How to Get a Gibraltar iGaming Licence

If you are researching a Gibraltar gambling licence based on what you read before April 2026, the framework has changed.

The Gambling Act 2025, the legislation's formal title, received assent in March 2026 and largely came into force on 1 April 2026. It replaces the Gambling Act 2005 that governed the jurisdiction for two decades. Some industry commentary refers to it informally as Gibraltar's 2026 gambling legislation, but the statutory title remains the Gambling Act 2025.

The new Act restructures how the regulator works, widens the scope of what requires licensing, introduces tiered fees calculated by gross gambling yield, and creates entirely new licence categories for B2B suppliers, marketing services, and support activities that were previously unregulated.

Businesses holding a Gibraltar licence under the 2005 Act are deemed to hold the corresponding licence under the new framework. A separate six-month transition applies to businesses whose activities did not previously require a licence but are now brought within scope. To rely on the transition, an affected business must notify the Gambling Division, classify its activity, and submit the required application before 1 October 2026. Platform suppliers, aggregators, managed trading providers, marketing businesses, and other outsourced service providers should not assume that an existing commercial relationship is sufficient. Their licensing or approval position should be confirmed before that date.

Gibraltar remains one of the most respected gambling jurisdictions in the world. The Gibraltar Government has stated that the online betting and gaming sector accounts for approximately 30% of GDP, employs more than 3,400 people, and generates around one-third of Gibraltar's tax receipts. As of 31 July 2026, the Gambling Division's public register listed 57 licensed entities, with approximately 27 carrying at least one B2C licence designation. Current licence holders include major international groups such as Hillside (Gibraltar) Limited of the Bet365 Group, Virtual Global Digital Services Limited of Evoke/888, and WHG (International) Limited.

Getting licensed here is not easy. The Gambling Division has traditionally considered established operators with proven track records, though it now states it will also consider "appropriately funded start-ups and expanding operations."

This guide covers how the B2C licence works under the new Act: who can apply, the fee tiers from the final 2026 regulations, the application process, substance requirements, and what most guides get wrong because they have not caught up with the changes. If you supply platform or gaming services to Gibraltar-licensed operators, the B2B framework is covered too.

What the Gambling Act 2025 Changed

The new Act does not update the old one. It replaces it entirely.

The Regulator Is Now Two Roles

Under the 2005 Act, a single Licensing Authority handled both licensing and ongoing supervision. The new Act splits those functions:

The Authority (the designated Minister, currently the Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry) grants, varies, and revokes licences.

The Gambling Commissioner supervises and enforces. The Commissioner monitors compliance, conducts investigations, and has a new enforcement toolkit that includes administrative penalties, cease-and-desist orders, suspension orders, prohibition orders, on-site inspections under warrant, skilled persons reports (independent experts appointed by the Commissioner), and the power to demand documents and information.

A new Gambling Appeals Tribunal has been established to hear challenges to decisions made by the Authority or Commissioner. This gives licensees a formal appeals route independent of the regulator itself.

This separation mirrors how financial regulators in other jurisdictions work: one body decides who gets authorised, another makes sure they stay in line.

The Scope Is Wider

The 2005 Act primarily regulated B2C operators and B2B software suppliers. The 2025 Act expands the licensing perimeter.

B2C operators remain the core focus. Any gambling business managed or controlled "in or from Gibraltar" requires a B2C licence.

B2B suppliers are now more granularly defined. The expanded framework captures gambling and related regulated activities conducted in or from Gibraltar and, in some B2B cases, relevant supplies made to Gibraltar licence holders. Businesses should assess the substance of the activity and supply relationship rather than relying only on the supplier's registered address.

Gambling Operator Support Services (GOSS). Marketing services conducted "in or from Gibraltar" now require their own licence. CRM services, managed trading, and software hosting also fall within scope.

Holding companies. Entities based in Gibraltar that hold 25% or more in a "relevant company" now require licensing.

Regulated individuals. Senior decision-makers will require personal vetting and licensing. Part 5 of the Act, which covers regulated individuals, has not yet commenced. It was excluded from the 1 April 2026 commencement notice (LN.2026/064) and is waiting on a separate notice. Operators should prepare for it.

