Introduction
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory with a long-established remote-gambling sector. Historically, that sector was regulated under the Gambling Act 2005. As of 2026, however, the official position has changed: the Gambling Division states that the Gambling Act 2025 is now in force for current licensing, that existing licensees under the 2005 Act were deemed licensed under the 2025 Act with effect from 1 November 2025, and that further 2026 duties-and-fees regulations now govern administrative charges.
That transition is essential to get right. A 2026 guide should still acknowledge the legacy importance of the 2005 Act, but it should not imply that 2005 alone is the live licensing basis for new applicants. The official Gambling Division site is explicit that the jurisdiction is in a new legislative phase, with current licensing handled by the Licensing Authority, the Gambling Commissioner, and staff of the Gambling Division.
Legal Framework
The historical cornerstone was the Gambling Act 2005. That Act established the foundation for Gibraltar's remote-gambling regime and explains why older industry references still speak about a "Gibraltar Gambling Act 2005 licence."
For current work, though, the official legislative basis is the Gambling Act 2025 together with the Gambling (Duties and Licence Fees) Regulations 2026. The Gambling Division's "Getting Licensed" page also states that existing licensees under the Gambling Act 2005 were, from 1 November 2025, deemed licensed under the Gambling Act 2025.
Regulatory Authority
The Gambling Division explains that Gibraltar has two separate oversight institutions for gambling licensing and regulation:
- The Minister acting as Licensing Authority
- The Gambling Commissioner as industry regulator
Both are assisted by staff members of the Gambling Division, which is part of the Ministry of Justice Trade and Industry. The Division also states that the Gambling Commissioner is the AML, CFT, and CPF supervisor for the gambling sector and that the Division handles licensing functions, collection of licence fees and gambling duty, and structured site visits assessing compliance with the Proceeds of Crime Act and wider regulatory obligations.
Types of Licences
Gibraltar's public licence-holders page shows the practical categories currently in use. It lists Bookmaker, Gaming Operator, Betting Intermediary, and a set of B2B licences. The 2025 Act and 2026 fee regulations add a broader and more explicit licensing taxonomy.
| Licence type | Activity authorised | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B2C betting operator | Consumer-facing betting | Application and annual fees set in 2026 regulations |
| B2C gaming operator | Consumer-facing gaming, including casino-style products | Application and annual fees set in 2026 regulations |
| Betting intermediary / agent | Betting exchange or agency style betting intermediation | Public register includes betting-intermediary holders |
| B2B gaming operator / supplier categories | Aggregation, platforms, direct integration and certain outsourced functions | 2026 regulations now set detailed B2B application and annual-fee categories |
| Support-services and ownership licences | Marketing/affiliate, customer-funds management, relevant company ownership | Specifically referenced by the 2025 Act transition materials and 2026 fee schedules |
Application Process
The official "Getting Licensed" page is concise but important. It links to the licensing entry point, states that the Division intends to digitise the licensing portal over time, and explains that the 2025 Act broadened the scope of regulation to:
- B2C, B2B, regulated individuals
- Gambling marketing activity in or from Gibraltar
- Certain holding-company structures
A six-month transition period ran from 1 November 2025 for newly in-scope businesses.
In practice, applicants should expect due diligence on owners, controllers, and supply-chain participants. The Division's own description emphasises fit-and-proper review, structured site visits, and scrutiny of AML/CFT/CPF and customer-fairness obligations.
Fees
Gibraltar's 2026 fee schedule is unusually transparent because the 2026 regulations and administrative guidance set it out in detail.
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New B2C betting operator application | GBP 30,000 | Schedule 2 |
| New B2C gaming operator application | GBP 30,000 | Schedule 2 |
| B2C lottery operator application | GBP 20,000 | Schedule 2 |
| Betting intermediary or agent application | GBP 15,000 | Schedule 2 |
| Gaming aggregator application | GBP 20,000 | Schedule 2 |
| Platform supplier application | GBP 20,000 | Schedule 2 |
| Direct integration application | GBP 10,000 | Schedule 2 |
| Certain outsourced B2B services applications | GBP 8,000 | Fraud/risk, CDD/compliance, ID-verification services |
| B2C annual fee under GBP 20m gross yield | GBP 50,000 per vertical | Betting and gaming separately |
| B2C annual fee GBP 20m–300m gross yield | GBP 100,000 per vertical | Betting and gaming separately |
| B2C annual fee above GBP 300m gross yield | GBP 200,000 per vertical | Betting and gaming separately |
| Betting intermediary annual fee | GBP 100,000 | Schedule 3 |
| Change-of-control fee | GBP 3,000 base up to GBP 30,000 | Depending on complexity |
The same regulations also set gambling duties at 0.15% of gross betting profit, 0.15% of gross gaming profit, and 0.15% of gross intermediary profit, with the first GBP 100,000 exempt for general betting and general gaming duty.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
Gibraltar's AML/CFT/CPF page explains that licence holders must take official codes and guidance into account when formulating their risk frameworks, policies, and procedures. The page links to the Anti-Money Laundering Code of Practice, enforcement-and-sanctions policy, key learning points, and the sector risk assessment.
