Licence Application Process Time

AuthorityGambling Supervision Commission
Date received2025-05-12
OutcomeAll information sent
Outcome date2025-05-19
Case ID4649317

Summary

The request sought average processing times for three types of gambling licences over the last 18 months, and the Gambling Supervision Commission disclosed specific statistics for both approval and final issuance dates.

Key Facts

  • The average time from acceptance to licence issuance for Full OGRA licences is 23.9 weeks.
  • The average time from acceptance to licence issuance for Software Supplier licences is 18.1 weeks.
  • The average time from acceptance to licence issuance for Network Services licences is 19.9 weeks.
  • The discrepancy between approval and issuance times is due to a 90-day window for applicants to pay licence fees.
  • The data covers the period from 13th November 2023 to 13th May 2025.

Data Disclosed

  • 23.9 weeks
  • 18.1 weeks
  • 19.9 weeks
  • 12.9 weeks
  • 14.9 weeks
  • 12.1 weeks
  • 90-day window
  • 13th November 2023
  • 13th May 2025
  • 12 weeks
  • 18 months

Original Request

Please confirm the average process time over the last 18 months for applications submitted for: Full OGRA Licences Software Supplier Licences Network Services Licences To be clear, this is from the date in which the application was accepted by the GSC, to the date in which the licence was issued. The assumption is that this remains at 12 weeks, given that this continues to be promoted by relevant government departments.

Data Tables (2)

Average processing times from date of acceptance to date licence issued
Full OGRA licenses 23.9 weeks
Software Supply licenses 18.1 weeks
Network Services licenses 19.9 weeks
Average processing times from date of acceptance to date of approval
Full OGRA licenses 12.9 weeks
Software Supply licenses 14.9 weeks
Network Services licenses 12.1 weeks

Full Response Text

Ground Floor, St. Georges Court,
Myrtle Street, Douglas,
Isle of Man, IM1 1ED

Telephone: (01624) 694331 Fax: (01624) 694344 E-mail: gaming@gov.im
www.gov.im/gambling

Our ref: 4649317 16 May 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 12 May 2025, which states:

"Please confirm the average process time over the last 18 months for applications submitted for:

Full OGRA Licences
Software Supplier Licences
Network Services Licences

To be clear, this is from the date in which the application was accepted by the GSC, to the date in which the licence was issued.

The assumption is that this remains at 12 weeks, given that this continues to be promoted by relevant government departments."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

In response to your request, the average processing times for gaming licence applications for the last 18 months (13th November 2023 to 13th May 2025) are shown in the table below.
Average processing times from date of acceptance to date licence issued Full OGRA licenses 23.9 weeks Software Supply licenses 18.1 weeks Network Services licenses 19.9 weeks

We thought you might also find the following processing times useful. They represent the average time taken for the same licence types, measured from the date of

application acceptance to the date of approval by the Board of the GSC during the period in question.
The slight variation in processing times is due to the fact that applicants have a 90-day window from the date of licence approval to pay the licence fee. The GSC formally issues the gaming licence only once this fee has been paid.

Average processing times from date of acceptance to date of approval Full OGRA licenses 12.9 weeks Software Supply licenses 14.9 weeks Network Services licenses 12.1 weeks

Please quote the reference number 4649317 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.