Our Regulatory Objectives

The Gambling Supervision Act 2010 established the Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) as an independent Statutory Board within the Isle of Man Government. The Act defines the Commission’s legal status, governance framework, and the regulatory objectives that guide all of its activities.

The GSC is responsible for the licensing, supervision, and regulation of:

  • all land-based gambling operations, including casinos, amusement and slot machines, betting offices, and lotteries
  • all forms of online gambling
  • the Isle of Man’s medicinal cannabis sector, following the extension of the Commission’s remit in December 2020

Regulatory Objectives – Gambling

In relation to gambling, the Commission’s regulatory objectives are to:

  1. Ensure that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
  2. Protect children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
  3. Prevent gambling from being:
    • A source of crime or disorder,
    • Associated with crime or disorder,
    • Used to support criminal activity.
These objectives underpin all licensing decisions, supervisory actions, and regulatory interventions undertaken by the GSC.

Regulatory Objective – Medicinal Cannabis

For the Commission’s responsibilities in relation to the medicinal cannabis sector, the regulatory objective is to prevent the misuse of cannabinol, cannabinol derivatives, cannabis, or cannabis resin.

This ensures that medicinal cannabis activities within the Isle of Man are regulated safely, securely, and in accordance with all relevant legislation and international expectations.

How We Apply Our Regulatory Objectives

To fulfil these objectives, the GSC is guided by three core organisational values that shape our approach to regulation:

Trust

We work to maintain trust in our regulatory oversight by developing a strong understanding of the technical, operational, and risk-based complexities of the sectors we supervise. Transparent and consistent decision-making supports confidence among consumers, operators, and government.

Balance

Our regulatory approach is proportionate and risk-based. Compliant operators are allowed the freedom to operate efficiently, while those who fall short of expected standards are subject to closer scrutiny and targeted intervention until they achieve full compliance.

Efficiency

We strive to use public resources responsibly. By retaining skilled staff, making cost-effective operational decisions, and maintaining a lean but capable team, we ensure that the GSC remains effective and efficient in delivering its licensing and supervisory functions.