Gambling Supervision Commission

What this authority does

The Isle of Man has licensed online gambling since 2001 and is one of the small jurisdictions that built an industry around hosting and corporate services rather than around a domestic player base. Its licence categories reflect that: alongside a full operating licence, it issues network services licences for businesses that host other operators, and software supplier licences for the companies behind the games.

Island requirements include the protection of player funds, which must be held so that they are available to customers if the operator fails, and the approval of key individuals. Because the jurisdiction is a Crown Dependency rather than an EU member, its licensees often hold additional licences in the markets they serve.

In practice an Isle of Man licence today tends to indicate a business-to-business or infrastructure operation, or a group that has been established for a long time, rather than a consumer brand entering a new market.

Licences it issues

• Full online gambling licence
• Sub-licence
• Network services licence
• Software supplier licence

What supervision concentrates on

• Licensing of operators and suppliers
• Player funds protection
• Anti-money-laundering supervision
• Hosting requirements

Markets on file under this authority