Gibraltar Gambling License 2025

Gibraltar is one of the British Overseas Territories with its own gambling legislation and regulating bodies. It is famous for being a reputable and prestigious jurisdiction where it’s pretty difficult to obtain a license to conduct gambling activities because of very high requirements to the applicants. Those businesses that will get one of the Gibraltarian licenses may enjoy a very competitive system of taxation, a chance to open a merchant account, and complete safety and confidentiality of personal data and financial activities. Generally speaking, the Gibraltarian license contributes to the demonstration of credibility and a high level of business operation standards.

Advantages of the Gibraltarian Gambling License

There are a number of reasons why Gibraltar hosts the world’s leading online gambling operators, and why you might want to become the next licensee. First, its economic environment is widely recognized for being stable, supportive of innovation, and offering a well-developed business infrastructure with world-class public services. Licensees need to be a company that holds a registered office in Gibraltar and employees. Thus, with that in mind, employees are valued for productivity and a vast skill set. Other than that, the operational expenses are amongst the most competitive in Europe.

Gibraltar also receives one of the tiniest taxations. First of all, there’s no VAT. After that, taxes aren’t levied on capital gains, sales, gifts, and wealth. Corporate gains are taxed at a 12.5% rate, which is very advantageous compared to the other European jurisdictions. Online casinos pay on gross profit an amount of 1%. Generally, a 1% tax rate is levied with respect to the annual turnover of fixed odd betting activities, but the tax is capped at the amount of 425,000 GBP (appr. 497,000 EUR) per year and the minimum payable amount amounts to 85,000 GBP (appr. 99,500 EUR).

A very low-0.15%-rate applies to the following profits:

• The first 100,000 GBP (approx. 117,000 EUR) of the operator’s gross, betting profit on bet receipts each year
• The first 100,000 GBP (approx. 117,000 EUR) of the operator’s gross profit on betting event revenues in each year
• The first 100,000 GBP (approx. 117,000 EUR) of the operator’s gross gaming yield on gaming receipts each year

Since it is a British Overseas Territory, there is also a possibility of passporting the license to gamble and other regulatory endorsements within the Gibraltarian and British jurisdictions. What this means is that one can conduct gambling business in the UK using a Gibraltarian license with no need to follow the cumbersome authorization procedure, as they would simply need to be registered with the relevant British authority.

In general, the government of Gibraltar is committed to making the regulatory standards maintain their positions in the front rank of sound and effective regulatory practices while at the same time fostering a creative and competitive business environment. Thus, the national regulator protects the customers of the gambling games and allows the gaming practices to be realized in a fair and socially responsible way without hampering new business opportunities. The practical way of the regulator to meet business needs will provide an opportunity for the gambling operators to grow within a secure and transparent environment.

Advantages

Gambling Regulations in Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner (GGC) is the supervising authority responsible for the enforcement of relevant regulations which differentiate between online and offline gambling activities, and assurance that license holders act within the terms of their license agreements. It works with international regulators to ensure that gaming is free from crime and responsible, hence its ranking as the top regulatory framework. The Gibraltar Licensing Authority, handled by GGC, issues, varies, and cancels licenses in respect of applicable regulations.

Key legislation and guidance regarding gambling activities is provided through the following:

• The Gambling Act 2005
• Code of Practice for the Gambling Industry: The Generic Code
• Code of Practice for the Remote Gambling Industry: the Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing Arrangements (AML Code)
• Gambling (Duties and Licensing Fees) Regulations 2018
• The Companies Act 2014
• The Proceeds of Crime Act 2015

The Gambling Act 2005 is based on the UK Gambling Act 2005 and is an important act that comprises non-remote betting and betting offices, non-remote gaming and gaming establishments, non-remote lotteries, betting intermediaries, and remote gambling. It also prescribes requirements applicable to all gambling license holders with regard to charges, fees, and gaming taxes payable, records to be maintained, audited accounts to be provided, and internal control procedures.

Pursuant to the Gambling Act 2005, the term “gambling” is defined as betting (including pool betting) and bookmaking, gaming, and promoting or entering a lottery. The term “gaming” means playing a game of chance for a prize. The word “betting” shall mean to place or accept a bet upon the result of any race, struggle or other contest, or upon a lot or chance, or upon any unknown or contingent event whatever, or whether any particular person shall die any particular year, or upon the happening of any other event or contingency respecting which wagers have by law been declared illegal.

The Generic Code was devised to guide according to the interpretations of the Gambling Act 2005, including those certain changed provisions. It explains the regulatory framework within which the holders of Gibraltarian remote and non-remote gambling licenses are bound to operate. In this code, the rules related to responsible gambling and their publishing, operating procedure and internal controls, and recordkeeping of transactions are interpreted.

