Gibraltar Gambling Commission

Gibraltar Gambling Commission (GGC)

Gibraltar Gambling Licensing Authority

The Gibraltar Gambling Commission (GGC) is a department of the Government of Gibraltar that is responsible for handling the remote gambling licensing and regulating of any online casinos or other online gambling businesses that operate under their jurisdiction.

Formerly known as the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), the commission is tasked with ensuring that any gambling business operating under their jurisdiction is adhering to their regulations and providing a safe, secure, and fair gambling experience to their players.

If granted a license by the GGC, any online casino is free to offer their online gambling services from Gibraltar to anyone in the world where online gambling is legal in their country of residence.

Located just off the Southern coast of Spain, Gibraltar has become one of the world’s leading havens for online gambling, and the online gambling industry is now one of the largest in the country.

The GCC is where many of the world’s most reputable online casinos are licensed and regulated. It is renowned for being one of the hardest regulatory authorities to gain a license from.

This is due to them only accepting blue-chip companies that are of good financial standing, that already has been licensed elsewhere and have a good reputation and proven track record in the online gambling industry.

So to find out more about the GGC and what they do to ensure that we as players have the right level of protection when gambling online, continue reading this in-depth article that really delves into one of the leading online gambling regulatory authorities in the world.

What Would Happen if the GGC Did Not Exist?

Well, online casinos could get licensed elsewhere under some other big names when it comes to regulatory authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). In fact, there are hundreds of regulatory authorities all over the world that can be applied to for a license to operate as an online gambling entity.

Any online casino requires licensing of some sort from a regulatory authority otherwise, it would be deemed as an illegal operation from whichever jurisdiction it is operating from. For this reason, players should always check to see where an online casino is licensed and regulated because it might be an illegal online casino operating under no regulations and, therefore, might not be providing you with a fair game and looking after your financial and personal information.

Before you play at any online casino, you should always first check to see which licenses they have and if they even have a license at all. If you do not trust what a casino is saying about the supposed licenses that they have, you can always check with the regulatory bodies that they claim to have licenses from to confirm that this is true.

What Would Happen if There Were No Regulatory Authorities?

Most of you will already be able to just imagine what online gambling would be like if no bodies were regulating it. Online casinos would be able to make up their own rules, would not be forced to use a certain amount of security when looking after customer’s personal information and financial details. The online casinos could also essentially rig the games to be a lot more in their favor, and they might not be interested in promoting responsible online casino gambling.

The online gambling industry, as a whole, would also be given a bad name due to the many corrupt practices that would occur. Eventually, it would fold due to most players eventually learning that there is nobody they can trust online.

Without regulation, an online casino could essentially have their slot games and table games set up with Random Number Generators (RNG) that are far from fair to the players. They could then advertise a false RNG to attract the players and then do nothing short of scam them.

Casinos could also neglect the safety of player accounts, financial and personal information, and their playing funds. Regulated casinos are usually forced to adhere to regulations that involve separating player funds from operating funds and use 128-bit SSL encryption technology to protect the connection between the player computer and the server in which the casino is held on.

All in all, the online gambling world would be a bad place to be, and we have to be thankful that we do have regulatory authorities making sure that online casinos are operating how they should be.

What Licenses Does the GGC Provide?

The GGC has a number of licenses available, but each of them is usually issued depending on the product that the online gambling provider is selling. There are seven licenses in total, such as:

  • Licenses for online bookmakers
  • Licenses for betting intermediaries
  • Licenses for gaming operators
  • Licenses for gaming machines
  • Licenses for lottery promoters
  • Licenses for pool promoters
  • Licenses for remote gambling

With regards to online casinos, the most common license applied for is the license for providing remote gambling. However, if the online casino also offered products such as sports betting, for example, they would also need a license for online bookmakers.

Why is the Regulation of Online Gambling Important?

As we touched upon above, there are many reasons why online gambling needs regulatory bodies to license and regulate it.

Would you be able to put your trust into an online casino if you knew it was operating under no regulations? Neither would we, and neither would most of the gambling population. Being regulated by a respected regulatory authority is a seal of approval for any online casino and one that will lend some trust to the players that are trying to win some money at their online casino.

Not only do players want regulations that ensure that the games they are playing are fair and are as advertised, but they also want regulations in many other areas as well. To sign up for an online casino and make a deposit, we have to share some personal information and financial information, so obviously, we want assurance that this information is being protected by those we share it with.

This should be done via 128-bit SSL encryption and an extensive firewall software being implemented. Employees should only be given access to partial information that we have submitted. There should be processes and policies in place that look after the monitoring of any activity on our accounts that might be deemed suspicious.

Another regulation that most players will require from an online casino is that their player funds are kept well away from the operating funds used by the company. We want to be sure that should the online casino ever run into financial difficulty, that all of our account balances are there in a separate account so that we are protected and can get our money back.

Without any of the above, gambling at an online casino does not bear thinking of. This is why regulation is so important in any industry but especially in a virtual one online where there could be lots of money and information at risk at all times.

