Gambling Supervision Commission and Best GSC Casinos
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
Established in 1962, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) is an 'independent statutory board' set up to regulate and license all online and land-based gambling in the Isle of Man, including all casino games and sports betting.
Their main aims as a body are to keep gambling free of crime (including money laundering or deliberate deceit of players), protect young gamblers and those at high risk (particularly players who are addicted to gambling in the Isle of Man) and make sure that gaming is fair to everyone involved. This last part also includes ensuring that players receive their fair share of winnings.
How the Isle of Man Commission Works
The GSC in the Isle of Man is made up of a team of experts whose jobs are to reinforce the company's goals as a whole. They'll constantly be on the lookout for any suspicious activity from casino sites and land-based casinos, and they'll assign licenses to those who have a strong application.
If you have an Isle of Man casino license, it can be revoked at any time. With the discerning eyes of the GSC analyzing your every move, you'll need to make sure you play by the rules if you wish to do gambling business in the Isle of Man.
Protecting the Player's Funds
We mentioned that one of the main goals of the GSC is to ensure that players receive their fair share of the profit of the European online casino. This is carried out by checking that winnings are properly paid out within a reasonable period.
However, the world of online casinos brings an extra level of responsibility to the GSC and the Isle of Man online casinos that hold a license with them. That is protecting the cash the player's deposit. The money players pay into their account could be at risk, and the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission makes sure that each casino site well looks after it.
Apply for an Isle of Man Gambling License
If you'd like to grab a gambling license in the Isle of Man, you'll need to make your way through the application process. To do this, follow these simple steps. Fortunately, the GSC make it nice and easy for those looking for an Isle of Man gambling license to apply for one:
Head over to the Isle of Man government website
Under 'Application forms and guidance, download and fill out the 'Main Details of the Applicant Company' record in the Gambling section.
Download and fill out the 'Personal Declaration Form for Individuals'.
Send these over to the Isle of Man Government by email. You'll find the email address on the form.
You'll then be contacted for the next steps of the application.
There are a few fees that apply to GSC license holders. For example, you'll need to pay a £5000 admin fee alongside your application, then £50,000 a year after that for a Network Services license or £35,000 for a full license. The latter of these is the main one.
How to Make a Complaint via the Isle of Man Gambling Commission
If you're a player who wants to make a complaint about an Isle of Man-registered casino, you're in luck. The GSC emphasizes player protection, so they make the complaint process easy and aim to investigate every complaint they receive fully.
Head over to the Complaints page on the Isle of Man government website to get started. Please fill out the form, and enter some details about what you're complaining about. They'll aim to get back to you as soon as possible with details of the investigation and provide you with advice about getting compensation if they feel that you're entitled to it.
This is the only way to make an Isle of Man casino complaint. There is no phone number or email address to reach out to at this stage in time. That being said, you don't need one. The GSC will be back in touch with you as soon as they get the chance to review your complaint.
Finding a Safe Isle of Man Casino Online
Are you looking to sign up for an Isle of Man online casino site? You'll be in safe hands. Because the GSC vets each online casino site in the Isle of Man efficiently, you can be safe in the knowledge that the best online casino you're interested in operates correctly.
How do you know if a casino has a license in the Isle of Man? Just check the website for the site. They should have their Isle of Man gambling license number listed on display somewhere. You can also double-check that license with the GSC if you have any concerns that it might be fake for whatever reason.
There are, however, a few other things you can do to make sure that the Isle of Man online casino you're interested in is a good place to sign up for.
Check Out Other Users' Opinions
The players who have already used the site are the best people to check in with about an Isle of Man online casino. Most of the time, these reviews will be completely independent, which, of course, means you'll get a better idea of how good the casino site is.
There are plenty of comparison sites online to find out what other players think. Just make a Google search for the casino's name followed by the word 'review', then look in the comments sections for any review you come across. Here are player's favourite GSC casinos:
Ranking | Online Casino | GSC License | Our Score |
---|---|---|---|
1 | PlayOjo Casino | Yes | 9/10 |
2 | Casino.com | Yes | 10/10 |
3 | 888 Casino | Yes | 6/10 |
4 | Casimba Casino | Yes | 8/10 |
5 | Unibet Casino | Yes | 8/10 |
6 | Casumo Casino | Yes | 7/10 |
7 | Dunder Casino | Yes | 10/10 |
8 | Netbet Casino | Yes | 7/10 |
Always Read Each Casino's Terms and Conditions
One of the best things about online casinos based in the Isle of Man or anywhere else in the world is that they'll probably have bonuses on offer. These can be welcome bonuses for new players or ongoing bonuses for existing players, such as a loyalty program or a VIP club.
These are great, but they require a bit of homework on behalf of the players. And this comes in the form of reading the terms and conditions. Within this section, you'll be able to find out whether a bonus is worth your time or not. If the terms and conditions are too strict, the bonus probably isn't worth signing up for in the first place.
Responsible Gambling Under the Isle of Man License
The Isle of Man takes responsible gambling very seriously, and that's why it has set up Gamcare, a support organization for the protection of citizens of the Isle of Man from problem gambling. Those concerned about their own or a loved one's gambling addiction can get support as and when they need it from Gamcare, free of charge.
For any questions regarding responsible gambling in the Isle of Man and to find out more about how the authorities there can help you, reach out to [email protected] via email or +44 1624 622011. These are the contact details of Gamcare. You can also read our review of GamCare.
Our Opinion on the Isle of Man License
Of all the small countries worldwide that offer casino licenses, we feel like the Isle of Man provides one of the best, at least for the players. It's authoritative and goes the extra mile to protect the players, which is important.
The Isle of Man casino license is easy to apply for but costs a fair amount of money. So, if you are thinking of registering a casino in the Isle of Man, you'll need to do your research. Overall, however, we feel that this is a great license!
Isle of Man Casinos FAQs
If you're in a rush and need to know the highlights about casino licensing in the Isle of Man, take a look at the q & session below. Just make sure you come back for the rest of the details later on!
Absolutely! The Isle of Man is considered to be somewhat of a Mecca for gamblers. It’s an independent state, so doesn’t have the same strict rules that the UK and mainland European countries have. That’s why it’s established itself as a great place for online casino gaming.
The Isle of Man is a really small country. There are only 83,000 people there, a similar population to a small to medium-sized town in the UK! As such, it’s not exactly drowning in land-based casinos. There are just three to choose from if you fancied a trip over there.
The Isle of Man gambling license is offered to online casino sites looking for a new license so long as they can prove they meet the criteria listed earlier on in this article. It allows them to operate as a business as it proves they have the responsibility to do so.
Any online casino with a license from the Isle of Man will be able to do business in most territories around the world. It carries that much weight! The only places an online casino will not be able to operate with an Isle of Man gambling license are where gambling is illegal.
Those who prefer to bet on sports instead of playing online casino games need not feel left out. Sports betting is also legal in the Isle of Man!
Gambling is a big thing over in the Isle of Man. While there aren’t many land-based casinos, the online gambling industry is thriving out there. This includes online casino gaming and sports betting. Take your pick!
There aren’t really any drawbacks to the Isle of Man gambling license for the players. It offers pretty comprehensive protection! However, if you are a casino, you’ll need to be prepared to be thoroughly scrutinized and pay a fair amount of cash for the privilege.
It’s possible to reach out to the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission to check a license if you are worried it is illegitimate for any reason. Just find out what the casino’s license number is and run it past them.