Isle of Man Lost a Quarter of Gambling Operators in a Year After Licensing Tightening

^{Peel, Isle of Man / © Shutterstock}

The number of new online gambling licences issued by the Isle of Man has fallen sharply, while existing licensees are leaving the jurisdiction. According to data from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC), the number of licensed companies decreased from 72 to 54 over the past 12 months — a 25% decline.

The Isle of Man is a self-governing Crown Dependency that is not part of the United Kingdom. The island has operated its own online gambling licensing system for more than 20 years. In 2025, local authorities tightened their approach towards international operators.

The government announced that it would reject applications from companies owned or effectively controlled by individuals from East and Southeast Asia. The regulator also said it would review licences already issued to such companies.

Following the announcement, the GSC issued only four new licences, including one in the first half of 2026.

Lyle Wraxall, chief executive of government agency Digital Isle of Man, admitted that the statement itself and the way it was presented to market participants were a “serious misstep”.

Several well-known industry players also surrendered their Isle of Man licences in 2025. In March, Rational Entertainment Enterprises gave up its licence, the company through which PokerStars operated under the Isle of Man authorisation. The register also removed 888 Emerging, linked to the owner of the 888 brand, and Nolimit City Services, a company associated with online slots developer Nolimit City.

Ahead of ICE Barcelona 2026, held in Barcelona on January 19–21, Isle of Man authorities once again highlighted the importance of online gambling to the local economy. The government also announced the launch of a programme in 2026 to engage with companies from the sector.