Gibraltar Gaming Licence – A Comprehensive Guide on How to Get Gibraltar Licence in 2025

A Gibraltar gaming license is one of the best gambling licenses in the world. This jurisdiction is known for its high standards and stringent requirements, which can make it difficult to obtain a license. However, businesses that can obtain this license get an internationally recognized seal of approval that demonstrates their credibility to both players and other businesses in the gambling industry.

Gibraltar is also a well-regulated gambling jurisdiction offering a favorable business environment for gambling businesses, including casino software development companies, platform operators, and sportsbooks. In this post, we will explore all you need to know about the Gibraltar license and the process of obtaining it in 2025. 

• Globally-recognized Gibraltar gambling license allows operators to offer casino, betting, and other gambling services in Gibraltar and other jurisdictions. 
• Obtaining a Gibraltar license demonstrates an operator’s high credibility and compliance with strict regulations. 
• Gibraltar offers B2C licenses for operators directly serving players (covering casinos, sports betting, and betting intermediaries) and a B2B support services license for software and technology providers.
• Gibraltar offers low taxes, strong government support, and access to international markets, including the UK.

Understanding the Gibraltar Gaming Licence

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory offering one of the top gambling licenses in the world. This jurisdiction is governed by independent rules and gambling regulations with strict standards that make it an attractive choice for gambling businesses. 

The Gibraltar Gaming license is typically issued to blue-chip gambling companies with a proven track record. However, properly funded startups that can prove their ability to comply with the jurisdiction’s standards can also obtain this license. 

What Is a Gibraltar Online Gambling Licence?

The Gibraltar online gambling license is a permit issued to any business that seeks to run an online gambling operation in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. This permit is issued by the Gibraltar Licensing Department in line with the jurisdiction’s Gambling Act (2005).

History and Overview of Gibraltar Gaming Licence

Gibraltar started regulating online gambling in its jurisdiction in 1998 with the introduction of legislation aimed at managing gambling activities in the region. In 2005, the Gambling Legislation Act was adopted, which established all the major rules for obtaining a license from the Gibraltar Licensing Department. This formed the foundation for Gibraltar’s modern gambling sector which has evolved into one of the most respected online gambling jurisdictions. 

Currently, Gibraltar has issued about 35 gambling licenses to various businesses operating in the region, the majority of which are online gambling operators. These licenses cover different categories of gambling, and grant operators the opportunity to offer their services in various overseas jurisdictions. 

Key Functions and Powers of the Gibraltar Licensing Authority

In principle, there are two authorities in charge of the Gibraltar Gambling industry as established in the 2005 Gambling Act. The Minister responsible for gambling is the gaming licence-issuing authority in this jurisdiction. However, the function of ongoing regulatory oversight is performed by the Gambling Commissioner, who, according to the act, is the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. 

Both Authorities work in tandem to make the process of obtaining a Gibraltar license and managing the industry as efficient as possible. Some of the functions of the regulatory authorities in Gibraltar are listed below.

• Carry out regulatory due diligence to understand the corporate structure and ownership of the company applying for a license. 
• Investigate managers and stakeholders to ensure that they meet stipulated fitness and propriety threshold, and confirm that they do not have any criminal history.
• Ensuring that license holders conduct their business in line with the terms of their license and the provisions of the Gambling Act.
• Monitor license holders to ensure they conduct their businesses in a way that maintains the good reputation of Gibraltar. 
• Conduct investigations to determine whether a license holder is suitable to continue holding a license. 

Types of Gibraltar Gambling Licences

The licensing authority in Gibraltar issues six types of licenses. Only four of these apply to online gambling operations while the other two are for offline gambling activities. The gaming license types issued to operators in this jurisdiction are broadly grouped into business-to-consumer and business-to-business licenses depending on whether they’re offering their services directly to players or other businesses.

Remote Gaming B2C Operator

This is a Gibraltar license issued to operators that run online gaming operations in the form of online casino platforms. This license allows operators to offer all kinds of casino games to players such as slots and casino table games.

Remote Betting B2C Operator

The remote betting B2C license is a permit issued to online bookmakers and organizations offering online betting services to players. 

Other Remote B2C Gambling Products

This is a gambling license issued to operators providing other gambling products to consumers, particularly companies that act as online betting intermediaries.

Gambling B2B Support Services 

This is the only online gambling license issued to B2B operators, which means it applies to Gibraltar technical infrastructure providers that serve other gambling businesses. This license is specifically for gaming software and game developers.

Benefits of the Gibraltar Gambling License

• Low taxation
• Prestige
• Government benefits for licensees
• Well-developed gambling hub

Low Taxation

The tax policy related to iGaming businesses in Gibraltar is fairly liberal. Gibraltar only charges a tax of 1% on the operator’s gross gaming yield tax and it is capped at a maximum of £425,000 a year.

