"The GBGA's focus in 2025 will be ensuring our members can address matters impacting their operations in Gibraltar and beyond"

As the calendar year draws to a close, Nicholas Macias, Secretary General of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA), takes stock of the industry’s achievements and challenges for 2024.

In an exclusive reflection for Yogonet, Macias highlighted the association’s progress in supporting innovation, fostering best practices, and navigating an evolving gaming landscape. Looking ahead, he shares the GBGA’s strategic priorities for the coming year, focusing on sustainability, enhanced player protection, and strengthening Gibraltar’s position as a leading hub for online gaming, amid the backdrop of a new Gambling Act and the lingering challenges presented by Brexit.

Based on the feedback you've received from the companies that are part of the GBGA, and talks with other associations and authorities, what is your assessment of 2024 for the gambling industry?

The gambling industry continues to evolve, and 2024 is no exception. Change has become a defining characteristic of this sector, with each year bringing new gambling laws, licensing frameworks, and regulatory regimes—whether newly implemented, undergoing transformation, or soon to be introduced. These shifts present challenges but also opportunities for innovation and adaptation.

In Gibraltar, the pace of change has been particularly pronounced. The impending new Gambling Act and updated licensing framework have been key areas of focus. The latest draft Bill, shared in October, reflects input from the GBGA and its members, underscoring the association's active engagement with policymakers to ensure industry concerns are addressed.

While the draft is broadly aligned with industry needs, further clarity is being sought on some aspects. Brexit has also introduced unique challenges for operators in Gibraltar, requiring careful navigation and adaptability.

Throughout 2024, the GBGA has focused on representing its members' interests and fostering open dialogue between the industry and regulators. By providing feedback and engaging collaboratively, we aim to contribute to a regulatory environment that balances innovation and compliance.

What do you foresee as the primary focus areas or priorities for the GBGA to further empower and assist its members in 2025?

The GBGA's primary focus in 2025 will be ensuring our members can effectively address matters impacting their operations in Gibraltar and beyond. Gibraltar remains home to the world's leading remote gambling operators, whose success is closely tied to developments in key markets like Great Britain, where our members account for over 50% of the market and contribute significantly to the UK Treasury.

While we collaborate with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) on Great Britain matters, our primary focus remains Gibraltar, particularly in navigating Brexit challenges and representing members' concerns to the Gibraltar and UK Governments.

Internally, we aim to foster collaboration among members. Based on feedback, we are transitioning from video calls to in-person meetings—a unique opportunity afforded by Gibraltar's small geographical area. This shift will help employees across organizations build rapport and share insights.

We are also strengthening our resilience through technical working groups covering both established topics like Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and safer gambling, as well as forward-thinking areas such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). These groups are being trialed with the goal of evolving into formal sub-committees to ensure sustained progress.

Beyond Gibraltar, we are committed to learning from and collaborating with sister associations in Europe and beyond. The European Gaming and Betting Association's (EGBA) trade association forum has been instrumental in fostering shared knowledge, and we aim to contribute to and benefit from these exchanges.

Finally, we recognize our responsibility to Gibraltar itself. We are planning initiatives to give back through community partnerships and charitable efforts, ensuring the industry continues to play a positive role within Gibraltar's social and economic landscape.

Which do you anticipate will be the main issues driving next year's agenda?

Key issues driving next year's agenda include the introduction of Gibraltar's new gambling law and regulatory regime, which will bring significant changes, particularly for the currently non-licensed sector.

The new regime introduces licence types requiring certain companies and activities—previously outside the scope of licensing—to comply with Gibraltar's regulatory framework overseen by the Gambling Commissioner. In light of this, we will establish stronger contact with these entities and collaborate with other Gibraltar trade associations that may already represent them, ensuring they are informed and supported as they transition into the regulated sector.

Brexit and its associated challenges will also remain a priority, as we work to address member concerns and align with broader Gibraltar initiatives. Internally, we will focus on strengthening our technical working groups, supporting a more robust GBGA structure to equip members for both established and emerging challenges in the industry.