Primary Gambling Legislation

The Gambling Supervision Act 2010 is the principal legislation that provides for the for the status, constitution and functions of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.

This is the principal legislation that sets out the regulation of the online gambling industry is the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001 (OGRA). 

All forms of online gambling and gaming are potentially licensable under OGRA, with the exception of spread betting, as set out in the Online Gambling (Prescribed Descriptions) Regulations 2007.  Spread betting falls to be regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. 

Where an operator intends to establish in the Isle of Man and provide certain forms of online gambling, they must hold a licence under OGRA .  

The Gaming Amendment Act 1986 is a piece of legislation to control the keeping for use, and the sale and supply, of certain amusement machines; to impose an interim excise duty in relation to such machines; and for connected purposes.

The Gambling (Amendment Act) 2006 transferred gambling regulatory functions from the Department of Home Affairs and changed the name of the Isle of Man Gambling Control Commissioners to the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision.

It also amended other Acts relating to the regulation of gambling on the Isle of Man and introduced the Gambling Appeals Tribunal

                                                                                                                                                                                          

The Gaming, Betting and Lotteries Act 1988 (GBLA) and the Gaming, Betting and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2001 regulate land-based betting and bookmaking and amusements with prizes and sets out legal requirements and restrictions relating to:

The GBLA permits gaming, which is defined in the GBLA as “the playing of a game of chance for winnings in money or money’s worth, whether or not any person playing the game is at risk of losing any money or money’s worth”, subject to certain prohibitions set out therein. 

In order to use premises as a betting office in the Isle of Man, the premises will need to be licensed as a betting office and the person using the premises needs to be licensed as a bookmaker. 

It is an offence to use non-licensed premises for betting or to operate as a bookmaker without a permit under the GBLA. 

No licence is required under the GBLA for betting transactions that are authorised by a licence under OGRA and carried out in accordance with the provisions of the GBLA and the terms of the licence (other than the negotiating or receiving of any bet from a person in the Island by means of an electronic communication). 

The GBLA also gives power to make regulations, which include:

An Act setting out the scope and administration of excise duty on gambling. 

An Act that set out an increase of fines and pecuniary penalties relating to the Pool Betting (Isle of Man) Act 1961.

The National Lottery Act 1999 and the GBLA regulate lotteries in the Isle of Man.  The UK National Lottery is available on the Isle of Man and, apart from any small society lotteries, is the only legal land-based lottery operating on the Island. 

An ACT to legalise pool betting in the Isle of Man and for the imposition of a pool betting duty; to regulate the disposal of moneys and to provide for the publication of certain accounts and information in connection with pool betting; to permit ready money bets in certain circumstances by way of pool betting conducted by post; and for purposes connected therewith.