New Player Enters the Game: East Timor Grants Offshore License

East Timor, a small island nation in Southeast Asia, is stepping onto the global iGaming stage after issuing its first-ever offshore gambling license, according to The Macao News.

The license was granted to Golden River Universe Lda (GRU), a company that will work with the government to develop an offshore gaming hub within the country, officially named TOGOS Hub.

The vision behind the hub is to host the operational bases of licensed gambling firms.

GRU is backed by Grand Dragon Lottery, one of Southeast Asia’s largest lottery operators. Company officials confirmed that they’re relocating key support and development teams from the Philippines and Cambodia to East Timor.

This move comes as no surprise to industry watchers. Last fall, after the Philippines cracked down on offshore gambling operators, regulators predicted East Timor could emerge as a new regional stronghold for the industry. The Isle of Man was also floated as a potential relocation destination for Philippine operators.