License Name
Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence (OGRA)
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Issuing Country/Region
Isle of Man
Regulatory Body
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
Types of Regulated Games
Casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, lottery, peer-to-peer gaming
Market Coverage
International
Regulator's Reputation
Excellent
Legal Entity Requirements
Company must be incorporated in the Isle of Man
Minimum Share Capital
No statutory minimum, but must demonstrate sufficient operational capital
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
Minimum two Isle of Man resident directors; fit and proper checks on directors and shareholders
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
Comprehensive AML procedures and regular AML/KYC reporting
Data Protection Requirements
Compliance with Isle of Man Data Protection Act and standards equivalent to GDPR
Reporting Requirements
Regular financial, AML, and player fund reports; audited accounts submitted annually
Audit Requirements
Annual independent audit mandatory
Software Certification Requirements
All games and gambling systems must be certified by an approved third-party lab
RNG Certification
RNGs must be certified by an approved independent laboratory
Payment System Requirements
Only approved and secure payment providers permitted
Server Location Requirements
Primary gaming servers and player registration must be in the Isle of Man
Domain Name Requirements
No strict restrictions, but must comply with regulator guidelines
Language Support Requirements
English mandatory; other languages as required by market
Currency Support Requirements
Multiple currencies including major international currencies supported
Legal Compliance Costs
Application, annual license fees, due diligence, and legal fees
Background Checks
Fit and proper checks on directors, shareholders, and key personnel
License Scope Restrictions
Does not cover spread betting (regulated separately)
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
Must comply with local gaming duty and relevant tax laws
Player Data Storage Requirements
Must store player data on secured servers in the Isle of Man
Cross-Border Operations
Global reach except restricted countries; must comply with local laws in target markets
License Application Transparency
Full disclosure of ownership, policies, and financials required
Regulatory Contact Point
Designated compliance contact at the GSC required
Compliance Officer Requirement
Resident Designated Official or Operations Manager required
Local Partnership Requirements
None required for most models
Legal Dispute Resolution
Isle of Man courts have exclusive jurisdiction; mediation encouraged
License Transferability
Regulator's approval required for any significant change in ownership or transfer
Sub-Licensing Rules
Allowed under specific agreements with additional fees
License Cost
£5,250 application fee; £36,750 annual fee for Full OGRA License
Annual Fees
£36,750 (Full License), £52,500 (Network License), £5,250 (Sub-License)
Income Taxes
Gaming duty on gross gaming yield: 1.5% (£40m)
Player Winnings Taxes
No withholding tax on player winnings
Financial Guarantees
Must demonstrate ongoing financial capacity to meet player obligations
Liquidity Requirements
Must evidence sufficient liquidity for operations and player payouts
Financial Reporting Requirements
Annual audited accounts, quarterly AML reports, regular player fund reports
Application Processing Time
Typically 12-16 weeks from complete submission
Required Documents
Business plan, incorporation documents, detailed policies (AML, KYC, responsible gambling), financials, software certification, key staff details
Business Plan Requirements
Detailed, including projections and operational model
Internal Policy Requirements
AML, KYC, responsible gaming, player protection, data security
Testing Requirements
Platform and RNGs must be tested and certified by approved labs
Certification Requirements
Independent certification of games and RNGs required
Staff Qualifications
Key persons must be competent and meet fit and proper criteria
Physical Office Requirements
Registered office in Isle of Man required
Local Representative Requirements
Resident Designated Official required
Marketing Restrictions
Must comply with Isle of Man Marketing Standards and Advertising Codes
Responsible Gaming Measures
Player protection, self-exclusion, deposit limits mandatory
Self-Exclusion System
Mandatory participation in island-wide self-exclusion program
Age Verification Procedures
Robust procedures before account activation
KYC Procedures
Know Your Customer checks per AML guidelines
Customer Support Standards
English-language support required; other languages as business dictates
Complaint Handling Procedures
Formal procedure with escalation to the GSC if unresolved
Player Funds Protection
Player funds must be segregated and protected by law
Payout Timelines
