Background
70 active OGRA licensees as of late 2025, the highest in years. GSC June 2024 enforcement policy and May 2025 National Risk Appetite Statement materially restrict new business linked to East and Southeast Asia ownership. MONEYVAL onsite visit due autumn 2026.
How do you apply for the GSC licence?
OGRA Schedule 1 application. Designated Official must reside on the Island. Tier-IV hosted infrastructure. Software certification via approved labs.
How much does the GSC licence cost?
Application £5,250. Full OGRA licence £36,750 per year (5-year initial term). Sub-licence scheme available. Substance costs (local directors, designated official, Tier-IV hosting) push real Year-1 spend past £150k.
How long does the GSC licence take?
Among the fastest Tier-1 timelines if your dossier is clean and your structure is settled. GSC pre-checks on beneficial ownership are thorough.
What are the ongoing compliance obligations for GSC?
AML/CFT under the Designated Businesses (Registration and Oversight) Act. Real-time GSC data feed. Player Protection Code.
What are the marketing rules under GSC?
Local conduct rules light. Operators target UK or EU and live by those rules.
The honest read
Tier-1 reference licence for serious B2B and B2C operators. Costs of substance are real (£150k+ run-rate). Best for groups with UK adjacency, listed-company governance standards, or premium B2B distribution. Worth the price if those things matter; overkill if they do not.
Considering GSC for your operator?
Operator size, current portfolio, target markets, timeline. WhatsApp the operator profile. Same-day reply with a first read on whether the GSC licence is the right answer or whether something else fits better.
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