The Caribbean island of Nevis has quietly stepped into the global iGaming spotlight with the enactment of its Nevis Online Gaming Ordinance, 2025, passed on April 29. With full regulations set to be finalized by July 1, the jurisdiction is preparing to onboard its first licensees under what some are already calling a potential “gold standard” in offshore gambling regulation.
Despite a low-key legislative rollout—no public debates or promotional fanfare—the initiative represents one of the most ambitious regulatory launches of the year. At its core, the new licensing regime is designed to diversify Nevis’ economy, attract international operators, and establish the island as a competitive force in the Tier-1 licensing arena.
A Licensing Model Rooted in Trust and Structure
Unlike older licensing jurisdictions that have had to retrofit stronger safeguards, Nevis has embedded transparency, compliance, and operational clarity into the framework from the outset. The new Nevis Online Gaming Authority (NOGA) will oversee the issuance, supervision, and enforcement of both B2C and B2B licenses.
Key regulatory elements include:
Strict anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) policies
Comprehensive data protection and responsible gaming standards
No sublicensing and a cap of two primary domains per license, with options for up to 40 additional verified URLs
Licensing available to operators of casinos, sportsbooks, poker, lotteries, skill games, affiliate programs, and platform providers
Full legal compliance with common law, aligned with UK legal principles
Importantly, all license holders must be registered as a local Nevis Business Corporation and are prohibited from serving restricted jurisdictions such as the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and FATF-blacklisted countries.
The application process is rigorous and includes corporate disclosures, compliance documentation, RNG certifications, KYC/AML policies and detailed financial records. Licensing costs begin at €28,000 ($32,000), with total setup and compliance expenses for the first year estimated between €40,000 and €50,000 ($45,500–$57,000).
Industry Interest and Global Positioning
According to Gilad Oren, Co-Founder and CEO of GBO, which advises companies on gaming licenses worldwide, Nevis is attracting serious attention from mid-to-large operators seeking regulatory clarity without excessive bureaucracy.
“The licence provides a clean, straightforward compliance path and is supported by responsive authorities,” Oren noted.
“For start-ups and expansion-stage operators who value efficiency and transparency, it’s quickly becoming one of the most strategic choices on the market.”
He added that Nevis offers a significant advantage by combining business-friendly flexibility with FATF-compliant oversight—something many newer offshore frameworks lack.
The jurisdiction’s decision to forgo sublicensing, mandate direct URL ownership, and enforce clear compliance reporting stands in contrast to legacy models like Curaçao, which are only now undergoing reforms to meet international standards.
Tier-1 Ambitions with Ground-Up Governance
Nevis’ ambitions go beyond simply offering a new license. It is positioning itself alongside top-tier regulatory markets such as Malta and the Isle of Man – known for their stringent oversight and international banking acceptance. While it has yet to match their reputation, Nevis is attempting to build that trust from scratch through regulatory clarity, responsive governance, and long-term sustainability.
Unlike Malta’s mutual recognition strategies or Gibraltar’s historical ties, Nevis is carving a path based on policy integrity and transparency. While the EU debates over cross-border license recognition continue, Nevis is working to meet FATF and OECD standards proactively.
However, the final regulations and operational guidelines from NOGA are still pending. While the legislative foundation has been laid, much will depend on execution—particularly how the first wave of applicants is handled and how enforcement takes shape after launch.
Until then, advisors like Oren are playing a key role in bridging early industry interest with governmental intent. But the success of the license will ultimately rest on how well Nevis can prove that its regulatory framework offers more than just paperwork—it must deliver on governance.
Source:
Nevis Set to Launch ‘Gold Standard’ Online Gaming License as Industry Eyes New Tier-1 Jurisdiction, agbrief.com, June 5, 2025
