TLDR Gibraltar’s 2025 Gambling Bill passed its first parliamentary reading, moving closer to replacing the 2005 Gambling Act The UK plans to raise Remote Gaming Duty to 40% starting April, putting pressure on Gibraltar-licensed operators Gibraltar was removed from the FATF gray list two years ago, clearing the path for new regulations The new bill strengthens the Gibraltar Gambling Commission with risk-based enforcement and financial penalties Officials say Gibraltar aims to expand its gambling sector globally rather than relying solely on UK licenses
Gibraltar’s parliament has passed the 2025 Gambling Bill through its first reading. The legislation now moves to the committee stage and a third reading before it can be sent to the Crown for final approval.
This bill has been in the works for years. Officials began preliminary discussions four years ago and formally introduced the draft last June.
The new framework will replace the 2005 Gambling Act. That older law originally set online betting regulations for both the United Kingdom and Europe.
Gibraltar’s path to this point was not straightforward. The Financial Action Task Force had placed the territory on its gray list of high-risk jurisdictions. Two years ago, Gibraltar was officially removed from that list after meeting compliance requirements.
That international clearance gave the local government the confidence to push ahead with the new gambling rules.
UK Tax Changes Add Urgency
A major factor driving the legislation is a tax increase announced by the UK Chancellor ahead of last year’s Autumn Budget. The UK government plans to raise the Remote Gaming Duty to 40% beginning in April.
This matters for Gibraltar because several UK-facing gambling operators hold licenses in the territory. Industry stakeholders raised concerns about the impact almost immediately.
Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner Andrew Lyman warned that the tax hikes would affect the