Isle of Man Licensing Services by Manavia

Isle of Man Licensing Services

by Manavia

Your Gateway to eGaming Success

Welcome to Manavia Leading the way in Trust and Corporate Services for the eGaming Industry.

As an integral part of the MannBenham Group, which includes the renowned MannBenham Advocates and MannBenham Advisory, Manavia stands at the forefront of eGaming legal and advisory expertise.

At Manavia, we specialise in crafting tailored eGaming solutions. Our services span from compliance to legal and project management, specifically designed to meet the diverse and evolving needs of the eGaming sector.

Our team has multi-jurisdictional and cross-industry experience and is adept at handling a wide spectrum of inquiries. With backgrounds in leading accounting firms and global eGaming companies, our team brings a wealth of unparalleled insights, positioning Manavia as a key player and trusted advisor in the of eGaming industry.

Discover the Manavia Difference Manavia offers more than just licensing, company structuring, and administration. Working with our leading eGaming law firm empowers our eGaming team to provide a wide array of specialized services, including:

■ Tailored company formation and structuring ■ Directorship and MLRO services ■ In-depth eGaming consultancy ■ Legal expertise in corporate/commercial law and support

■ Specialised accounting, tax, and VAT guidance ■ Compliance, operational, and data

protection support ■ Comprehensive banking, payment solutions, and staff training ■ Expertise in both fiat and cryptocurrency project From answering simple questions to handling complex operations through our managed services, Manavia covers as little or as much as you need.

Your success is our primary motivation.

Why the Isle of Man The Isle of Man is one of the premier jurisdictions for regulated online gambling.

Key Features

■ Low Gaming Duty ■ 0% Corporation Tax ■ World class infrastructure ■ Speedy application process

Regulatory Excellence

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) oversees the sector ensuring adherence to high regulatory standards with a mandate to ensure: ■ Safe and crime-free gambling ■ Protection for the young and vulnerable.

■ Fair play assurance for players.

The GSC’s commitment to these principles not only upholds high gaming standards but also protects the Isle of Man’s reputation as a prestigious and responsible gaming jurisdiction.

Simple Licensing Process

The Island’s business friendly regulatory framework provides a pragmatic licensing regime that seeks to protect the consumer and aid business growth.

The Isle of Man has a quick and simple licence application process with a turnaround time of around 12 weeks from submission of the application. This speedy process ensures your business will be fully operational in a timely manner.

There are three options currently available with regards to an Operator Licence, Full Licence, Network Licence and Sub-Licence: per annum Full Licence (Operator Licence) £36,750 Network Services Licence £52,250 Sub-Licence £5,250 Software Supplier Licence Token-Based Software Supplier Licence

£36,750 £52,250

Administration Fee with all initial applications

£5,250 See over for details on licence options.

Isle of Man Online Gaming Duty

Gaming duty is charged as a percentage of gross gaming yield or retained profit on online gambling and betting.

Currently the rate of online gaming duty is based on the gross gaming yield as follows: Not exceeding £20 million per annum

1.5%

More than £20 million, but not exceeding £40 million per annum

0.5%

Exceeding £40 million per annum

0.1%

Licences If your business model involves registering players and taking bets, you will require one of the following three licence options.

Full Licence

This could be considered the ‘standard’ licence. Full licence holders register their own players and keep their player data, and are responsible for anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) requirements relating to them.

Full Licence holders can also allow other businesses to either Sub-Licence or White Label under them.

Sub-Licence

Sub-Licence holders must enter into an agreement with a Full Licence holder in order to operate, and they can only offer games they have either produced in-house and/or games the Full Licensee has the rights to offer. White Labels can be offered, and Sub-Licensees keep their player data; although they are responsible for their AML and KYC compliance as though they were a Full Licence holder.

Network Licence

These operate the same as a Full Licence, however Network Licence holders have more B2B options to complement their opportunities to Sub-Licence and White Label.

Network Licence holders can enter into agreements with other operators located in other jurisdictions, who become known as Network partners once these agreements are in place. Network Licence holders can then allow the Network partner’s registered players to play their games without being required to re-register them, and they also do not have any AML or KYC responsibilities for these players, as this lies with the Network partner. No fees are due to the Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) for adding Network partners; however they do need to be reassured about the Network partner’s controls before being added.

Network partners are not liable to pay any duty or fees to the GSC. A revenue sharing agreement between the Network Licence holder and Network partner is generally in place and normal practice.

If your business model involves selling services to other e-Gaming businesses, you can elect to apply for the Software Supplier Licence.

Software Supplier Licence

This licence is elective rather than mandatory, however many software businesses choose to become licensed in order to demonstrate adherence to top-tier Isle of Man standards, thus giving reassurance to B2B partners such as operators, banks, payment processors, investors, shareholders and others.

Further to this, a software supplier holding a licence can have their products listed as approved on the GSC’s website, and any Isle of Man B2C operator can then deploy these games on their site without needing to acquire RNG testing certificates, as the GSC will have already received these from the software supplier. As well as software developers, the licence can also be applicable to other service providers in the gaming industry such as affiliates and live dealer studios.

