherence to the NLA’s licensing conditions. The settlement does not remove the regulatory framework; it places LIPAY Inc. back under that framework for a fresh licensing period.

For the wider market, the case also highlights the importance of clear corporate identity and regulatory transparency when international brands operate through local entities. The NLA has repeatedly stated that gaming operators must comply with licence requirements, including rules relevant to online gaming, licensing procedures, and enforcement.

The reported restoration of 1xBet’s route into Liberia marks a new phase in a regulatory dispute that involved suspension, revocation, administrative penalties, and a subsequent settlement. LIPAY Inc. is reported to hold a one-year license for the 2026/2027 period covering sports betting, online casino, and online lottery services.

The immediate impact is the restoration of LIPAY Inc.’s operating status and its renewed ability to represent the 1xBet brand under Liberian authorisation. At the same time, public licensing records appear not to have fully caught up, so careful wording is necessary when describing the company’s current regulatory position.

Finally, the episode reinforces a key principle in Liberia’s gaming market: brand recognition does not replace local licensing, and the ability to provide regulated services depends on continued compliance with the NLA’s requirements, including AML/CFT and responsible gaming obligations.