Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory with a compact financial centre focused on insurance, e-money, investment services and fintech. It is best known for its long-established remote gambling industry and for introducing one of the first dedicated licensing regimes for distributed ledger technology (DLT) providers in 2018.
Risk flagStandard
FATFNot listed
EU AML high-risk listNot listed
EU tax listNot listed
Licence regimes6
CurrencyGBP
Next electiondue by 2028
Not on the FATF lists (plenary of 19 June 2026), not in the annex of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 as consolidated on 29 January 2026 (Gibraltar was removed from it by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1184), and not in Annex I of the EU tax list as revised in February 2026. Checked 7 October 2026.
Government and politics
Government
Parliamentary democracy; self-governing British Overseas Territory
Monarch
Charles III · since September 2022
Chief Minister
Fabian Picardo (Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP))
Governing parties
GSLP-Liberal Alliance (Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party and Liberal Party of Gibraltar)
Last election
General election, 12 October 2023
Next election
General election, due by 2028
Legislature
Gibraltar Parliament (unicameral): 17 elected members plus the Speaker
Legal system
English common law and local statute
Economy and finance
Population
40.1k (2025)
GDP
USD 3.6bn (2023)
GDP per person
USD 94,356 (2023)
Currency
Pound sterling (local Gibraltar pound notes and coins also issued) (GBP), Gibraltar pound issued by the Government of Gibraltar at par with GBP; pound sterling circulates freely
Central bank
None; Gibraltar Financial Services Commission is the financial regulator
Gibraltar's economy rests on online gaming, financial services, insurance, port and bunkering services and tourism, with its post-Brexit relationship with the EU a key factor for business.
Bank
Credit institution (Part 7 permission)
Minimum capitalUSD 5.6m
TimelineNot published
AuthorityGFSC
Initial capital of at least EUR 5,000,000; the GFSC may permit particular categories with not less than EUR 1,000,000 (reg. 11(4))
Law
Financial Services Act 2019, Part 7; Financial Services (Credit Institutions and Capital Requirements) Regulations 2020, reg. 11
Fees
Application fee GBP 85,000 (Fees Regulations, Schedule 2, fee block A1); annual base fee GBP 37,647 plus activity components.
Passporting
No EU passport since Brexit.
Key requirements
Separate own funds and CET1-quality initial capital
Suitable controllers and close links that do not impede supervision
Fit and proper management
Incoming third-country branch route available (application fee GBP 39,375)
Application fee GBP 45,000 for a DLT provider or virtual asset arrangement provider; annual fee from a base of GBP 12,254 plus a trade activity fee and an additional fee.
Passporting
None.
Key requirements
Must comply at all times with the regulatory principles in the Schedule to the DLT Regulations
GFSC must be satisfied the applicant will comply with those principles before granting permission
Adequate financial and non-financial resources
Administrative penalties up to the higher of twice the benefit, GBP 1,000,000 or 5% of turnover for legal persons
GBP 75,000 for advice and order-handling firms not holding client money; GBP 150,000 for most other firms; GBP 750,000 for dealing on own account or underwriting
B2C betting or gaming operator licence (remote gambling)
Minimum capitalNot published
TimelineNot published
AuthorityLicensing Authority under the Gambling Act 2025 (Gambling Division, HM Government of Gibraltar)
Law
Gambling Act 2025 (in force from 1 April 2026, replacing the Gambling Act 2005); Gambling (Duties and Licence Fees) Regulations 2026
Fees
Application fee GBP 30,000 for a new B2C betting or gaming operator (non-refundable). Annual licence fee per vertical GBP 50,000 (gross yield under GBP 20 million), GBP 100,000 (GBP 20 to 300 million) or GBP 200,000 (over GBP 300 million). General betting and gaming duty 0.15% of gross profit, first GBP 100,000 exempt. B2B licences (aggregators, platform suppliers) GBP 20,000 application and GBP 85,000 annual.
Passporting
None.
Key requirements
Separate licences for B2C operators, B2B suppliers and gambling support services
Annual licence fees due 1 April, payable by 30 April
Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) · websitebanks, E-money institutions, Payment service providers, Investment firms, Virtual asset service providers (VASPs)
Gambling Division, HM Government of Gibraltar (Licensing Authority and Gambling Commissioner) (GD) · websiteOnline gaming
The GFSC website (now fsc.gi) blocked automated access, so figures are taken from the legislation on gibraltarlaws.gov.gi; statutory decision timelines were not confirmed and are left null. The Gambling Act 2025 page lists a Notice of Commencement dated 1 April 2026; Prediction Market Regulations 2026 were also made under it. Gibraltar left the EU with the UK and has no EU passport.
General information
About Gibraltar
Natural Earth boundaries. Map is indicative.
Status
British Overseas Territory
Capital
Gibraltar
Area
7 km²
Official languages
English
Time zone
UTC+01:00 (UTC+02:00 in summer)
Main exports
Online gaming
Financial services (banking, insurance, funds)
Shipping and bunkering
Tourism
Refined petroleum
Main export partners
Netherlands
France
Cyprus
Poland
Sweden
Sources for the country information(7)
Country information checked 9 October 2026. Licensing data updated 7 October 2026. Information only, not legal advice; requirements change. Regulatory notice.