Substance Requirements

The new Act targets "brass plate" operations. Gibraltar assesses whether the applicant has the governance, financial resources, technical systems, and local operating substance required to conduct the proposed business from the jurisdiction. A registered address without genuine management, personnel, and operational capability will not satisfy that assessment.

Operators should budget for office space and the local operational capability expected by the regulator. Recruitment may combine Gibraltar residents with frontier workers based in Spain. The UK-EU treaty on Gibraltar entered provisional application on 15 July 2026, beginning a new free-flow arrangement at the land frontier. This is expected to improve certainty for the approximately 15,500 frontier workers who cross between Spain and Gibraltar. Separate residence rules apply to employees relocating to live in Gibraltar. The Residency Regulations 2026 entered into force on 14 July 2026 and introduce economic and eligibility criteria that should be considered when planning locally resident hires.

B2C Licence Types

The B2C framework contains several licence categories under the new Act:

• Betting operator licence for operators accepting bets as principal (sports betting on real and virtual events).
• Gaming operator licence for casino, poker, bingo, and other regulated gaming.
• Lottery operator licence for lottery operations.
• Betting intermediary licence for businesses facilitating bets between customers, including relevant exchange models.
• Betting agent licence for the activities defined under the Act.
• A business offering both sportsbook betting and casino gaming generally requires separate betting and gaming licences. Each carries its own application fee and annual fee. This is different from Curaçao (single licence covering multiple approved verticals) and Malta (single licence with multiple game types added through vertical approval).
• Lottery, intermediary, and agent activities should be assessed under their own categories rather than assumed to fall within either the betting or gaming licence.

B2B and GOSS Licences

The new Act creates licences for businesses that supply services to B2C operators. B2B scope is not limited to companies physically established in Gibraltar. An external supplier may also require a Gibraltar licence or approval where it provides regulated gambling facilities or critical services to a Gibraltar licence holder.

Platform technology, sportsbook software, game aggregation, managed trading, live gaming, virtual content, and certain outsourced compliance or risk services should be classified before onboarding. The applicable route may be a B2B licence, provider approval, or an available statutory exemption, depending on the service and corporate structure.

GOSS (Gambling Operator Support Services) covers marketing, CRM, and other outsourced support functions conducted in or from Gibraltar. If you are a B2C operator using a third-party marketing agency based in Gibraltar, that agency now needs its own GOSS licence. Your own group marketing falls under your existing B2C licence.

Before onboarding a material supplier, the operator should document whether the service requires a Gibraltar B2B licence, Licensing Authority approval, or an available exemption. Using a supplier without the correct regulatory status, or without evidence supporting that status, can expose the operator to remediation or enforcement action.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling

Gibraltar licensing is not limited to corporate, technical, and AML review. Operators must maintain effective customer-protection controls under the applicable codes and Remote Technical and Operating Standards. Current expectations include:

• Clear responsible gambling information
• Accessible self-exclusion
• Tools allowing customers to set relevant deposit, time, or gambling limits
• Processes for identifying and responding to indicators of harm
• Fair and transparent game and promotion information
• Records showing how customer-risk decisions were made

Existing codes remain relevant while the Gambling Commissioner consults on and issues updated standards under the new Act. Operators should monitor new guidance rather than assume that the April 2026 commencement completed the regulatory change programme.

Fees

All fees below come from the final Gambling (Duties and Licence Fees) Regulations 2026 and the Gambling Division's administrative guidance.

B2C Operator Fees

Annual fees are calculated separately for each vertical. An operator whose betting vertical generates more than £300 million in annual gross yield and whose gaming vertical generates between £20 million and £300 million would pay £300,000 in combined annual licence fees: £200,000 for betting and £100,000 for gaming.

Gibraltar requires approval of relevant content suppliers, with a £1,000 application charge for each provider approval. Access to an aggregator's full catalogue does not mean every available provider should be submitted or deployed. Operators normally select a market-relevant subset based on product demand, certification, supplier terms, and approval cost. Before signing an aggregation agreement, the parties should define which providers and game versions will be submitted, who seeks approval, who pays the fees, who maintains certification and change records, and what happens when a provider or game version is replaced.

B2B Fees

The 2026 schedule distinguishes between different supplier models:

Direct-integration tier thresholds include sales generated from Gibraltar licence holders and the number of approved integrations.