Prestige

Gibraltar is a first-tier licensing jurisdiction with a robust regulatory framework. Obtaining a license from a licensing jurisdiction of this caliber can help an operator gain the trust of players, software providers, and other businesses they might want to partner with. 

Government Benefits for Licensees

Gibraltar license holders get to enjoy the benefits of a fully supportive government that prioritizes innovation and entrepreneurship while staying committed to the jurisdiction’s international reputation. 

Well-developed Gambling Hub 

Gibraltar is an active hub for gambling operators. It offers a pool of remote gambling talent, an experienced workforce, and state-of-the-art digital infrastructure to support online gambling operations. 

Licensing Requirements

Before establishing a gambling business in Gibraltar, you need to know how to secure a gambling license there. Gibraltar has very stringent requirements which can make the process of obtaining a license tricky. Some of the major licensing requirements include: 

• Applicants are required to open a company with a local office in Gibraltar. The operator must also appoint local directors in this jurisdiction. 
• The directors and shareholders of the company must demonstrate impeccable reputation and proven experience in the gambling industry. 
• Operators must disclose the source of all their funding to ensure that no illegal funds are used to run gambling operations in Gibraltar. 
• Operators must meet and follow the high technical standards required to ensure the security of players.
• License applicants must ensure that their products and services have been tested and certified by approved independent test houses. 
• The bank accounts used to receive payments from customers must be controlled by the license applicants and maintained in Gibraltar.
• Applicants must pay a licensing fee of £100,000 for B2C license holders or £75,000 for B2B companies. 

Application and Timelines

After incorporating your company in Gibraltar and meeting all the other requirements, you can proceed to apply for a gambling license in these jurisdictions. Generally, it takes about 2 to 6 months to get approval from the Gibraltar licensing authority. Yet, the exact waiting time depends on the overall quality of the application and the supporting documentation provided by the applicant. Note that the Gibraltar licensing process is very strict and at the end of the day only a few highly credible applicants are granted a license.

Gibraltar Gaming Licence Application Process Step-by-Step

Operators seeking to learn how to start an online gambling website in Gibraltar or operate a B2B operation must follow a stringent step-by-step process. Although business-friendly, Gibraltar is a heavily regulated jurisdiction. To obtain an application, the operator must follow the steps outlined below.

Business Registration

The first step in applying for a license in Gibraltar is to register your business in this jurisdiction. The business can be registered either as a Private Limited Liability Company (LTD) or a Public Limited Company (PLC). 

Preparation of Required Documents

Next, you need to prepare all required documents for your application. This includes proof of the business reputation, sources of funding, financial statements, and additional documents needed to verify the good standing of stakeholders and directors of the company. 

Pre-licensing 

Before submitting a formal license application, an operator can engage with the Gibraltar Gambling Division and the Gambling Commissioner for advice on the licensing process. This pre-licensing stage will assess the operator’s suitability for the license they’re applying for. At the end of the pre-licensing stage, the applicant will get a response on the probability of a successful application. 

License Application 

After the pre-licensing, the operator can proceed to send in their application by filling a formal licence application form and paying the registration fee. The exact fee will depend on the type of license.

Due Diligence Check 

The Gibraltar licensing authority will carry out thorough regulatory due diligence checks with the aim of establishing ultimate beneficial ownership and verify that the operator meets all the requirements of the Gambling Act. This includes an evaluation of the operator’s financial stability, the character of the stakeholders, and relevant experience in handling gambling activities. 

Technical Check

The Gibraltar licensing authority will also evaluate the operator’s ability to maintain the technical infrastructure required for conducting gambling in compliance with international standards of data security and player protection. Operators must also submit themselves to audits by a certain independent test house approved by the licensing authority.

Approval 

If the application meets the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner’s expectations, a license is issued. This will permit the gaming operator to proceed with their gambling business in line with Gibraltar’s regulatory model. 

Costs and Taxes Overview

Gibraltar has a pretty straightforward cost structure for its licenses. For the B2C licenses (remote gaming, remote betting, and other remote gambling products), the fee is £100,000. However, operators applying for a B2B support services license pay a fee of £85,000. The registration fee for any of these applications is £30,000

Gibraltar charges a gambling business tax of 1% on the operator’s revenues. This amount is capped at a maximum of £425,000 per year. Licensed operators also pay a general gaming duty of 0.15% on their yearly betting event revenue.

Payment Solutions and Corporate Structure

Gibraltar licensed institutions are required to have a significant part of their operations established locally in the jurisdiction. Among other things, all the bank accounts or the credit card merchant account that will be used to receive stakes, wagers, and other payments from customers must be maintained in Gibraltar. The operator is also not allowed to make any changes to the banking arrangements approved by the GGC without notifying the authority about such a change. 

