License Name
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission Sub-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, betting, poker, lottery, bingo, games provided by the full licensee
Market Coverage
International
Regulator's Reputation
Excellent
Legal Entity Requirements
Company must be incorporated in the Isle of Man
Minimum Share Capital
Generally minimum of £100,000 financial reserves required
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
At least two local Isle of Man resident directors, individual persons
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
Full AML framework required, in line with GSC guidelines
Data Protection Requirements
Must comply with local and international data protection rules
Reporting Requirements
Annual and periodic compliance and financial reports to the GSC
Audit Requirements
Annual compliance and possibly technical/system audits required
Software Certification Requirements
Games and systems used must be certified by approved third-party labs
RNG Certification
Random number generators must be independently tested and certified
Payment System Requirements
Payments processed via approved banking and payment providers compliant with AML
Server Location Requirements
Player registration and gaming servers generally hosted in the Isle of Man; exceptions by GSC waiver
Domain Name Requirements
No specific restriction; can use local or international domains
Language Support Requirements
English mandatory, additional languages at operator’s discretion
Currency Support Requirements
Support for major international currencies
Legal Compliance Costs
Legal and compliance support costs variable, generally £10,000–30,000 annually (estimated)
Background Checks
Criminal, probity, and fit & proper checks for directors, significant shareholders, and beneficial owners
License Scope Restrictions
Tied exclusively to the full OGRA licensee’s games and platform; must contract with only one main licensee
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
0% corporate tax, no VAT/GST on gambling income, gaming duty applies
Player Data Storage Requirements
Player data stored on Isle of Man servers unless otherwise approved
Cross-Border Operations
Permitted globally (except prohibited jurisdictions), must comply with local foreign laws
License Application Transparency
All applicants undergo rigorous due diligence; regulatory process is formal but not fully public
Regulatory Contact Point
GSC compliance and licensing officers
Compliance Officer Requirement
Resident Designated Official or Operations Manager required
Local Partnership Requirements
Sub-licensee must have an agreement with a licensed full OGRA operator
Legal Dispute Resolution
Isle of Man courts or mutually agreed arbitration
License Transferability
Not transferable; sub-licensee can apply for upgrade to full OGRA licence
Sub-Licensing Rules
Sub-licensee cannot sub-licence; must operate exclusively under main licensee’s framework
License Cost
Annual licence fee £5,250
Annual Fees
£5,250 per year to the GSC
Income Taxes
0% corporate tax rate; betting duty 1.5% on GGY up to £20m, 0.5% £20–40m, 0.1% above £40m
Player Winnings Taxes
No tax is withheld from player winnings by the operator
Financial Guarantees
Company must show financial reserves (typically at least £100,000); bank accounts in the Isle of Man recommended
Liquidity Requirements
Must demonstrate sufficient liquidity to meet player obligations
Financial Reporting Requirements
Annual audited accounts submitted to GSC; other periodic reports as required
Application Processing Time
10–16 weeks (average)
Required Documents
Business plan, AML/KYC policies, directors/shareholders information, company documents, software/game certifications
Business Plan Requirements
Comprehensive business and financial plan mandatory
Internal Policy Requirements
In-depth AML, KYC, responsible gaming, security, and data protection policies required
Testing Requirements
Platform and games must be independently tested for fairness and compliance
Certification Requirements
Games, RNG, and platform must be certified by GSC-recognized testing labs
Staff Qualifications
Senior management must demonstrate competence; resident directors required
Physical Office Requirements
Registered office in the Isle of Man mandatory
Local Representative Requirements
Designated Isle of Man resident operations manager
Marketing Restrictions
Prohibition of advertising to minors; must follow responsible gambling marketing rules
Responsible Gaming Measures
Player fund protection, self-exclusion, source of funds and affordability checks required
Self-Exclusion System
Operators must offer responsible gambling and self-exclusion mechanisms
Age Verification Procedures
Robust age and identity verification at account creation
KYC Procedures
Full KYC, including checks for source of funds and identity
Customer Support Standards
English language mandatory, responsive customer support required
Complaint Handling Procedures
Formal player complaint and dispute resolution mechanism required
Player Funds Protection