The Division's broader "About Us" page adds that site visits assess compliance with both the Proceeds of Crime Act and gambling-law obligations, particularly customer fairness and social responsibility. Gibraltar's complaints guidance expects operators to have effective complaint systems and, in some cases, use ADR routes, especially for UK-facing complaints.
Enforcement
The current enforcement picture is active and well documented:
- In April 2026, the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner published a regulatory settlement of GBP 100,000 with a Gibraltar-licensed B2C operator in relation to sanctions-screening deficiencies.
- In November 2025, the Commissioner also published a regulatory settlement of GBP 45,000 with a licence holder in relation to AML deficiencies, including weaknesses concerning higher-risk customer controls and lack of evidence of a recent independent AML/CFT/CPF audit.
These public statements show how Gibraltar uses published settlements, thematic reviews, and learning-point communication. That is a strong indicator of an active supervisory model rather than a purely formal licensing system.
Upcoming Reforms
The key current reform is already in motion: Gibraltar has transitioned from the 2005 Act to the Gambling Act 2025 with new 2026 duties-and-fees regulations. The official site makes clear that more administrative guidelines and further implementation detail will continue to be published as the 2025 Act framework beds in.
On the market side, official Gibraltar statements also continue to highlight the jurisdiction's close UK links and the fact that major British gambling brands in Gibraltar are dual regulated in both the UK and Gibraltar. That is useful context, but it should not be read as meaning that a Gibraltar licence alone substitutes for any separate licence that another target market may require.
Verifying a Licence
Verification is straightforward:
- Use the Gambling Division's "Licence Holders" page, confirm the legal entity, and check the licence categories shown next to that entity.
- Because some operators hold multiple approvals, the entity should be described according to the category actually listed (Bookmaker, Gaming Operator, or Betting Intermediary) rather than with generic shorthand.
- For complaint-related checks, Gibraltar also provides an official complaints page and Complaint Resolution Request Form route.
The correct method is to confirm the operator against the official Division list and then, where relevant, its approved brands or complaint channels.
Summary
Gibraltar remains a highly documented and closely supervised gambling jurisdiction, but a 2026 guide must reflect the legal transition now under way. The 2005 Act is historically important, yet the live framework now sits under the Gambling Act 2025 and the 2026 duties-and-fees regulations, administered by the Licensing Authority, the Gambling Commissioner, and the Gambling Division.
The practical advantages of the jurisdiction are the clarity of its public register, the specificity of its fee schedules, and the visibility of its supervisory outputs. Any article about a "Gibraltar gambling licence" should therefore anchor itself in the current official framework, not just the legacy reputation of the 2005 regime.
Sources
- Gibraltar Gambling Act 2005 (historical): https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/HMGoG_Documents/gambling%20ord%202005.pdf
- Gambling Division Getting Licensed: https://gamblingdivision.gov.gi/getting-licensed
- Gambling (Duties and Licence Fees) Regulations 2026: https://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/uploads/legislations/gambling/2026s065/2026s065.pdf
- Gambling Division About Us: https://gamblingdivision.gov.gi/about
- Gambling Division Licence Holders: https://gamblingdivision.gov.gi/licence-holders
- Gambling Division AML/CFT/CPF: https://gamblingdivision.gov.gi/aml-cft-cpf
- April 2026 Public Statement (GBP 100,000 settlement): https://gamblingdivision.gov.gi/uploads/statements%20docs/29.04.2026%20-%20Public%20Statement.pdf
- Gambling Division Complaints: https://gamblingdivision.gov.gi/complaints
This article was compiled from official and primary public sources only. Last reviewed: 2026-05-10.
Disclaimer: This directory is an independent informational resource. It does not constitute legal advice, endorsement, or recommendation of any operator or jurisdiction. Always verify licence status directly with the relevant regulatory authority.