Reasonable timeframes; governed by published operator policies and GSC oversight
Bonus and Promotion Regulations
Clear, fair, and transparent terms required
Permitted Games List
Casino, betting, poker, lottery, bingo, and more; excludes spread betting
Betting Limits
Not specifically regulated; responsible gaming principles apply
RTP Requirements
All games must be fair and tested; no fixed RTP, but fairness proven via certification
Jackpot Regulations
Progressive jackpots managed and protected under regulator's rules
Live Game Requirements
Permissible if certified and compliant
Mobile App Compliance
Apps subject to same rules as web platforms
Affiliate Program Rules
Permitted, provided compliance and transparency are maintained
Security Standards
Rigorous ISMS aligning with industry standards (ISO 27001 recommended)
Encryption Requirements
SSL/TLS encryption mandatory for data transfer
Backup Requirements
Regular backups required; disaster recovery plans mandatory
Monitoring Systems
24/7 monitoring of gaming operations
Operation Logging
All critical operations must be logged and auditable
Anti-Fraud Systems
Real-time fraud detection and prevention systems mandatory
API Integration Standards
Security-compliant APIs only
Hosting Requirements
Primary servers in Isle of Man unless GSC approves exception
CDN Usage
Permitted with controls on data integrity and security
Scalability Requirements
System must accommodate growth and peak loads
Uptime Requirements
No set minimum, but 24/7 service expected
Technical Support Availability
24/7 support required for technical issues
License Duration
5 years from date of issue
Renewal Procedure
Renewal application with current compliance documentation and fees
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Fines, license suspension, or revocation
Ownership Change Rules
All changes must be declared; GSC approval required for significant changes
Mergers and Acquisitions Rules
GSC approval required
Subcontractor Regulations
GSC approval of key third-party providers required
Branding Requirements
Regulator logo use governed by GSC policy
Intellectual Property Protection
Operators responsible for legal use of software/content
Dispute Arbitration
First to GSC, then to Isle of Man courts if unresolved
Insurance Requirements
Not mandatory, but recommended
Charity Contributions
Not mandatory
Staff Training Requirements
Regular compliance and responsible gaming training required
Innovation Support
The GSC supports regulatory sandboxes for new technology
Sustainability Initiatives
Not mandated
Accessibility Standards
Website accessibility encouraged
Multilingual Support
English required, other languages allowed
Cryptocurrency Support
Acceptable if AML/KYC controls are in place
Esports Betting Regulations
Permitted within scope of license
Fantasy Sports Regulations
Permitted within scope of license
Official Address
Gambling Supervision Commission, Ground Floor, St George's Court, Myrtle Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1ED
Postal Address
Gambling Supervision Commission, Ground Floor, St George's Court, Myrtle Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1ED
Fax Number
+44 1624 694344
Online Application Portal
https://www.isleofmangsc.com/gambling/licensing/online-gambling/
Work Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00 (local time)
Technical Support
+44 1624 694331 / [email protected]
Departments
Licensing; Regulatory and Compliance; Inspections and Investigations; Legal and Policy
FAQ Question 1
What is the Isle of Man Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 1
The Isle of Man Gambling Licence authorizes operators to offer a wide range of gambling services including online casinos, sports betting, poker, and lotteries. It is recognized internationally for its strict regulatory standards promoting player protection, fairness, and responsible gambling.
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues the Isle of Man Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 2
This licence is issued by the Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) of the Isle of Man, the official regulatory authority responsible for gambling oversight within the Isle of Man jurisdiction.
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining the Isle of Man Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 3
Application fees typically start at £35,000, with annual fees depending on the operator’s turnover. Additional costs include compliance audits, system certification, and ongoing reporting expenses.
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for the Isle of Man Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 4
Key requirements include incorporation of a company on the Isle of Man or approved jurisdictions, passing detailed background and financial checks, implementing certified gaming software and systems, complying with anti-money laundering laws, enforcing responsible gambling measures, and maintaining ongoing regulatory reporting and audits.