Segregation of player funds from operating accounts
Payout Timelines
Payouts to players according to T&Cs, subject to KYC and withdrawal policy
Bonus and Promotion Regulations
Honest, non-misleading bonus terms; compliance with GSC guidelines
Permitted Games List
Only those games provided by the full OGRA partner licensee
Betting Limits
Set by the platform; must comply with responsible gaming requirements
RTP Requirements
RTP (return-to-player) should be published and certified; minimum as per GSC standards
Jackpot Regulations
Progressive jackpots allowed via full licensee’s infrastructure
Live Game Requirements
Allowed if provided through the main licensee’s approved platform
Mobile App Compliance
Must comply with all license conditions and GSC standards for mobile
Affiliate Program Rules
Permitted only through the main licensee’s system and subject to GSC requirements
Security Standards
Must comply with high IT and information security standards enforced by the GSC
Encryption Requirements
SSL/TLS encryption for all player data and transactions
Backup Requirements
Regular data backups required; disaster recovery plans must be in place
Monitoring Systems
Real-time platform and transaction monitoring required
Operation Logging
Full audit trails must be maintained and accessible by the GSC
Anti-Fraud Systems
Robust anti-fraud, anti-collusion, and integrity systems mandatory
API Integration Standards
APIs must comply with GSC standards for security and interoperability
Hosting Requirements
Gaming and player servers located on Isle of Man (except by waiver)
CDN Usage
Content delivery networks may be used per GSC approval
Scalability Requirements
Platform must be able to scale for user load while maintaining compliance
Uptime Requirements
Operators are expected to maintain high availability (e.g., >99.5%)
Technical Support Availability
24/7 technical support for critical platform operations recommended
License Duration
Typically 5 years, with annual reviews and obligations
Renewal Procedure
Annual fee payment, continued compliance; renewal every 5 years
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Fines, suspension or revocation of license for breaches
Ownership Change Rules
Material changes in control must be notified to the GSC
Mergers and Acquisitions Rules
M&A transactions require GSC notification and approval as necessary
Subcontractor Regulations
Key suppliers (e.g., payment, software) must be approved by the GSC
Branding Requirements
Sub-licensee must not misrepresent status and must disclose partnership with main licensee
Intellectual Property Protection
Must use properly licensed and certified games/software
Dispute Arbitration
Isle of Man courts or arbitration per agreement
Insurance Requirements
Insurance not mandatory, but recommended for operational risk
Charity Contributions
Contributions to research/charity as directed by GSC
Staff Training Requirements
Staff must receive compliance and responsible gambling training
Innovation Support
License model allows access to new technologies offered by main licensee
Sustainability Initiatives
No specific “green” requirements, but required to follow best practices
Accessibility Standards
Platform access and usability standards recommended
Multilingual Support
Additional language support at operator’s discretion
Cryptocurrency Support
Only if approved by the GSC, with enhanced controls
Esports Betting Regulations
Permitted if included in full licensee offering
Fantasy Sports Regulations
May be permitted if supported by full licensee’s framework
Official Address
Gambling Supervision Commission, Finch Hill House, Finch Hill Road, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2PT
Work Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00 local time
Departments
Licensing, Compliance, Enforcement, Policy, Legal, IT/Technical Division
FAQ Question 1
What is Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission Sub-Licence?
FAQ Answer 1
The Sub-Licence allows an operator to offer online gambling products using a platform and games from a full OGRA license holder, at a lower annual fee. The sub-licensee is fully regulated by the Isle of Man GSC and must meet high compliance standards, but can only work with one main licensee. It is ideal for new or smaller operators seeking cost efficiency without developing their own infrastructure
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission Sub-Licence?
FAQ Answer 2
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC), based in the Isle of Man, issues this sub-licence
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission Sub-Licence?
FAQ Answer 3
The annual GSC fee for a sub-licence is £5,250; other costs include company formation, legal, and compliance expenses
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission Sub-Licence?
FAQ Answer 4
The main requirements include incorporating a company in the Isle of Man, appointing at least two resident directors, meeting AML/KYC and technical certification standards, maintaining a partnership agreement with a full OGRA licensee, and passing GSC due diligence and background checks