What Regulations do Online Casinos Operate Under?

The amount and type of regulations that an online casino will have to adhere to will change depending on which regulatory authority they are licensed under. However, many of the regulatory authorities will share common goals in the areas of an online casino that they regulate to ensure that online casinos are providing a safe and fair product to their paying customers.

Some of the common regulations that online casinos will have to agree to under whatever regulatory authority that they wish to operate under include:

  • Regular testing of the RNG used in the games at the online casino.
  • Enforced use of 128-bit encryption software.
  • The Player’s funds must be kept in a separate account to operating funds.
  • Online casinos must show an active stance on promoting responsible gambling in their policies.
  • ID verification procedures to be regulated regularly.

Each of the above has all been designed to ensure that any players playing at online casinos can expect a standard level of service at each online casino under a particular regulatory authority. These are the core standards that most regulatory authorities will focus on most of their time on, but in truth, there are also smaller regulations that online casinos must adhere to.

What Type of Businesses Does the GGC License and Regulate?

While other regulatory authorities will cover both online and land-based gambling activities, the GGC specifically only deals with remote gambling on the internet. As one of the largest industries in Gibraltar, they really do need a department that is dedicated to online gambling, specifically rather than taking on both forms of gambling.

Online gambling can take many forms, but the GGC recognizes and regulates the following:

  • Online casinos
  • Online Poker
  • Sports betting
  • Sportsbooks
  • Lotteries

The licenses offered for each of the above will differ with regards to the regulations that they must follow, but they will all share the sole aim of providing a fair playing ground for players.

What Well-Known Casinos Does the GGC License and Regulate?

The GGC has always been a popular destination for online casinos due to the lower taxes that they charge. This is one of the main reasons why so many big names in the casino industry have opted to apply for and win a license from the Gibraltar Gambling Commission.

Additionally, because the GGC only accepts companies that have a proven track record in the online gambling industry and are blue-chip companies, this ensures that only the very biggest and most trustworthy names in the industry are awarded a license.

Among those big names, we are sure most of you already know of, especially if you have been gambling online for quite some time.

  • Ladbrokes Sportsbook
  • BetVictor
  • Bwin
  • 32 Red
  • Mansion Casino
  • NetEnt

Each of the above casinos has agreed to adhere to the strict regulations of the GCC and have managed to do so without any big problems.

NetEnt, particularly on that list, is a massive name in the online gambling industry, and several NetEnt powered online casinos are operating under the GGC. BWin and Ladbrokes are also big names, and the latter, in particular, will be very familiar with UK players.

How Does the GGC Regulate Online Casinos?

The regulations put in place by any regulatory authority for online gambling are often extensive and quite complicated. However, they can be broken down into categories that display just what it is that a regulatory body such as the GGC keeps an eye on and runs regular tests and audits on.

At the GGC in particular, the following are the areas in which they regulate on a regular basis at any online casino that they have issued a license to in Gibraltar.

  • Advertising Guidelines

As part of the license agreement, online casinos have to adhere to any advertisements for services, bonuses, and promotions being absolutely truthful and accurate. Additionally, this advertising should always be targeted at adults and should never be designed in such a way that it could be construed to appeal to minors.

Finally, all advertising must only be targeted at people living in countries where online gambling is not illegal.

  • Payouts of Prize Money

Online casinos under a GGC license will also be expected to have the financing available to cover all current prize money and a reasonable estimate of future projected payouts.

Additionally, online casinos will have to ensure that they always pay balances to players in accordance with the pre-set agreements they made with them.

  • Customer Privacy and Data Protection

As a minimum, online casinos operating with a GGC license in Gibraltar are required to obtain a basic information level from any new player registering at their online casino. This is to be a full name, address, and date of birth of the prospective registrant.

The gaming operator is then expected to carry out its due diligence on the customer and verify the identification provided.

  • Gaming Tax

All online casinos are required to pay tax based on their turnover each year. The current tax rate for running fixed odds betting product is set at 1% of gross profit with an upper cap of £425,000 per year or a minimum payment of £85,000 per year.

This tax rate is extremely low compared to many other gambling regulators and is one reason why so many online casinos are attracted to this licensing authority.

  • Accounts and Audit

As a licensee of the GCC, online casinos are responsible for the bank account details of their players, and all financial transactions, accounts, and processing must be completed in the jurisdiction of Gibraltar and nowhere else.

The online casino also agrees to provide audited accounts annually and maintain its financing, accounts, and filings as set out by the legislation found in the company’s act of Gibraltar.

  • Effective Control

Any online casino that is a licensee under the GGC must run and control the business from a location in Gibraltar. All bank accounts associated with the Gibraltar business must be held in the country, and that includes the accounts used to hold player funds.

As part of this agreement, the online casino business may be requested at random to provide the GCC with a list of key operating personnel that resides and works for the company in Gibraltar.