GOSS and Holding Entity Fees

Corporate Tax and Duty

Gibraltar's corporate tax rate is 15%. There is no VAT on gambling services. No withholding tax on dividends.

Gaming duty sits at 0.15% of relevant gross betting or gaming profit. The first £100,000 of annual gross profit for each applicable operator category is exempt. For example, an operator generating £5 million in annual gross profit: (£5,000,000 minus £100,000) multiplied by 0.15% = £7,350. The 2026 regulations do not state an annual duty cap for standard betting and gaming operators.

Free bets and similar promotional stakes are not generally deductible merely because no cash stake was received, while qualifying chargebacks may affect the statutory calculation. The finance team should map management GGR to the Gibraltar duty definition.

Illustrative First-Year Budget

An illustrative first-year budget for a single-vertical applicant may fall within the £200,000 to £350,000+ range once statutory fees, legal advice, corporate setup, office costs, staffing, systems assurance, and compliance preparation are included. This is not a regulator-published estimate. The result depends materially on the applicable annual tier (£50,000, £100,000, or £200,000), the number of verticals and content providers, the size of the Gibraltar team and premises, systems-audit and certification work, ownership complexity, and the use of external legal and compliance advisers. Statutory charges should be shown separately from project-specific estimates in any budget.

The Application Process

Pre-Licensing Engagement

Before submitting a formal application, applicants go through a pre-licensing engagement with the Gambling Division. This is an assessment stage where the Division evaluates the business concept, corporate structure, key personnel, and financial standing.

In-Principle Decision

If the pre-licensing engagement is positive, the Licensing Authority makes an "in principle" decision to proceed. This is not a guarantee of licensing. It means the application has cleared the initial bar and the detailed review can begin.

Formal Application and Due Diligence

The Gambling Division conducts:

• Fit and proper checks on all shareholders, directors, UBOs, and key personnel
• Business plan review (financial projections, marketing strategy, staffing, compliance procedures)
• Technical assessment (platform architecture, RNG certification, security, data protection)
• AML/CFT review (procedures, systems, appointed officers)
• Source of funds verification

Systems Audit and Go-Live

Once all assessments are complete, the operator deploys its technical environment and undergoes a systems audit. Upon successful completion, the licence is granted.

Timeline

The Gambling Division does not publish a guaranteed processing period. Industry advisers often use six to twelve months as a planning range for a well-prepared application, but complex ownership, multiple verticals, supplier approvals, systems work, or incomplete documentation can extend the process. Applicants should build a project plan around regulatory stages and dependencies rather than treating the range as a service-level commitment.

Who Gibraltar Is For (and Who It Is Not For)

Gibraltar vs Malta vs Curaçao

Timelines and total costs are indicative. They depend on corporate structure, ownership review, certification, local substance, and the completeness of the application. Market access must be assessed separately under the laws of each target jurisdiction.

If you are a B2C operator evaluating Gibraltar, the question is not just whether you can afford the licence. It is whether your operation has the governance, financial resources, and local operating capability to satisfy the assessment. The Gambling Division does not just review paperwork. It evaluates whether the business has the substance to operate from Gibraltar.

Gibraltar makes sense for: established operators with proven revenue and the resources to maintain real substance on the Rock. Companies targeting the .com international market at scale. Operators who need strong banking relationships and the credibility that comes with one of the most selective licences in the industry.

Gibraltar is less suitable for: early-stage startups with limited capital. Operators who need an EU regulatory base (Malta is the better fit). Companies looking for speed to market (Curaçao's regulatory phases are shorter).

The dual or triple licence strategy. Major operators often hold Gibraltar for the .com market, Malta for an EU regulatory base, and sometimes Curaçao for emerging markets. The three licences serve different commercial purposes and different player geographies.
 

What Most Guides Get Wrong

Most articles about Gibraltar licensing were written before 1 April 2026 and have not been updated for the final regulations.

"The application fee is £10,000." That was consultation-stage material. The final regulations set the application fee at £30,000 per vertical (betting and gaming each).

"The annual licence fee is £100,000." That was the 2005 Act flat rate. Under the new tiered system, annual fees range from £50,000 to £200,000 per vertical depending on gross gambling yield.

