St Kitts and Nevis Gives Nevis Online Gaming a Dedicated Regulator Before Global Review

Nevis Island Administration designated Phil Jones as the Regulator, Online Gaming on 2 October. Previously, Jones oversaw international banking and gaming, while Marie-Grace Michel took over banking on 1 October. The designation comes under the Nevis branch of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission, which oversees offshore banks, trusts, and companies.

Jones will oversee the supervisory framework established under the Online Gaming Ordinance and work with the Online Gaming Authority, which handles licensing. Marie-Grace Michel, his successor in banking, brings experience in auditing, financial crime risk, and anti-money-laundering compliance. The Online Gaming Ordinance, passed by the Nevis Island Assembly on 29 April 2025, took effect on 1 May 2025.

Premier Mark Brantley promoted the law as a safeguard against the island's heavy dependence on tourism. Revenue will come from application fees, annual licence fees, and penalties. Operators must incorporate on Nevis, implement responsible gaming tools, and provide dispute resolution. The Curaçao Chronicle reported a flat annual licence fee of €28,000 (approximately US$31,500) in July. Nevis aims to compete with Curaçao for licensing business.

The move aligns with the federation's upcoming fifth-round Mutual Evaluation by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), part of the global FATF network. The last full review took place in March 2021, with the report published in February 2022. The 2025 follow-up found 35 of 40 FATF standards rated compliant or largely compliant. Online gambling's rapid, borderless money transfers require close supervision, and a dedicated regulator provides clarity to Nevis.

For operators, the practical impact is closer supervision and a single point of contact. Nevis sees it as a strategy to attract better licensees rather than deter potential ones. However, the NIA has not disclosed whether the gaming desk gains staff. The federation is also attracting new industries, such as St Kitts and Nevis' geothermal plant receiving an EU offer.

Details on the number of gaming licences issued and revenue generated by Nevis are not provided. The date for the CFATF on-site visit remains unclear. The Online Gaming Authority handles licensing, while Phil Jones now serves as the dedicated Regulator, Online Gaming at the Nevis branch of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission.