The Gibraltar authorities have published the long-awaited bill, which will completely modernise the licensing and regulatory framework for the gambling industry. The new gambling law entered into a transitional period on 1 April 2026.
The new gambling bill, which replaces the 2005 legislation, was passed unanimously by the Gibraltar Parliament on 18 March 2026. The bill, presented by the Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, Nigel Feetham (pictured), overhauls the sector’s regulation amid UK tax increases. The legislation also supports active diversification into new markets, including prediction markets.
In a report by the local media outlet GBC News, Feetham described the bill as follows: “This bill provides a flexible framework for the regulation of gambling in Gibraltar. Its implementation will enable us to prepare for the future as the pace of technological and innovative change accelerates.”
Key changes
Following several years of development, the bill proposes a modern regulatory framework for Gibraltar’s gambling industry. The document defines regulated activities and introduces an updated fee structure for all licence types.
According to a publication by Steven Caetano of Gibraltar law firm ISOLAS, the key changes affect the following areas:
- Marketing becomes a licensed activity (with exceptions)
- The provision of betting data does not require a separate licence
- Tax rates for B2C operators remain unchanged, whilst B2B operators continue to be exempt from GGR tax
Gibraltar’s licensing process and fees
Under the new law, licensing requirements remain stringent, and maintaining Gibraltar’s reputation is enshrined as a legislative objective. The licensing process continues to follow the same structure: applicants will undergo a preliminary assessment before receiving in-principle approval from the regulator.
A significant change is the division of fee payments into two stages: 50% at the start of the pre-licensing stage and 50% upon submission of the final application. Furthermore, the regulator has the discretion to reduce fees where multiple licence applications are submitted simultaneously. All application fees are non-refundable.
License application fee amounts
| Type of activity | Fee amount |
| B2C | £30,000 |
| B2B Content aggregator | £20,000 |
| B2B Direct content provider | £10,000 |
| Operator support services | £8,000 |
Annual licence fees for B2C operators
Separate annual fees are set for B2C operators across the betting, gaming, and lotteries sectors. A progressive scale based on gross gaming revenue (GGR) is provided for start-ups and small operators.
B2C annual fee structure is as follows:
- Gross revenue over £300 million – £200,000
- Gross revenue over £20 million – £100,000
- Gross revenue under £20 million – £50,000
A B2C licence includes the ability to provide white-label services to third parties within the relevant categories.
Regulation of the B2B sector
The new law stipulates that content providers located outside Gibraltar must obtain a license if they serve Gibraltar-licensed operators. The location of servers does not affect compliance with this rule.
Fee structure for B2B
| Type of activity | Fee amount |
| Aggregator (single vertical) | £85,000 |
| Additional vertical | +£15,000 |
| Direct software provider (Tier 1) | £85,000 |
| Direct software provider (Tier 2) | £50,000 |
| Direct software provider (Tier 3) | £20,000 |
| Platform services | £85,000 |
Live gaming provision is treated as a separate vertical from server-based gaming. The fee for approving a live dealer games content provider is £1,000.
Tighter restrictions on marketing
Marketing is defined in the law as broadly as possible and includes conducting, organising, booking, facilitating or providing advertising and marketing services for gambling anywhere in the world.
It is worth noting that in Gibraltar, there is a presumption against granting a marketing licence. The Minister, as the licensing authority, may grant such a licence only on condition that it does not harm the public interest or Gibraltar’s reputation. Having a physical presence and management control in Gibraltar does not in itself guarantee the granting of a licence.
B2C operators holding a Gibraltar licence will be able to carry out group marketing activities under their existing licence. B2B operators will require a separate marketing licence, though this will not incur additional fees.
“The adoption of this bill is only the first stage”
According to Feetham’s statement, the adoption of the new law marks the first step in restructuring the regulation of the sector: “The adoption of this bill is only the first stage. Although the new framework is now generally understood by the sector and its advisers, the main focus is currently on the transition and implementation.”
He added that a digitalisation project has already been launched, allowing licence applications to be submitted online, and that the Office of the Gambling Commissioner has “a lot of work to do to ensure a smooth transition”.
The change from the current rules to Gibraltar’s new law, which will cover both licensing and fee payments, will take place between April and October 2026. Operators are being given time to familiarise themselves with the new requirements and prepare the necessary documents to meet the updated standards.
At present, the UK market accounts for approximately 75% of Gibraltar’s gambling sector. The new law reflects the government’s strategy to attract operators from other markets. In this context, Feetham has reported on meetings with investors in Barcelona and Hong Kong. In addition, the first licence for a prediction market was issued under the old law last week.
This article was first published in Russian on 9 April 2026.
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