The Isle of Man Plans Major iGaming Licensing Law Overhaul

The island's Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) is reviewing proposed changes across 6 separate Acts. The aim is to renovate regulatory processes, consolidate inspection powers, and ensure readiness for the 2026 evaluation by Moneyval.

Fit-and-Proper Tests

Amendments to the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001 (OGRA) and the Casino Act 1986 will extend suitability checks throughout the entire licence period, rather than limiting them to the initial stages.

This review would consider 3 areas:

• integrity;
• competence;
• financial conditions.

These standards would apply not just to owners, but also to senior staff, such as compliance leads and officers tasked with reporting suspicious activity. The checks would be required for anyone holding 5% or more of the shares in a private firm, or 20% in a public one.

The GSC plans to publish separate instructions on how these evaluations will apply in practice.

Permit Closures

The proposals also cover voluntary surrender of licences. The procedure will no longer be informal.

Instead, those wishing to relinquish their approval will be required to:

• submit a wind-down strategy;
• explain how clients will be refunded;
• provide other relevant documentation.

In some cases, the GSC may apply conditions even after surrendering the permit. These post-licence requirements may include obligations such as continued access to data or financial reporting.

If a business disagrees with these conditions, or if its surrender request is rejected, it will have the option to challenge the decision on appeal.

Wider Inspection Rights and Legal Tools

The GSC also intends to streamline its investigation resources, drawing on the model already used in the Financial Services Act 2008. These new rights would replace the current fragmented provisions.

The tools available to the Commission will include:

• formal interviews with staff;
• legal requests for information;
• rights to enter premises with or without notice;
• scheduled visits to offices or business locations;
• authorised seizure of documents or materials under a warrant.

These powers would apply to current and past licence holders, along with close associates and anyone with a leading role in the firm. In some situations, persons operating without authorisation might also fall under scrutiny if they are involved in the business covered by Manx rulings.

Access to private residences would require either permission and advance notice or a formal order from the court.

The proposed changes will also create new offences for:

• blocking inspections;
• giving false or unclear data;
• failing to supply information.

All enforcement proceedings would be subject to appeals as outlined in the Gambling (Amendment) Act 2006.

Personal Accountability Under Financial Oversight Law

The Gambling (AML/CFT) Act 2018 would be revised to strengthen the GSC’s powers when dealing with financial crime risks. A major change is the introduction of civil liability for certain individuals in supervisory positions.

This responsibility could apply to:

• controllers;
• senior executives;
• other key influential representatives.

They can be held liable where there is clear evidence of consent, active participation, or omission. In such cases, the Commission may decide to impose financial penalties alongside or rather than criminal charges. Individuals affected would retain the right to appeal.

Other Proposed Revisions

The Gaming, Betting and Lotteries Act 1988 and the Gaming (Amendment) Act 1984 would be supplemented with refreshed wording and allow for additional rights to contest outcomes.

Under the revised Gambling Supervision Act 2010, the GSC’s core goals would be updated to include maintaining strong standards and safeguarding the island’s reputation. The duty to encourage wider economic activity would be removed from the list of core obligations.

Mark Rutherford, as Chief Executive, will continue to guide the organisation’s strategic direction as these updates are prepared for approval.

The consultation is now open to stakeholders and members of the public. Once the GSC reviews the feedback, the final proposals will be submitted to the Isle of Man’s Parliament for formal consideration.