Gibraltar Gambling Bill passes first reading
The proposed changes to Gibraltar’s gambling legislation would introduce more licence categories and more powers for the Gibraltar Gambling Commission.
UK.- The British overseas territory of Gibraltar has taken the first step to replace its Gambling Act of 2025 with updated legislation. Legislators approved the Gibraltar Gambling Bill in it first reading today, clearing the way for it to advance to the committee stage.
The progress comes amid concerns that the rise in British gambling tax could have a significant impact on Gibraltar’s economy due to the importance of its igaming sector. The proposed new legislation is not related to that change, having been proposed back in June 2024, but it aims to improve sustainability in the sector.
The Gibraltar Gambling Bill 2025 would expand licensing across the gambling value chain, increasing accountability by requiring senior executives to hold licences. The bill also sets out broader regulation for B2B activities, such as marketing services, with new licence categories.
The bill would also strengthen the powers of the Gibraltar Gambling Commission (GGC), including its tools for risk-based enforcement, investigations and penalties for non-compliance. A new sanctions appeal tribunal would be created to handle licensee responses to penalties.
Nigel Feetham MP, Gibraltar’s Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry said the proposed legislation would provide a “flexible framework” for the regulation of gambling.
Consultations on the legislation began back in May 2022. The drafting was also influenced by Gibraltar’s trouble with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after it was placed on the Moneyval grey list between June 2022 and February 2024.
The measure will need to clear the committee stage, a third reading and Crown approval before coming into effect.
