TLDR
- Gibraltar’s new Gambling Act removes the single B2B licence and replaces it with a tiered system.
- Suppliers can now pick a licence level that fits the size of their business.
- The reform ends “sheltering,” where suppliers operated under a licensed B2C operator’s permit.
- The law shifts away from server-based rules toward a cloud-service licensing model.
- Operators and suppliers have six months to adjust before the new system fully takes effect.
Gibraltar has introduced a new Gambling Act that changes how gambling suppliers get licensed in the territory.
The old system required a single B2B licence, no matter how big or small a company was. That has now been replaced with a tiered structure.
Under the new rules, suppliers can apply for a licence that matches their scale of operation. Smaller companies no longer need to meet the same requirements as large operators.
Steven Caetano of ISOLAS spoke about the changes during the Connected by Pragmatic Solutions event. He said the new system speeds up licensing and introduces fees that scale with a company’s size.
A Tiered Path for Smaller Suppliers
Companies that are not ready for a top-tier licence can now apply for a tier three permit instead.
This lower tier comes with reduced fees and a smaller allowed customer base. It gives newer or smaller suppliers a way into the Gibraltar market without the cost of a full licence.
Caetano said this approach lets businesses grow into higher tiers over time. Companies are no longer forced to start at the highest level right away.
He added that the changes make Gibraltar more attractive to both current suppliers and new companies looking for a lower-cost way to enter the market.
The reform also closes a practice known as “sheltering.” Under the old rules, some suppliers operated using the systems of licensed B2C operators before getting their own permits.
That option will no longer be available once the new law is fully in place. Suppliers will need their own licence to operate.
Moving Away From Server-Based Rules
The Gambling Act also changes how technology requirements are handled.
Older rules were built around the idea that gambling companies needed physical servers based in Gibraltar. That requirement no longer matches how most companies operate today.
“There’s a lot of cloud services provision,” Caetano said. “That requirement to have all your technology based in Gibraltar is not realistic nowadays.”
He said the update reflects the shift toward cloud-based systems used across the gambling industry.
Nicky Macias of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association also spoke at the event. He said the focus has now moved to putting the new law into practice.
“We are now going through the most important phase,” Macias said. “We’ve got the law, and now we’re going through a transition process.”
Operators and suppliers have been given six months to adjust to the new framework. After that period, the tiered licensing system will be fully in effect across Gibraltar.