"The regulator is the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner." Under the new Act, there are two roles. The Licensing Authority (the Minister) grants licences. The Gambling Commissioner supervises and enforces. They are separate functions.

"Marketing from Gibraltar does not require a licence." Under the new Act, marketing conducted "in or from Gibraltar" is a regulated activity requiring a GOSS licence (£8,000 application, £50,000 annual) unless it is group marketing by an already-licensed B2C operator.

"Gibraltar is just for big operators." The Gambling Division's own website says it will consider "appropriately funded start-ups and expanding operations." The bar remains high, but the door is not closed to new entrants with strong financials and a credible business plan.

Getting the Technical Stack Right

A Gibraltar licence opens the door. The technology behind the operation is what keeps it open. The Gambling Division requires that gaming platforms, RNG systems, and data infrastructure meet its technical standards, and systems are audited before go-live. The suppliers an operator works with must be licensed, approved, or validly exempt under the new Act.

A platform partner with established technical documentation, testing evidence, and regulated-market experience can reduce implementation and evidence-gathering work. The applicant remains responsible for demonstrating that its specific platform configuration, suppliers, integrations, controls, and operating procedures satisfy Gibraltar's requirements.

Digitain provides casino aggregation and sportsbook technology through configurable APIs and platform modules. Digitain holds licences and certifications in a range of regulated jurisdictions, including Malta (MGA), the UK (UKGC), Romania, Greece, Belgium, Peru, Brazil, and Curaçao. You can see the full list on our licences and certifications page. For a Gibraltar project, the relevant Digitain entities, services, and supplier-approval routes must be mapped to the new Gibraltar B2B framework before deployment.

If you are preparing a Gibraltar application and want to identify which platform components, supplier registrations, content approvals, payment integrations, and technical evidence are required, talk to our team.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The Gambling Act 2025 is newly in force and subsidiary regulations continue to be published. Always consult qualified legal counsel and verify current requirements directly with the Gibraltar Gambling Division before making licensing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Gibraltar gambling licence cost?

Application fees are £30,000 per vertical (betting and gaming each). Annual B2C fees are tiered by gross gambling yield: £50,000 (under £20M), £100,000 (£20M-£300M), or £200,000 (above £300M) per vertical. An illustrative first-year budget including statutory fees, setup, and advisory costs may fall within £200,000 to £350,000+ depending on the operation.

How long does it take to get a Gibraltar licence?

The Gambling Division does not publish a fixed timeframe. Industry advisers typically use six to twelve months as a planning range for a well-prepared applicant. Complex structures or documentation gaps can extend the process.

Do I need a physical office in Gibraltar?

Yes. The regulator assesses governance, financial resources, technical systems, and local operating substance. A registered address without genuine management, personnel, and operational capability will not pass the assessment.

Can startups apply for a Gibraltar licence?

The Gambling Division states it will consider "appropriately funded start-ups and expanding operations." But the licensing bar remains high. You need a credible business plan, demonstrable financial resources, and the ability to maintain substance in Gibraltar.

What changed with the Gambling Act 2025?

The Act (formally titled 2025, assented and commenced in 2026) replaced the 2005 Act, splitting the regulator into an Authority (licensing) and a Commissioner (supervision), widening the scope to cover marketing and support services, introducing tiered fees, creating the GOSS licence category, and setting substance requirements.

Do I need separate licences for casino and sportsbook?

Yes. B2C licences are issued per vertical. A combined casino and sportsbook operation requires two licences, each with its own application and annual fees.

What is the transition deadline?

1 October 2026. Businesses whose activities are newly brought within scope by the 2025 Act must notify the Gambling Division, classify their activity, and submit the required application before that date. Existing 2005 Act licence holders are deemed licensed under the new framework.

What is a GOSS licence?

Gambling Operator Support Services. A new category covering marketing, CRM, and other outsourced support functions conducted "in or from Gibraltar." Application fee: £8,000. Annual fee: £50,000 (with a £25,000 reduced tier where the statutory sales threshold is met). B2C operators can conduct group marketing under their existing licence.

Do my suppliers need to be licensed?

B2B scope is not limited to Gibraltar-based companies. An external supplier providing regulated gambling facilities or critical services to a Gibraltar licence holder may also need a licence, approval, or exemption. Before onboarding a material supplier, the operator should document which regulatory route applies.