Gibraltar pushes ahead with new Gambling Bill

We are seeing Gibraltar move to reset its gambling framework. Parliament passed the first reading of the 2025 Gaming Bill. The legislation will replace the long-standing 2005 Act. It comes at a time when operators face growing pressure, including higher UK remote gaming taxes.

The aim is clear. Gibraltar wants to stay competitive while tightening oversight and adapting to how the industry now operates.

A long-awaited update created by disruption

Reform has been years in the making. Consultations date back to 2016. Progress slowed due to Brexit, regulatory pressures and the pandemic. Brexit in particular changed parts of the European gambling landscape. Gibraltar also worked to secure its removal from the FATF grey list in 2024.

Now, the bill reflects those changes. It has been built through consultation and is designed to respond to a very different market than the one in 2005.

"Using gross gambling yield as a proxy, the Gibraltar gambling sector is over 75% UK facing and, whilst not slavishly following regulatory developments in the UK, note needs to be taken of certain developments and adjustments made accordingly." - Nigel Feetham KC MP, Minister with responsibility for Financial Services and Gaming

Regulation goes beyond tech location

A key change is how gambling activity is defined. The focus will no longer sit primarily on where servers or infrastructure are based. Instead,  regulation will apply to where management and control of a business actually take place.

This shows the reality of cloud systems and multi-jurisdictional operations. Many companies now operate across borders. This makes older location-based rules less effective.

The new approach brings more businesses within scope, particularly those with meaningful operational presence in Gibraltar.

Marketing and support services face closer scrutiny

The bill also targets areas that have grown rapidly but remained less tightly regulated.

Marketing, player acquisition and related services will require a Gaming Operator Support Services (GOSS) licence in certain cases.

This is significant. Social media promotion and third-party marketing have become central to growth strategies. But they have also raised concerns around compliance and consumer protection. By bringing these services into scope, Gibraltar is aiming to close regulatory gaps and protect its reputation as a well-regulated hub.

Stronger powers for the gambling commission

Another major change is enforcement. Under the current framework, regulators have limited options when dealing with breaches. In many cases, the only real tool has been licence suspension or revocation.

The new bill introduces a broader set of powers. These include financial penalties, structured investigations and risk-based enforcement. It means there can be more proportionate action and gives the regulator greater flexibility to respond to different levels of non-compliance.

An appeals tribunal will also be established.

Built for a changing industry

The overall message is one of flexibility. The bill is designed to adapt as technology improves and as business models continue to shift. Work is already underway on digital systems to improve communication between the regulator and operators.

At the same time, Gibraltar is keen to maintain its business-friendly stance. The message to operators is straightforward. Those that meet standards on compliance, consumer protection and financial integrity will continue to find a supportive environment.