Obtaining an
Isle of Man gambling license requires compliance with high standards of corporate governance, financial stability, and regulatory compliance. Oversight and enforcement of licensing requirements are carried out by the
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) both during the licensing process and throughout the operator’s ongoing activities.
Legal Structure and SubstanceThe operator must have a legally registered company with a transparent ownership structure. For certain license types, economic substance in the Isle of Man is required, including local directors or key personnel and the presence of genuine operational functions.
Owners and Key Persons (Fit & Proper)The GSC conducts enhanced due diligence on beneficial owners, directors, and key individuals, including:
- verification of identity and business reputation;
- assessment of relevant professional experience in the iGaming sector;
- review of source of funds and absence of regulatory breaches.
All key persons must meet the fit & proper criteria established by the regulator.
Financial Requirements and SustainabilityThe operator must demonstrate financial soundness of the project, including:
- sufficient capital (depending on the type of license);
- adequate liquidity to meet obligations towards players;
- a transparent financial model and detailed business plan.
The regulator continuously assesses the operator’s solvency and financial sustainability.
AML / KYC and ComplianceThe license requires the implementation of a comprehensive AML/KYC framework, including:
- customer identification and verification;
- transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting;
- responsible gambling measures and player protection;
- internal compliance policies and regular audits.
Failure to comply with compliance requirements is treated as a material regulatory breach.
Technical and Operational StandardsAll gaming platforms and software must be certified and comply with GSC requirements for IT security and game integrity. To submit a license application, the following are required:
- a live website or fully developed technical infrastructure;
- publicly available legal documents (Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Responsible Gaming Policy);
- full alignment between actual operations and the declared license scope (B2C or B2B).