License Name
Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence
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Issuing Country/Region
Isle of Man
Regulatory Body
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC)
Types of Regulated Games
Online casino, sports betting, poker, lottery, bingo, slots
Market Coverage
International
Regulator's Reputation
Excellent
Legal Entity Requirements
Company must be incorporated in the Isle of Man
Minimum Share Capital
No strict minimum, but operator must demonstrate sufficient capital and financial stability
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
At least two Isle of Man resident directors; key persons must pass integrity/background checks
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
Comprehensive AML and KYC procedures mandatory in line with EU and Isle of Man law
Data Protection Requirements
Compliance with Isle of Man Data Protection Act; GDPR compliance best practice for international operators
Reporting Requirements
Regular compliance and financial reports to GSC, format and frequency may vary by business model
Audit Requirements
Annual independent audit required
Software Certification Requirements
All gaming software and systems must be certified by approved third-party testing laboratories
RNG Certification
RNGs must be certified by independent, GSC-approved testing laboratories
Payment System Requirements
Only approved/certified payment providers allowed
Server Location Requirements
Player registration and back office servers generally must be located in Isle of Man (exceptions possible)
Domain Name Requirements
No specific requirement for local domain, international domains accepted
Language Support Requirements
English mandatory; support for additional languages recommended
Currency Support Requirements
Multiple major currencies supported
Legal Compliance Costs
Varies; main costs include legal, corporate, and regulatory advisory services
Background Checks
Fit and proper tests for all key persons, directors, and shareholders (criminal, financial, and professional checks)
License Scope Restrictions
Does not cover spread betting (regulated by a different authority); some advertising and market entry restrictions
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
0% corporate tax on gambling income; compliance with any relevant local/foreign regulations for cross-border operations
Player Data Storage Requirements
Player data generally must be stored within Isle of Man and adhere to data protection standards
Cross-Border Operations
Permitted, but operators must comply with destination country laws
License Application Transparency
Detailed, transparent disclosure required for business model, ownership, officers, and activities
Regulatory Contact Point
Designated Official (DO) or Operations Manager (OM) registered with GSC
Compliance Officer Requirement
Resident Designated Official or Operations Manager required
Local Partnership Requirements
Not required for purely online operations
Legal Dispute Resolution
Disputes resolved under Isle of Man law; GSC may mediate regulatory disputes
License Transferability
Non-transferable; material changes require GSC approval
Sub-Licensing Rules
Sub-licensing permitted only in certain business models under specific license types
Video
License Cost
£5,250 application fee for Full or Network License
Annual Fees
£36,750 (Full Licence); £52,500 (Network Licence); sub-licenses and software supplier licenses have separate lower fees
Income Taxes
0% corporate tax on gambling income
Player Winnings Taxes
No obligation to withhold player winnings tax for non-resident individuals
Financial Guarantees
Operator must demonstrate financial stability; no fixed bank guarantee but minimum capital and liquidity required
Liquidity Requirements
Sufficient liquidity to meet operational and player fund obligations
Financial Reporting Requirements
Annual financial statements and regular compliance reports as per GSC requirements
Application Processing Time
Approximately 12-16 weeks if application is complete and due diligence passes
Required Documents
Company incorporation documents, business plan, personal declarations, compliance and AML policies, KYC policies, directors’ criminal record checks
Business Plan Requirements
Comprehensive business plan with operational, technical, and financial details mandatory
Internal Policy Requirements
AML/CFT, responsible gaming, privacy and security policies required
Testing Requirements
Full technical and compliance testing by third-party labs before launch
Certification Requirements
Gaming and RNG certification by GSC-approved labs
Staff Qualifications
Key management and compliance staff must demonstrate competence and integrity
Physical Office Requirements
Registered (legal) address in Isle of Man mandatory, operational office not always required
Local Representative Requirements
Designated Official or Operations Manager must be Isle of Man resident
Marketing Restrictions
Must comply with Isle of Man law and all target market restrictions
Responsible Gaming Measures
Responsible gambling policies, reality checks, deposit/self-exclusion limits required
Self-Exclusion System
Mandatory self-exclusion options for players
Age Verification Procedures
Age and identity checks before registration/participation
KYC Procedures
Mandatory KYC checks for all players
