Isle of Man Gambling — Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?

## Licence Triggers Generally speaking, should an operator perform any of the following functions on the Island, then an OGRA licence will be required: Registration of players – where an operator holds and stores personal data for the purposes of gambling (e.g., username, passwords, age, addresses, etc.). Striking of the bet – where a player commits to bet on the technical infrastructure of the business and/or where the transaction takes place on operator’s server database. Offering of the game – where the player and operator enter into a relationship where the player can gamble. Hosting of a network – where an operator allows foreign registered players to play on its technical infrastructure through re-registration or under a network services licence (as noted in further detail below). This list is not exhaustive and specific activities are discussed on a case-by-case basis. ## Type of licence needed Different licences are available. The type of licence depends on the service being provided and not the product. In summary, the GSC offers the following licence types: Full OGRA licence (which covers all forms on online betting, gaming, and lotteries). Costs GBP 36,750 per annum and runs for an initial period of five years. Initial application fee is GBP 5,250. With approval of the GSC, operators with a full licence can offer technology to sub-licensees under the reduced fee sub-licence scheme (see below). Network Services Licence - this form of licence must be obtained if the operator wishes to allow one or more players registered with another non-Isle of Man licensed operator on to its Isle of Man server without re-registering the player details. The cost is GBP 5,250 administration fee with the initial application, and then GBP 52,500 per annum. Software Supplier Licence – it is not mandatory to hold a licence in the Island solely for the provision or reselling of software, however, the GSC offer the Software Supplier licence which enables operators to utilise games from such licensed software providers without the requirement to obtain prior approval from the regulator. This is attractive to operators as it expedites route to market and in today’s environment, many operators prefer (or in some cases, stipulate a requirement), to engage with licensed partners. The cost is GBP 5,250 administration fee for the initial application review and then GBP 36,750 per annum thereafter. Sub licence – for those who wish to operate exclusively with a full OGRA licence holder. In this instance, players must register with the sub licensee but then access games content provided by the business partners game server (the full OGRA licence holder). The sub licence holder is exclusively tied to the full OGRA licence holder for its games and product offering. The cost is GBP 5,250 administration fee for the initial licence application, and an annual fee of GBP 5,250 thereafter. ## Period of licence & renewal process Once granted, a licence lasts for an initial five-year period but can be renewed at the end of this period. A GBP 5,250 application fee applies to a renewal application. ## Application timeframe and phrases Licence submission - the licence application process takes approximately 12 weeks from the point at which the application is submitted to the GSC. During this time, the GSC will review the application documents, complete due diligence checks on connected persons/entities, and raise any questions and queries that require further detail, information, or clarification. Licence hearing – at the end of the licence submission review period, the Directors of the applicant company are required to attend a licence hearing with the GSC. Subsequently, if successful then the applicant company will receive notification from the GSC that the licence has been granted, subject to completing associated conditions (typically execution of contracts, copies of test certificates etc.). Operators have a maximum of 12 weeks to fulfil these conditions, following completion of which, the GSC will issue the licence. “Go live” procedure – once issued, the licence fee will require settlement and the operator will have a further 9 months from which to launch its operations. Upon anticipation of launching its operation, the applicant company must inform the GSC of intended “go-live” date and ensure that all approvals have been received in advance. ## List of documents & type of information needed to support application A full list of application forms and guidance notes can be found on the GSC website. The applicant for an Isle of Man licence must satisfy the following: Applicant company must be incorporated in the Isle of Man. Technical infrastructure (servers) must be hosted in the Isle of Man to hold information containing player registrations and the striking of the bet (minimum). This is not applicable for Software Supplier licence holders. Banking operations must be held on Island and include a segregated, ring-fenced client account (unless prior approval has been obtained from Isle of Man Treasury for off-Island banking) Have a minimum of two Isle of Man local directors. In regard to the licence application, the below list provides an overview of the key documents requirement (please not this is not exhaustive and may differ on a case-by-case basis): Completed application forms. Payment of application fee. Completion of Personal Declaration Forms (“PDFs”) for any shareholder holding 5% or above, an investor investing above £250,000 (or above 25% of total amount invested), all Directors (Operations Managers and Designated Officials). Comprehensive business plan (which includes, but is not limited to, structure overview, business model, payment flow, technical infrastructure overview, marketing strategy etc.). Three years financial projections. Full suite of policies, procedures, and risk frameworks (such as business risk assessments, AML Manual, Responsible Gambling, GDPR, Anti-Bribery, Advertising and Media etc.). ## Geographical cover The Isle of Man Government issued a national risk appetite statement on e-gaming in May 2025 which explicitly states that “the Isle of Man currently has limited appetite for business in the e-gaming sector where there is ownership and/or control from East or South East Asia.” The GSC does not publish a definitive list of where an operator may or may not offer its gambling services. However, the GSC does requires the operator to take legal advice regarding any jurisdiction in which it takes players/does business and provide the GSC with a Board Resolution confirming that the Directors have taken and accepted such advice. Operators may not exclude residents of the Isle of Man from placing bets or stakes with Isle of Man licensed online gambling sites except with the agreement of the GSC. ## Mechanics of the licence process Applications can be made at any time and will follow the licence application process (as outlined above). There are no limits placed on number of URL’s that can be used under the licence, however, GSC must approve these prior to “go-live.” ## Bad Actor / Cooling off periods Not applicable ## Applicant considerations As outlined above, there is a requirement for Isle of Man licence holders to satisfy the following criteria: They must incorporate an Isle of Man company. They must have at least two local directors, who must be individuals, not corporate entities. They must appoint at least one resident Designated Official or where that Designated Official cannot reside in the Isle of Man, an Operations Manager. They must either register players on Isle of Man servers or they must operate under a network services licence which obliges them to establish the network services in the Isle of Man (see further above).