• Gibraltar is preparing for a major overhaul of its gambling laws with a new Gambling Bill that significantly expands the scope of licensed activities.
• B2B service providers, marketing companies, and certain holding companies ( Holdcos) will now be required to obtain a licence to operate in or from the jurisdiction.
• The regulator will take a “pragmatic approach” to implementation but is urging all affected businesses to engage early to understand the new requirements.
• Existing B2C licensees will be “grandfathered” in but must review their operations to see if any other functions now require separate licensing.
• The reforms are designed to close regulatory gaps and protect Gibraltar’s reputation as a top-tier global gaming hub.

Gibraltar, one of the world’s most established iGaming jurisdictions, is bracing for a significant regulatory reform as its new Gambling Bill moves towards parliamentary debate. The proposed legislation represents a major overhaul of the territory’s supervisory framework, most notably by extending licensing requirements to a much broader range of companies within the gambling ecosystem.

Gambling Commissioner and Executive Director Andrew Lyman has confirmed an increase in enquiries from the sector, signalling that the industry is taking the impending changes seriously.

Expanding the Scope: Who Needs a Licence?

The central pillar of the reform is the expansion of activities defined as “regulated” and therefore requiring a licence. While Gibraltar has long been a hub for B2C operators, the new Bill will bring several other key segments under direct regulatory oversight. The newly licensable categories include:

• B2B Service Providers: Companies providing “licensable supply chain services” to operators in or from Gibraltar will now need a licence.
• Marketing Companies: Firms conducting gambling marketing activities from the jurisdiction will fall within the licensing scope.
• Holding Companies (Holdcos): In a significant move, holding companies that own more than 25% of a relevant gambling company will also require a licence, even if the subsidiary operates outside Gibraltar.

Lyman noted that the new definition of “providing facilities for gambling” now extends to management and control functions in or from Gibraltar, which “may capture certain multi-jurisdictional models that were previously not in scope.”

The Regulator’s ‘Pragmatic’ Approach and Call for Engagement

While the reforms are extensive, the regulator has signalled its intention to work with the industry through the transition. “We will take a pragmatic approach and will be supportive of any business that does not pose a risk to the reputation of the jurisdiction,” Lyman stated.

Existing B2C licence holders won’t have to reapply from scratch, as they will be “grandfathered” into the new system. However, they are being cautioned to review their entire operational structure to see if other functions, such as in-house marketing or B2B technology arms, now require separate authorisation.

The Commissioner has issued a strong call for early and transparent communication. “We would prefer all businesses to engage early so that we have a complete understanding of all the different business models out there [and] so businesses can plan strategically,” he said. He stressed that a transition period will follow the implementation of the Act, but urged affected companies to “start thinking now” about their future licensing needs.

What This Means for the Industry

This legislative overhaul is a clear and deliberate move by Gibraltar to modernise its regulatory framework, close potential loopholes, and reinforce its standing as a “gold standard” jurisdiction. In an era of increasing international scrutiny on anti-money laundering and compliance, bringing the B2B supply chain and key corporate structures into the licensed ecosystem is seen as a necessary step.

While the changes will undoubtedly increase the compliance burden for many businesses that have previously operated outside the licensing net, they also provide greater legal clarity and underscore the jurisdiction’s commitment to robust governance. The era of unregulated B2B supply from within Gibraltar is officially coming to an end.