Gibraltar

Gambling legislation in Gibraltar is currently as close to the "ideal" from the player's point of view as possible. Gamblers feel as protected as possible thanks to regular work and strict rules for online casino operators. The country is also very attractive for companies wishing to obtain a license in this jurisdiction due to low taxes, the possibility of wide cooperation with EU countries, prestige, transparency of laws, and fairness of the regulator.

Gibraltar: Casino with licenses

On the official website of the Government of Gibraltar, in the gambling section, you can find information about all licensed operators in this jurisdiction. There you can also see the licenses issued to the gaming software manufacturers. For each brand, there is a pdf file with the following information: all casinos belonging to this operator, the internet address of the establishment, and the postal address.

The most famous brands are Eurogrand casino, Party Casino, 32Red and others.

Gibraltar review

Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom (i.e., it is under its sovereignty). The main areas of the economy are banking, finance, and gambling. According to statistics, about 15% of the country's income comes from gambling.

Gibraltar is an offshore zone, so it is attractive for companies conducting gambling business on the Internet. But the main advantage of this jurisdiction is its prestige and recognizability among players. The country's authorities are very selective in granting licenses and very biased in monitoring the implementation of rules and regulations. That is why it is quite difficult to obtain a Gibraltar gambling license.

Depending on the type of gambling proposed to obtain the following types of licenses:

• Remote Gaming B2C Operator - license for online casino
• Remote Betting B2C Operator - licensed to accept bets remotely (online betting)
• Other Remote B2C Gambling Products - this type of license is required if the operator will provide access to gambling that does not fall under the definition of casino or betting.
• Non-Remote B2C Gaming Operator (land casinos) - license for land-based casinos
• Non-Remote B2C Betting Operator (land bookmaker) - license for land-based bookmakers.
• Gambling B2B Support Services - gambling support services.

Licenses are issued for five years. The company must pay an annual fee, after which the license is renewed. After the main term expires, the gambling license can also be renewed. In case of a violation of the law and licensing rules, the regulator has the right to suspend the license instantly until the violation is corrected or to specify the time of validity of the license at its discretion.

The licensee has the right to accept or reject applications for a gaming license at its discretion. In doing so, it must be guided by the economic benefit to Gibraltar.

The processing time for a preliminary application is between two and four weeks. If a favorable decision is made, a main application is submitted, which will be reviewed within three to six months.

Gambling history in this country

The history of gambling in Gibraltar lacks impressive events and facts. This is probably because the country was occupied by various nations, including Spain and England, for a long time. It was not until 1830 that it officially became a British colony.

Factually, the gambling industry began to develop only in 2005, at the time of the adoption of the law on gambling, or rather, the industry entered the legal framework. In 2014, an additional law was passed to regulate the rules for companies licensed on Giblartar.

Licensing authority

The main regulatory body for the gambling industry in Gibraltar is the Gambling Commissioner. This organization was established by the Gambling Act in 2005.

The chief person of the regulator is the Commissioner, who is appointed to his position by the Minister for Finance and Digital Services.

The regulator's core principle is to "Ensure by all available means that licensed operators act in accordance with the terms of their license agreements and the law, in a manner that maintains the good reputation of the jurisdiction."

The Gambling Authority has taken a very responsible approach to drafting its gambling legislation. The basic law repeats much of a similar act passed in the UK. But Gibraltar went much further and created "Codes" (a set of rules) conditioning the actions of operators and players. For example, there is a very clear interpretation of "fairness of the game process and RTP." The regulations of verification, rules of the game, and payment of winnings in the casino are also thoroughly described.

These Codes can be found on the official Gibraltar government website. In 2014, additional regulations were added for companies involved in gambling activities.

In addition to its main duties, the Commissioner is involved in resolving player complaints against online casinos. The website outlines a detailed application process and when to seek help from the licensee.

Like any European regulator, Gibraltar places great emphasis on protecting the public from gambling addiction. Companies must post information on their gambling sites about organizations that help this category of players.

Another organization related to gambling in the country is the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA). This is a trade association representing almost all online gambling operators in Gibraltar. It is dedicated to promoting and improving gambling and represents online casinos. The association has a large number of well-known operators as members.

GBGA is  a nongovernmental association that adheres to the following main objectives:

• Create a safe, fair, and highly regulated online gambling environment for all consumers
• Create a structure where all gambling operators and states work in unity to create high standards in the industry
• Promote Gibraltar as a benchmark for licensing
• Social responsibility to players

The organization has operated since 2005 as an unincorporated company but was not officially incorporated until 2013.

Requirements for licensees

Companies wishing to obtain a Gibraltar gaming license must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Business Plan is required. This document summarizes exactly how the company will be developed, what income is planned to be generated from its activities.
2. Registration of the company. The company must be registered in the jurisdiction and have a physical office.
3. Representative. The company's official representative, who must be a director (or other person) with permanent residence (registration) in Gibraltar, is required.
4. General Information. Financial statements of the company for a certain period. Provide information on current employees, including the company's founders (copies of identification documents). It will also be necessary to confirm the reliability of the managing staff with letters of recommendation from various financial institutions.
5. Certificates. The operator applying for a license must confirm that the games in his establishment have been tested by independent gambling laboratories (ECOGRA, iTech Labs, NMi Metrology & Gaming Ltd, etc.). This also applies to pokie machines installed in land-based casinos.
6. Security. The company must prove its financial solvency to fulfill its obligations to market participants (players). As a rule, a confirming bank statement showing the company's available cash amount is sufficient.

After obtaining a gaming license, the operator will be obliged to comply with several requirements:

1. The company's website must include information about assisting gambling addicts and contact details of at least one organization that assists such citizens.
2. Take measures to prevent money laundering activities.
3. Annually submit various reports on its activities to the regulator and undergo inspections.
4. Do not allow minors to play by any available and legal means (implement a mandatory player verification procedure)
5. Compliance with licensing rules

Generally, the rules and regulations to be followed by a Gibraltar-licensed operator are very broad and meticulous. For example, the regulator is very clear about the procedure for obtaining a license and the rules of the games, from the method of depositing to the payment of jackpots.

These requirements are called "Code" with the full list can be found on the official website of the Gibraltar government in the section "remote gambling".

Conclusion

The Gambling Commissioner has strict licensing principles and rules, making it the most respected regulator among similar global organizations. However, many people confuse this jurisdiction with the UK, which is completely unacceptable.

Gibraltar has its own legislation and regulator and is even superior to UK licensing in some aspects. For example, according to Casinoz, handling player complaints is much better (more transparent). Also impressive is the informative accessibility of the official site, where you can find all the necessary information for players and operators.

However, it is worth noting that due to political innovations, namely Brexit, a number of operators have reduced their presence in the country due to the unstable political situation. Of course, this fact has affected the industry, which is likely to lead to some changes and additional guarantees for operators by the government.