Timor-Leste Issues Inaugural Offshore Gaming License to GRU

Timor-Leste, an Asian country comprising the eastern half of the Island of Timor, just issued its very first offshore gaming license. According to experts and industry stakeholders, the country can become a major licensing hub.

Timor-Leste Hands Its First Offshore License

Timor-Leste’s first gaming license was handed to Golden River Universe (GRU), a subsidiary of Grand Dragon Lotaria (GD Lotto). Its licensing was officially approved by the Inspectorate General of Gaming, setting it up as a pioneer in what could very well become a major market.

GRU’s parent company, GD Lotto, is already a powerhouse in the country’s online lottery sector. By acquiring an offshore gaming license too, GD Lotto hopes to expand its global presence further.

For reference, the online lottery expert already boasts licenses in Nigeria and Cambodia too and is serving players in over 10 jurisdictions. As Timor-Leste’s first offshore gaming licensee, GD Lotto hopes to turn the country into a major gaming hub, just like Malta.

Timor-Leste Seeks to Become Asia’s Malta

Timor-Leste is a fairly young and poor nation that has spent most of the past few hundred years as a Portuguese colony. The country eventually declared independence, only to be invaded and occupied by Indonesia in what was a very dark moment in its history. Since 2002, however, Timor-Leste has achieved independence and is currently maintaining an amicable relationship with its former occupier.

However, Timor-Leste’s troubled history did little for its economic success. Because of that, many locals count on gaming as an important stimulus to the local economy and a way for the country to interact with the rest of the world.

The Virtual Gaming Association (VGA) of Timor-Leste, a trade association representing online gaming, has long sought to position the island as the next iGaming hub, turning it into Asia’s Malta. However, this won’t come without its own set of challenges as Timor-Leste would need to adopt reliable player protection measures and strict technological requirements for operators.

The ultimate objective is to turn the Asian country into a reliable and business-friendly jurisdiction, as well as a flourishing gaming licensing hub. Additionally, since Timor-Leste has a predominantly young population, the VGA believes that it is perfectly positioned to create many call and data center jobs.

In the meantime, Timor-Leste is similarly looking to open land-based casinos too. The local government recently signed a deal with Asia-Pacific Strategic Investments, which would develop the country’s first casino resort.