Customer Support Standards
English support required; additional language support recommended
Complaint Handling Procedures
Formal procedure for handling player complaints; escalation to GSC possible
Player Funds Protection
Player funds must be segregated and protected at all times
Payout Timelines
Timely payout required per advertised terms and responsible gaming checks
Bonus and Promotion Regulations
Promotions must be clear, transparent, and compliant
Permitted Games List
All standard casino, betting, poker, lottery, bingo, and slots permitted; spread betting excluded
Betting Limits
Operator-determined, subject to responsible gambling requirements
RTP Requirements
RTP for games certified and tested by approved labs
Jackpot Regulations
Progressive jackpots permitted; funds must be protected
Live Game Requirements
Live dealer gaming allowed under certified conditions
Mobile App Compliance
Mobile and browser-based platforms treated equally; both must comply with license technical conditions
Affiliate Program Rules
Permitted, must meet all advertising and compliance obligations
Security Standards
Compliance with robust information security standards required; ISO 27001 recommended
Encryption Requirements
SSL/TLS encryption mandatory for data in transit
Backup Requirements
Mandatory regular system and data backups
Monitoring Systems
Operational monitoring and real-time reporting to GSC
Operation Logging
Audit logs must be kept for all gaming and financial operations
Anti-Fraud Systems
Strong anti-fraud and suspicious transaction monitoring required
API Integration Standards
Secure and tested integrations for all interfaces; subject to GSC approval
Hosting Requirements
Main servers must be hosted on Isle of Man (exceptions with GSC approval)
CDN Usage
Permitted with conditions
Scalability Requirements
Infrastructure must support anticipated transaction volumes and disasters
Uptime Requirements
High availability and minimal downtime required
Technical Support Availability
24/7 operations and technical support mandatory for most licensees
License Duration
5 years
Renewal Procedure
Annual renewal process; payment of annual fee and submission of continued compliance evidence
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Fines, license suspension/revocation for violations of the law or GSC directives
Ownership Change Rules
All material ownership/beneficiary changes require GSC notification/approval
Mergers and Acquisitions Rules
Corporate restructuring must be pre-approved by GSC
Subcontractor Regulations
Outsourced functions/providers must be GSC-approved
Branding Requirements
Use of license and GSC logo only as authorized; responsible gambling messaging required
Intellectual Property Protection
All proprietary and licensed content must be compliant and protected
Dispute Arbitration
Isle of Man law; mediation available via GSC in regulatory matters
Insurance Requirements
No fixed requirement, but professional indemnity and cyber insurance recommended
Charity Contributions
Not mandatory
Staff Training Requirements
Training in AML, responsible gambling, and compliance required
Innovation Support
Isle of Man is supportive of innovation, including blockchain and fintech in gaming sector
Sustainability Initiatives
No fixed mandates, but best practice encouraged
Accessibility Standards
Recommended compliance with accessibility guidelines
Multilingual Support
English mandatory, multiple languages recommended for player support
Cryptocurrency Support
Acceptable in regulated framework with AML controls and GSC approval
Esports Betting Regulations
Permitted under standard license conditions
Fantasy Sports Regulations
Permitted
Official Address
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, Ground Floor, St George’s Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1EE
Postal Address
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, Ground Floor, St George’s Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1EE
Online Application Portal
https://www.isleofmangsc.com/gambling/licensing/online-gambling/
Work Hours
Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 (GMT)
Facebook URL
https://www.facebook.com/DigitalIsleofMan
Twitter/X URL
https://twitter.com/digitalisleofman
YouTube URL
https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalIsleofMan
Departments
Licensing, Compliance, Enforcement, Policy, Finance, IT
FAQ Question 1
What is Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 1
The Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence is a highly regarded international license allowing operators to provide online gambling services worldwide under stringent regulatory oversight
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 2
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission in the Isle of Man issues the license under the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 3
The application fee is £5,250 and the annual full license fee is £36,750; network license is £52,500 annually; other license types have lower fees
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for Isle of Man Online Gambling Licence?
FAQ Answer 4
Main requirements include local company incorporation, two resident directors, fit and proper checks, financial stability, certified software, independent audits, segregated player funds, robust AML/KYC compliance, and regular reporting to the GSC