New Framework Boosts Regulatory Collaboration to Tackle Financial Crime
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has enacted the GSC Permitted Disclosures Order 2025, a significant regulatory update aimed at bolstering inter-agency collaboration in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing across the island.
The new Order formally extends the GSC’s legal authority to disclose restricted or sensitive information to a wider array of designated public authorities and individuals.
Broadening Access to Support Island-Wide Enforcement
Under the enhanced disclosure regime, eligible recipients now include a range of public-sector stakeholders, such as:
Government departments
Statutory boards
The Attorney General’s Chambers
Financial and regulatory supervisory bodies
This expansion builds upon existing provisions that allowed the GSC to share information on a case-by-case basis under specific circumstances. The update formalizes and widens the network of institutions with whom the Commission may proactively coordinate.
Good to know: The GSC already works closely with enforcement bodies like the Isle of Man Constabulary and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)—both key players in the island’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) efforts.
Targeted Focus on Financial Crime and Compliance
The 2025 Disclosures Order has been crafted with a clear priority: strengthening the Isle of Man’s collective ability to identify, investigate, and prevent criminal financial activity tied to gambling operations. The Order aligns with international best practices and supports the island’s commitment to global financial transparency standards, including those set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
By fostering deeper information exchange among local authorities, the GSC aims to close regulatory gaps that could be exploited by bad actors operating within or through the gambling industry.
Clarifying Regulatory Boundaries
This move comes shortly after the GSC issued a public update on its regulatory scope, reaffirming its oversight of gambling activities that are originated, operated, or facilitated using Isle of Man infrastructure. The Commission emphasized that it does not regulate offshore gambling operators simply accessed by Isle of Man residents unless those operators fall within its licensing remit.
This clarification underscores the importance of jurisdictional precision and regulatory cooperation, particularly as gambling ecosystems become increasingly digital and cross-border in nature.
A Proactive Step in Evolving Oversight
The GSC’s proactive approach reflects a growing trend among gambling regulators to embrace regtech solutions, data-driven enforcement, and cross-sector collaboration. With the financial crime landscape evolving rapidly, particularly in the digital domain, such initiatives are vital to maintaining the Isle of Man’s strong reputation as a well-regulated and secure gaming hub.
The GSC Permitted Disclosures Order 2025 is now in effect and serves as a cornerstone for greater transparency, accountability, and regulatory cohesion within the island’s gambling and financial sectors.
