Current situation:
Timor-Leste (East Timor) is positioning itself as a new hub for regulated online gambling in Southeast Asia. Timor-Leste has officially entered the international iGaming arena in 2025 by granting its first-ever offshore gaming license to Golden River Universe (GRU), a subsidiary of international operator GDLotto. This move marks a major milestone in the young nation’s push for economic diversification and digital sector growth. Under a framework aligned with global standards and overseen by the Inspectorate General of Gaming (IGJ), Timor-Leste aims to become a competitive, compliant, and secure jurisdiction for online gambling operators. In other words, the country aspires to be “Asia’s Malta” – a trusted digital hub for offshore gaming, innovation, and compliance.
Supported by the newly formed Virtual Gaming Association of Timor-Leste (VGA-TL) – an independent body that has modeled the regulations on Malta’s and the Isle of Man’s proven systems – Timor-Leste offers a modern, well-regulated environment for iGaming. Licensees will benefit from operating within the Oecusse Special Administrative Region, which has been designated a Free Trade Zone and digital hub for gaming companies. The Oecusse Digital Centre (ODC), a blockchain-powered ecosystem with an international company registry and eGaming support center, provides world-class infrastructure and incentives to offshore operators . Backed by strong government support and significant investment (the first licensee alone committed over US$100 million to local projects), Timor-Leste is rapidly emerging as a secure and internationally respected iGaming jurisdiction for global operators who seek a new gateway to Asia’s online casino industry .
License types:
Timor-Leste’s licensing regime is designed to accommodate both online gambling operators and related service providers, with a structure similar to other international iGaming hubs. Key points are as follows:
License Types (B2C and B2B): Timor-Leste is expected to offer two main categories of iGaming licenses:
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C) License: This is the primary operating license for companies that will offer games directly to players. A B2C license allows you to run an online casino, sportsbook, lottery site, poker room, bingo site, etc., accepting bets and wagers from end-users. Essentially, if you are taking customer deposits and offering gambling services to those customers, you will need a B2C operator license.
- Business-to-Business (B2B) License: Also known as a supplier or service provider license, this is intended for companies that provide critical services to the gambling industry without dealing with players directly. For example, platform providers, game developers, software vendors, odds providers, or white-label platform operators could fall under B2B licensing. A B2B license in Timor-Leste would authorize a company to supply gambling software or manage back-end operations for B2C licensees. (Notably, Timor-Leste’s VGA has discussed a framework where licensees can offer “white-label” solutions akin to franchise models . This suggests that a B2C license holder might be permitted to host or sub-license other brands under them, blurring the line with B2B services. We expect clear definitions of B2C vs B2B roles in the final regulations.)
Scope of Permitted Activities
A Timor-Leste license is broad in scope. The legal framework covers “games of chance and entertainment” , which will translate into authorization for all standard forms of online gambling:Essentially, the license should let an operator run a full iGaming portfolio. Specific activity endorsements may be listed on the license certificate (for instance, a license might specify which categories of games you are approved for), but given Timor-Leste’s aim to attract major operators, it is likely they will allow multi-product operations under one umbrella license (subject to meeting any game-specific technical standards).
- Casino Gaming: Online slot machines, table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, etc.), live dealer casino games.
- Sports Betting: Both fixed-odds sportsbook and exchange betting, covering international sports and e-sports.
- Lottery & Bingo: Online lottery ticket sales, lotto-style games, bingo, keno.
- Poker and Skill Games: Peer-to-peer games like online poker, and any other skill games or fantasy sports as allowed.
If you have any questions
If you have any questions
Geographical Coverage & Player Restrictions
The Timor-Leste offshore license is intended strictly for international operations. License holders are allowed to accept players from jurisdictions where online gambling is legal for them (each operator must ensure they comply with target market laws). Timor-Leste residents will not be allowed to gamble on these licensed sites, as the license is an export-oriented initiative (the local population is protected from gambling harm and the focus is on foreign revenue). In practice, your site must block access from Timor-Leste IP addresses and not market to Timorese citizens. Other restricted markets may also apply (for example, you should not take players from the US or other countries where you’d violate local laws – standard practice for any reputable operator). We can advise on geolocation and compliance to ensure you only operate in permitted territories.
Local Incorporation & Presence
To obtain and maintain the license, you are required to incorporate a local company in Timor-Leste (specifically in the Oecusse FTZ via the OICR) . This local entity will be the licensed entity. Additionally, there is an expectation of a physical presence in the country: at minimum, a local registered office address and an agent for service. However, Timor-Leste is actively encouraging licensees to establish significant operations in the Oecusse Digital Centre. While not yet mandated by law, having a local office with staff (for example, part of your customer support or tech team) is highly encouraged and was part of the first licensee’s agreement . We anticipate that future licensees may also need to demonstrate some local operations (e.g. locating servers in the ODC data center or hiring a certain percentage of staff locally) as a condition of licensing. This not only helps the country (jobs, skills transfer) but also gives you practical benefits like closer regulatory support and potentially lower operating costs (wages in Timor-Leste are competitive). We will help you fulfill any local presence requirements in a cost-effective way.
License Validity & Renewal
The exact duration of a Timor-Leste iGaming license has not been publicly stated yet. However, many comparable jurisdictions issue licenses for a set term (for example, one year, five years, or a long-term concession). The first license was referred to as a “national concession contract” , which suggests it may be a multi-year agreement (potentially 5 to 10 years) with renewal options. We anticipate that once the framework is fully unveiled, licenses will come with a defined validity period (e.g. a 5-year license subject to annual compliance fees, or an annual license renewable each year upon fee payment and compliance review). In any case, maintaining the license will require staying in good standing (no serious violations, fees paid, etc.). Renewal processes should be straightforward as long as requirements are continually met. We will clarify the license term and renewal process with the IGJ as soon as that information is available, and assist you in all renewal formalities when the time comes.
