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Reference last reviewed 27 October 2026

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Europe

Gibraltar Licensing Authority

A small jurisdiction that licensed much of the early British online betting industry and still hosts a large part of it.

Short name GLAJurisdiction GibraltarSupervising since 2005Last reviewed 27 October 2026

What this authority does

Gibraltar became the base for a substantial share of the online betting industry in the late 1990s and 2000s, when British operators moved their remote operations there. Licences are granted by the Licensing Authority on the advice of the Gambling Commissioner, and the jurisdiction has always applied a deliberately selective policy: it has preferred a small number of established operators to a large number of applicants.

Licensees are expected to have a genuine presence in Gibraltar, with management and operations located there rather than only a registered address. That requirement, together with the territory's size, is why the licence list is short and stable.

Gibraltar's commercial role changed after the United Kingdom moved to point-of-consumption licensing in 2014, which meant a Gibraltar licence no longer sufficed for British customers, and again after the United Kingdom left the European Union. It remains an operational hub for several large groups.

Licences it issues

  • Remote gambling operator licence
  • Gambling software licence

What supervision concentrates on

  • Licensing on the advice of the Gambling Commissioner
  • Fit and proper assessment
  • Local presence requirements

Markets on file under this authority

MarketOnline casinoSports bettingLicensing model
GibraltarLicensedLicensedSelective licensing, hub jurisdiction

Questions about the GLA

What does the GLA license?

A small jurisdiction that licensed much of the early British online betting industry and still hosts a large part of it. It issues: Remote gambling operator licence; Gambling software licence.

What is the legal basis for the GLA?

Gibraltar gambling legislation, as revised. The authority has supervised online gambling since 2005 and is based in Gibraltar.

Which markets does the GLA cover?

On this site the GLA is recorded as the authority for Gibraltar.

What does GLA supervision concentrate on?

Licensing on the advice of the Gambling Commissioner; Fit and proper assessment; Local presence requirements.

Other authorities in Europe

UKGC · Great Britain

Gambling Commission

The licensing body for all gambling offered to customers in Great Britain, whether the operator is based there or not.