The Gibraltar Gambling Act 2025 has officially come into force, replacing legislation that had been in place for two decades.
The updated framework brings new business categories under the oversight of both the Act and the Gambling Division of the Ministry of Finance, headed by Andrew Lyman.
Under the new regulations, gambling license holders must demonstrate a genuine economic presence in Gibraltar — through physical offices, local employees, infrastructure, and tax contributions. This requirement aims to eliminate so-called “brass plate” operations that previously operated without real substance in the jurisdiction.
The Act introduces distinct licence types for B2C, B2B, and gaming operator support services, while specific activities such as marketing, CRM, managed trading, and software hosting will require official approvals. Additionally, senior management personnel will undergo personal vetting – a process similar to the Personal Management Licences system used by the UK Gambling Commission — to ensure greater accountability.
Marketing activities are now regulated under stricter standards, and the Gambling Commissioner has been granted expanded powers to impose administrative fines, cease-and-desist orders, and licence suspensions. Operators will also face new digital reporting obligations, covering areas such as AML compliance, technical standards, and safer gambling measures.
To ensure fairness and transparency, the legislation also establishes a new Gambling Appeals Tribunal, an independent body that will handle appeals related to decisions made by the Gambling Commissioner — including licence refusals, suspensions, and revocations.