License holders must demonstrate transparency about the ownership, trust, and leadership structure of the gambling business of which the applicant is a part. As a crucial component of the application process, the executive managers involved in running the business will have to demonstrate their competence by outlining their blueprint for effective governance, policies, and procedures in the business plan submitted with the application. Stakeholders and key individuals must also provide certificates of good conduct from the jurisdictions where they have worked or resided in the past.

Jurisdictional Restrictions

Holding a Gibraltar gambling license grants you access to several international markets. In fact, Gibraltar is the only international jurisdiction that has secure specific guaranteed access to the UK gambling market. This means operators with this license are allowed to provide services to customers in the UK without obtaining a separate UKGC license like other operators. 

As a first-tier license recognized internationally, Gibraltar-licensed operators are allowed to offer their services to virtually all countries all over the world as long as they do not require a local license to operate or expressly prohibit gambling. Operators targeting non-UK international customers must also adhere to local gambling laws in any jurisdiction they wish to operate. Gibraltar license holders must be aware of jurisdictions that are deemed to be of higher risk due to money laundering and terrorism financing and avoid these countries. 

Remote Gambling in Gibraltar

All operators seeking to embark on iGaming development in Gibraltar must obtain a remote gambling license in line with the 2006 Gambling Act. The remote gambling licences cover everything from telephone to internet betting and online casino operations. 

The licensing authority in Gibraltar prioritizes operators with a proven track record or previous regulatory history of operation in other jurisdictions. However, the appropriately funded startups looking to relocate their operation partly or wholly to Gibraltar can obtain a license if they fulfill the stipulated requirements. 

Note that remote gambling operators will still have to establish some part of their business physically in Gibraltar to get their application approved. The authority may also require operators to demonstrate their economic contribution to the jurisdiction as part of the remote gambling licence approval process. 

To learn more about the process of starting a casino gambling business and its potential impacts on your license application, read our guide on how to start a casino app. 

Regulatory Framework and Compliance

Once a gambling license has been issued by the Gibraltar licensing authority, gaming companies are expected to adhere to the regulatory requirements in line with the jurisdiction’s gambling act. Explore some of the legal obligations and compliance requirements that licensed operators must follow.

• License holders must ensure that all advertisements or promotions of their services are truthful and accurate. Ads must also exclusively target adult players. 
• Remote gambling licensees must have enough money to finance ongoing operations and payout all current and estimated obligations concerning player winnings and prize payouts. 
• Gambling companies must fulfill KYC obligations by obtaining personal information including full name, residential address, and date of birth before registering a player. 
• The operator must handle player data fairly and securely in compliance with the regulations laid down by the Data Protection Commission and international standards for privacy and data protection. 
• Gaming operators must ensure that they have systems in place to ensure adequate ongoing monitoring of player accounts and flag transactions that appear to be in contravention of the anti-money laundering code.
• License holders must implement barriers to prevent minors from registering and gambling on their platforms. 
• A remote gambling website must include a direct link to the home page to help players get problem gambling assistance from appropriate organizations. The license holders must also have responsible gambling systems in place to allow players to self-exclude themselves from gambling. 

Ongoing Maintenance and Compliance

A Gibraltar license is valid for five years. However, to maintain it, a license holder must adhere to all the regulatory requirements in line with the applicable laws and regulations laid out by the licensing authority. 

A license holder is also required to maintain clear financial records and present an audited account to the licensing authority for every year of the licensing period. Gaming operators must also comply with the account and filing requirements of the Gibraltar Companies Act and other relevant legislation to maintain their status as a registered company in this jurisdiction.

Why Choose the Gibraltar Gaming Licence?

A Gibraltar gaming license is one of the top licenses you can get as a gaming operator looking to access various international markets. While the licensing requirements are stringent, obtaining this license allows an operator to offer a wide range of online gaming services, including casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, and lottery in many international jurisdictions. Gibraltar also has a robust regulatory framework with low taxes and high standards.

If you’d like to find out more about other gambling licenses, check out our articles on:

• Curacao gaming license
• Tobique gaming license
• Anjouan gaming license
• Malta gaming license
• Isle of Man gambling license
• Kahnawake gaming license
• Alderney gambling license
• UK gaming license

Key Considerations for License Applicants

The licensing process for a Gibraltar license is quite rigorous. You need to prepare a lot of paperwork and a precise business plan to demonstrate your readiness. At the end of the day, only a few companies are issued this license every year. This shows just how much of a high standard a gaming operator has to meet for a successful application.

To increase your chances, it is best that you work with a team of professional advisors who can guide you on how to start an online casino business and help you prepare your paperwork to achieve the most desirable outcome for your application. 

Conclusion

Gibraltar provides access to an international market as well as a supportive local environment for gambling businesses. You can be a part of this vibrant ecosystem by applying for a license in Gibraltar. Consider working with an expert casino software development company like CrustLab that will help you navigate both the technical and regulatory aspects of your business. Contact us now to get started.