Other key legislation with which you should be familiar in Gibraltar as a gambling license applicant includes Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing Arrangements (AML Code), issued by the GGC. This covers such areas as principles of customer due diligence, AML reporting requirements, and financial sanctions.

The AML Code provides, amongst others, the following key provisions, which are applicable to all license holders:

• Licensees should forthwith identify a board member with strategic responsibility for AML/CFT issues.
• Licence holders should designate a director or senior manager responsible to ensure compliance with requirements of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2015 and the AML Code.
• An annual AML/CFT report has to be presented to the company’s board at a minimum, including at least an annual update based on the corporate risk assessment and based on the work of the Risk Management Committee.
• Also, an AML/CFT officer, or the so-called nominated officer, has to be appointed by the licensee with the role of developing, implementing and overseeing internal AML/CFT policies.

Types of Gambling Licenses in Gibraltar

The gambling licenses of Gibraltar cover casino gaming, such as slots and casino table games, betting, for example, horse race betting, various lotteries, and social gaming. Licenses in gaming are divided into business-to-consumer and business-to-business licenses. B2C licensees may offer gambling services directly to players, while B2B licensees may support the B2C licensees by offering such services as SaaS. Compared to the jurisdictions with annual renewals, another advantage is that all sorts of licenses are valid for 5 years.

The GGC issues the following types of licenses for gambling activities:

• Remote Gaming B2C Operator-suitable for online casinos
• Remote Betting B2C Operator-is targeting online bookmakers and organizations
• Other Remote B2C Gambling Product Provider-suitable for betting intermediaries
• Non-Remote B2C Gaming Operator-suitable for land-based casinos
• Non-remote B2C betting operator: mainly for land bookmakers and lotteries
• Gambling B2B support service provider: will suit gaming software/game developers

Gibraltar

Capital	Population	Currency	GDP
Gibraltar	34,003	GIP	£50,941

Licensing Application Requirements

In order to license itself as a gambling operator in Gibraltar, one should first open a local company with a local office and local directors. Only firms with impeccable reputations and with previous experience in the industry are considered for one of the prestigious licenses in Gibraltar. It should be shown that the applicant is a well-established stable, well-recognized corporation without any exposure to crime or unfair practices.

Every License Applicant Should Ensure and Show That the Following Requirements Are Met:

• A detailed and realistic business plan
• A scheme of investment in the jurisdiction of Gibraltar
• Good financial standing
• The possession of a gambling license from another jurisdiction
• Internal AML/CFT policies and procedures are to be developed in relation to the liaison with third-party suppliers and the GGC, training of staff, and monitoring and reporting of any suspicious activity;
• Gambling products and services should be tested and certified by an independent test house approved by the Gibraltar Licensing Authority

The following test houses are available for selection:

• BMM Compliance
• eCOGRA
• Enex TestLabs
• Gaming Associates
• GLI Europe BV
• GLI Test Labs Canada ULC
• GLI UK Gaming Ltd.
• iTech Labs
• Lean Lab Company Ltd
• Quinel M. Ltd.
• SIQ Gaming Laboratories Ltd
• Trisigma B.V.

The following shall be submitted in addition to the application:

• Company incorporation certificate
• Memorandum of Association
• Articles of Association
• Licence certificate of gambling business and financial statements obtained from other jurisdictions
• Proof of lack of criminal records of shareholders and directors
• Documented internal AML/CFT policies and internal control procedures
• Confirmation of the financial solvency of founders and beneficiaries and sufficient funds of the company
• Notarized photocopies of the passports of the shareholders, directors, and authorized persons
• Proof of addresses of the shareholders, directors, and the authorized persons
• Letters of recommendation from banks where the shareholders, directors, and the authorized persons are registered, and also financial or other institutions regulating gambling businesses
• Evidence that the organization is in a position to pay any eventual winnings (photocopies of actual payments to the winners will suffice)

Top Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Licensed Casinos

How to Setup a Gambling Company in Gibraltar

To get a license for gambling in Gibraltar, you can set up either a Private Limited Liability Company – LTD or a Public Limited Company – PLC, which are the most usual legal forms of business. Shares of the latter are issued in an initial public offering – IPO and trade on public stock exchanges and are hence suitable for larger businesses. Assuming all filed documents are in order, it takes just 1-2 weeks to incorporate a Gibraltarian company.

