How to Start an iGaming Project on the Isle of Man: Expert Advice

The region is very popular for legalising a casino enterprise. To get such a permit, it is necessary to fulfil several requirements that cannot be called simple.

The offshore country under the control of the UK has managed to defend its laws and views on running the business. However, this does not mean that operators are treated more loyally here. The local regulatory authority (GSC) has existed for more than half a century (since 1962) but the issuance of iGaming licences started only in 2001.

Learn more on the matter from Rosloto experts. We can also help you receive a local permit and start a lawful amusement project.

How to Obtain a Gaming Certificate on the Isle of Man

Let us consider some of the conditions for getting such a document:

• Only a resident company of the island can legalise its activities. Entrepreneurs must first create and register a firm with local municipal authorities. Only after that, they can deal with the issues related to business certification.
• All bank accounts of the brand must be opened with local financial institutions. Investment volumes should correlate with the development plan of the enterprise and reflect the seriousness of the intentions of shareholders.
• There must be at least 1 resident in the management of the company. He has to be appointed as an authorised representative. Also, the entire directorate should consist of people with vast experience in organising or managing a business in the financial sector and relevant higher education. Documentary evidence of the necessary qualification of the directors must be attached to the application.
• All gamblers who want to play on the operator’s site must go through the verification procedure. Additionally, personal data should be stored on the territory of the island. This issue can be solved by placing secure servers within the jurisdiction.
• Entrepreneurs are obliged to familiarise players with the rules of the regulator. Usually, to do this, the platform owner should publish key norms in several languages (depending on the region from which it is planned to drive traffic). The absence of such data on the gaming site can theoretically be regarded as withholding of information or an attempt to mislead users.

The cooperation program created by the GSC Commission consists of 80 pages. The document describes how and subject to what restrictions the local iGaming business should be organised. However, it is not as difficult to study all the conditions as to observe them. Therefore, if you are seriously interested in obtaining a licence in this jurisdiction, it is better to consult with specialists who are well-versed in international law.

We recommend that operators turn to our studio. At Rosloto, there is a large team of experts who have been helping entrepreneurs implement new projects. Our professionals know a lot about the certification process.

The regulator constantly monitors the activities of licensees. Special attention is paid to 3 aspects:

1. Respect for the rights of the players.
2. Restriction on access for underages and people from the countries where iGaming is strictly prohibited.
3. Control over whether any gambling activity is conducted.

The last item seems strange but there have been cases when businessmen launched fictitious gambling platforms just for the sake of getting access to the advertising market in England. Therefore, if you intend to launch this type of project on the Isle of Man, be prepared for constant inspections and other forms of control.

However, the jurisdiction not only has strict rules but also provides great opportunities for business scaling.

Advantages of Legalising an iGaming Project in the Country

Let us review the main of them:

1. Great Britain collects 24–28% of the profit of gambling clubs as taxes. The Isle of Man managed to preserve its independence in this matter, so licensees here pay only 1.5% of their income to the local budget. For some categories of entrepreneurs, the rate may be even lower.
2. The jurisdiction is on the “white list” of the UK, thanks to which operators can promote their services in one of the world's largest markets.
3. The country is part of the EU trade area, which also provides additional benefits to local firms.
4. The GSC issues a single document for all types of casino activities for 5 years. There is no division into slots, lotteries, and card entertainment. It is enough to get one certificate and develop several directions in the future.
5. The Commission allows holders of full permits to issue sublicences. This is convenient for beginners who are not ready to go through the entire legalisation procedure yet. Major brands also benefit: they continue to grow and earn this way.
6. The political and economic situation on the island has been stable for several decades, which also has a positive effect on the business climate.

The licence of the Isle of Man costs about £5,000, and the price of an annual renewal is £35,000.

Operators also need to play the following commissions:

• if the gross income does not reach £20 million, the annual tax rate is 1.5% of the profit;
• if the indicator fluctuates within £20–40 million, a fee of 0.5% of the income is paid;
• if the company's annual profit is above £40 million, then the levy is reduced to 0.1% of earnings.

The total cost of using the certificate issued on the Isle of Man can reach £50,000–60,000 per year. But entrepreneurs will also receive good prospects for the development of their projects.

As for the sublicence, its cost is £5,000, and the annual renewal is another £5,000.

The Main Things about Obtaining a Local Permit

We recommend that operators first decide on their business goals and consider whether the jurisdiction is suitable for realising their ambitions. If so, it is worth filing an application and starting to implement a casino project. It will pay off in the first year of work.

Experts of the Rosloto studio will consult you on the matter and offer the most popular iGaming solutions in the market.

From us, you can also order the following useful services:

• development of unique HTML5 games;
• creation of a turnkey casino;
• drafting a business plan;
• promotion of already implemented projects, and much more.

For all questions, please contact our managers.