Token-Based Software Supplier Licence

For blockchain enabled platforms, applicants must meet further conditions not applied to fiat platform applications which are as follows: ■ Applicants must prove their understanding of their technology.

■ Tokens must be available and not in development.

■ A news blackout will be enforced throughout the application process in order to prevent attempts to inflate the value of tokens.

White Label

As White Labels are treated as non-licensable, there are no licence fees or gaming duty due. Also, as no player data is held, there are no AML or KYC responsibilities to take care of.

These duties would generally be performed by the licensee offering the White label.

Under a White Label arrangement a business would market a website, from which the services provided are processed by a licence holder, and thus all regulatory responsibility would lie with this licence holder. A revenue sharing agreement would generally be in place between the operator and the business. At times and where pre-agreed, an exit strategy may be arranged whereby the White Label can take the player data they have generated with them when their relationship comes to an end with the licensed operator. White Labels can typically go live within 4 to 8 weeks and can be a good introduction to the sector.

Blockchain The Isle of Man has positioned itself as an international hub for blockchain businesses.

Within this strategy are a number of policies which sets the Isle of Man apart from other jurisdictions as a fast follower of international regulation, enabling the Island to offer a highly attractive and responsive regulatory environment.

Blockchain Sandbox

The Sandbox has been created by Digital Isle of Man to provide a collaborative space for the live testing of innovative products, services and delivery mechanisms where the risks to consumers and the financial system are strictly contained.

This unique initiative has helped position the Isle of Man as the premier jurisdiction for blockchain based businesses to develop, test and perfect products before launching on the global market.

The tools within the sandbox provide access to resources that help build successful and sustainable businesses by reducing time to regulation and increasing speed to value.

The Sandbox gives businesses: ■ ■ ■ ■

A live test environment.

The ability to run pilots.

A restricted licence prior to production.

Early feedback.

■ Alignment with modern software development.

Our expert advisers can assist you throughout the whole process, from setting up and helping you to run the business to protecting your intellectual property and working with Digital Isle of Man, ensuring that you receive expert support and guidance from day one.

We will look at the advice required on which regulation is best suited for your business, aid in preparing for the regulatory sandbox, support you through the sandbox and onto a successful exit, building on the ongoing relationship between your business and ourselves.

We can assist you...

At Manavia, we are your seasoned partners in the eGaming sector of the Isle of Man, boasting over a quarter-century of expertise.

Our services combine our legal and regulatory expertise into a cohesive offering. With us, you gain access to specialist lawyers in eGaming, business law, cryptocurrency, and blockchain.

Beyond creating and structuring companies, we also manage and administer them on your behalf.

Our multidisciplinary team, including eGaming advisors, regulatory experts, and seasoned lawyers, gives you a competitive edge.

We work closely with you to navigate local government and regulatory landscapes, establish legal entities, address legal and regulatory challenges, manage recruitment and immigration matters, leverage government relocation incentives, and streamline license application processes.

Our collaborative approach and comprehensive services aim to build a lasting relationship based on trust and success, helping you flourish in the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man The Isle of Man stands out in the gaming world with its Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC), an independent statutory board with over 60 years of regulatory experience. The GSC oversees a wide range of gambling activities, including both landbased and online operations, ensuring fairness, crime prevention, and the protection of player interests.

Pioneering in eGaming legislation, the Isle of Man offers a secure and reputable environment for players and companies alike.

Take your business to the next level with us at Manavia

A Thriving Hub for Gaming Enterprises

Holding an Isle of Man license is highly prestigious, offering companies a solid foundation for growth, securing partnerships, and attracting investments. The Isle of Man’s Tier 1 regulatory status is backed by a robust licensing regime, simplifying operations with a single license covering all gaming verticals, from casinos to lotteries.

Isle of Man Your Strategic Advantage ■ Swift Licensing:

Obtain licenses within 4-6 months.

■ Prestigious Jurisdiction:

Recognised as a British Tier 1 jurisdiction.

■ Long-Standing Reputation:

Renowned for stability and safety over decades.

■ Flexible Licensing Options:

B2C, B2B, Network, and Sub Licences available.

■ Tax Benefits:

Enjoy 0% Corporation Tax, no Capital Gains Tax, and advantageous VAT structuring.

■ Economic Incentives:

Low personal income taxes and Gaming Duty as low as 0.1% GGR.

■ Business Ecosystem:

Easy access to banking and top-tier suppliers.

■ Regulatory Excellence:

Collaborative and approachable regulator, supported by a proactive ‘Can Do’ government.

■ Flexible Personnel Policy:

Key personnel can be based on or off the island.

Get in touch today Call us on +44 (0)1624 639350 or by email at egaming@manavia.im

Visit us at www.manavia.im

Key Contacts Miles Benham Managing Director

+44 (0)1624 639350 milesbenham@manavia.im

Carly Stratton

Director Head of eGaming & Business +44 (0)1624 639350 carlystratton@manavia.im

Manavia Limited

Isle of Man eGaming Licensing 49 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2LD

+44 (0)1624 639350 egaming@manavia.im www.manavia.im

Manavia Limited is registered in the Isle of Man, company number 88712C, and is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority to provide Corporate and Trust Services.

MannBenham Advocates Limited is a company registered in the Isle of Man, company number 100904C