The key characteristics of an LTD:

• Minimum one shareholder, any nationality and no residence requirements
• Minimum one director
• A local Company Secretary
• Minimum 2 employees based in Gibraltar
• The minimum authorized share capital is 100 GBP (or approximately 117 EUR), but this may vary depending on the business model and regulator discretion.
• A registered office in Gibraltar

The main features of a Public Limited Company (PLC):

• At least 7 shareholders of any nationality
• At least 2 directors of any nationality and no residence requirements
• A company secretary
• Minimum licensed share capital – 20,500 GBP (approx. 24,000 EUR), but depends on the business model and left for discretion of the regulator
• A registered office in Gibraltar

Documents to be filed for the purpose of incorporating a gaming company in Gibraltar:

• Memorandum of Association, signed by each shareholder in the presence of at least one witness
• Articles of Association
• Business plan, amongst others, containing a gambling business model, goals, marketing strategy, financial projections, and the description of the software and hardware used in the operation
• Copies of the passports of the shareholders and directors of the company
• Proof of residential address – bank statement or a utility bill – of each shareholder and director of the company, not older than 3 months
• A statement of compliance stating that the requirements of the Companies Act 2014 with respect to the registration of the company have been complied with

In order to incorporate a Gibraltarian company, you will be required to do the following:

• Reserve a unique and compliant company name at the Companies House Gibraltar and get a business name registration certificate
• Find and register an office in Gibraltar where your local staff will be based, and all the legal and state correspondence delivered.
• Open a corporate bank account at a bank in Gibraltar.
• Transfer the required share capital into the new bank account.
• Pay Stamp Duty of 10 GBP/approx. 12 EUR on the share capital.
• Settle the company registration fee of 100 GBP/approx. 117 EUR.
• Application and all the supporting documentation must be filed with the Companies House Gibraltar
• Registration of the company and staff with the Income Tax Office
• Registration with the Employment Service

Licensing Procedure for Gambling

After you are completed with the company incorporation in Gibraltar, you can apply for a license to carry on gambling business. Depending on what type of gambling license, in 2 to 6 months after the application procedure is completed, only a few most credible applicants are granted a license by the Gibraltar Licensing Authority.

To get a Gibraltarian license, you normally need to go through the following procedure:

• Regulatory due diligence: verify that the ownership and control of the business is lawfully and transparently.
• Find an independent software testing house and have your gambling software certified.
• Submit all the required documents and fully completed application form to the Gibraltar Licensing Authority.

During this legitimacy period, amongst others, the Gibraltar Licensing Authority would seek verification of character, honesty, and integrity of the people concerned, relevant experience in conducting the gambling activities which the license is to cover, and ability to construct and maintain the technical infrastructure required for conducting the gambling.

GAMBLING LICENSE IN GIBRALTAR

Requirements of Licensees

Once a license in respect of gambling has been issued, there are many requirements to adhere to. The ‘licensee must be properly managed and controlled within Gibraltar and is in a position to disclose and make available the following detailed information regarding the key employees comprising its shareholders, directors, and executive managers employed in the management and operation of the Gibraltarian-based gambling company’.

It also forms a duty to designate an address where the records of the company’s transactions shall be kept and inform the GGC in writing of that address and to prepare for the GGC annual audited accounts and to continue to keep financial records in accordance with the Companies Act 2014.

For these among other reasons, all the bank accounts that are used to receive stakes, wagers, prizes, and other forms of payments from customers shall be controlled by the licensee seeking to get licensed, and all such bank accounts are to be maintained in Gibraltar unless there is an approval from the authority concerning a different solution. None of the banking arrangements approved by the GGC should be varied without prior notification to the authority.

The annual license fees are as follows:

• Remote gaming B2C operators – 100,000 GBP
• Remote betting B2C operators – 100,000 GBP
• Businesses offering other remote B2C gambling products – 100,000 GBP
• Non-remote B2C gaming operators (land casinos) – 100,000 GBP
• Non-remote B2C betting operators (land bookmakers) – 100,000 GBP
• Gambling B2B support service providers – 85,000 GBP

Every Licensee has to make its gambling rules available to players who enter gambling premises in an easily accessible manner, or if the operator conducts a remote gaming business, the rules must be readily accessible on the website used for gambling. It also sets a duty to make provision for fair and safe gambling practices by making barriers to prevent minors from gambling, and ensuring all promotional activities are true and accurate.

Also, license holders have to register themselves with the Data Protection Commissioner and conform to the following:

• The data should be acquired and processed in a fairly and lawful manner;
• The data is to be kept and used only for the purposes that have been obtained;
• Kept accurate and up to date;
• Data must be kept safely and securely.
• Customers have the right to access their personal information held by the licensed gambling operator.

Licensees are obliged, amongst many other responsibilities, to institute a suitable system of internal controls as well as operating procedures comprised of a set of documents in paper or electronic format, which is also referred to as standard operating procedures. These written documents describe the company, the principles of business conduct, the monitoring arrangements, and responses concerning activities carried out under the license.

Regulated United Europe will be glad to help you with all the stages of company incorporation and application for a license in Gibraltar. With lawyers, fiscal experts, and accountants on your team, company incorporation and the application process will be easy, smooth, and crystal clear. Contact us now to book a personal consultation and secure your path to long-lasting success.