  • Codes of Practice

The GCC is responsible for creating and issuing codes of practices related to online gambling in Gibraltar and as such, any licensee of the GCC must agree to always be bound to and adhere to any changes that might be made to these codes of practice.

  • Anti-Money Laundering Requirements

One such code of practice is that of the anti-money laundering requirements that are set out by the GGC. This code dictates how a casino should go about detecting, reporting, and dealing with suspected money laundering and how to go about protecting against it.

Money laundering is a crime that is rampant in some industries but especially in online gambling. Gambling is an excellent way to launder money for criminals, but there are ways that online casinos can help to combat it and detect it.

  • Remote Technical and Operating Standards

There are 13 standards set in place that any online casino has to adhere to, and more information on these can be found here. Among them, you will see standards that licensees adhere to, such as the RNG and subsequent regular testing of that RNG by independent testing facilities.

Another standard of note includes the data and information security standards regarding a player’s personal and financial information and the protection that an online casino can provide for them. Fair gambling, preventing underage gambling, and responsible gambling awareness are a few others of note. Here is the list in full of the 13 remote technical and operational standards that are in place and need to be adhered to by any licensee.

  • Compliance Arrangements and Processes
  • Registration of Participants and Participants
  • Presentation of Rules and Customer Information
  • Responsible Gambling Awareness and Provision of Information
  • Gambling Management Facilities
  • Preventing Underage Gambling
  • Fair Gambling
  • Data and Information Security
  • Business Continuity
  • Complaints
  • Randomness (RNG)
  • Compliance and Testing
  • Approval of Joint Ventures

Any licensee that is discovered to not be adhering to any of these standards is liable to be warned, fined or potentially lose their license with the GCC. The penalties given will depend on the seriousness of the infraction and whether it could be deemed as unintended or intended. Sometimes casinos make small errors and can be warned, but if there is a big breach of the regulations, it might not end well for the online casino as they could ultimately lose their GGC license.

  • Testing Requirements

As we touched upon in the remote technical and operating standards above, online casinos under license with the GGC are required to have all of their equipment and gambling products tested by an independent testing facility to confirm that they are operating within the requirements set out bt the GGC.

The GGC only accepts these tests to be carried out by independents test houses that they have approved. The most well know of these is eCogra, a company that tests many of the biggest online casinos to ensure that their games are operating in a fair manner for the customers.

The full list of approved independent test houses is:

All online casinos that operate under a GGC license have to choose one of the above independent testing houses to perform the RNG tests and other tests on their software and equipment. These test houses will then share the results with the GGC, and unless any issues are found, the online casinos will be free to continue providing their products and services to their player base.

As you can see, there are a fair amount of regulations that the GGC expects their licensees to follow and cooperate with. Almost every aspect of an online casino has some form of regulation attached to it. Most other regulatory authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority have very similar regulations, although there will be differences as each jurisdiction will have their own ideas on how to regulate the casinos operating underneath them.

Can We Contact the GGC?

One area where the Gibraltar Gambling Commission stands out among its peers is through the likeliness of them responding to players complaints. In fact, they respond to more than any other online regulator and do what they can to resolve the issues at hand as quickly as possible.

If you have an issue with an online casino that operates under a GGC license and is unable to come to a successful resolution with that online casino, you as a player are within your rights to go above their heads and seek advice from the GGC.

This could be regarding anything from suspecting unfair activity from the online casino, their failure to pay out any winnings that you might have had, or your account has been suspended for what you feel is an undeserving reason or for other issues.

GGC will investigate the issue at hand, offer mediators between you and the casino, and will ultimately come to a resolution one way or another. There have been many instances in the past where the GGC has overturned the decision of an online casino to be in favor of the player. The casino has no choice but to oblige if they want to keep their GGC licensee.

We do suggest that you try your very best to come to a satisfactory resolution with the online casino before contacting the GGC, as understandably, they are very busy people. However, should this not be possible, GGC will always be on hand to help you with your issues.

Conclusion

The Gibraltar Gambling Commission has not become one of the leading regulatory authorities for nothing, and you can see many reasons why they have above. They set their standards very high on who they will accept as a licensee of theirs, and they do not rest up in making life extremely difficult (in a fair and direct way) to the online casinos underneath them.

Only the biggest names in the online gambling industry are usually accepted, and despite these being well-known brands that have proved themselves to be fair operators over the years, this does not mean that the GGC just assumes they are operating in the right way.

They are always there performing their audits, testing equipment, RNG, and products and never let their licensees rest easy. That is the way it should be, though, and we have big respect for any regulatory authority and the work they put into making sure that we as players are being treated fairly and that we are kept safe.

If you ever find an online casino that is regulated by the GGC, you can be sure that you are playing at one that offers their games and services in the correct manner and continues to adhere to the strict regulations that the GGC puts in front of them.

Better still, if you ever find a casino that is regulated and licensed by multiple regulatory authorities, you pretty much know that you are in great hands. If you were to look at some of the best known online casinos, you will see that it is not unusual to be licensed in three, four or even five different regions.

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