Speaking exclusively to SiGMA TV during the recent SiGMA Asia summit in Manila, Datuk Harry Ng, CEO of GRU Timor Leste, outlined how the Southeast Asian nation has positioned itself as a strategic entry point for established gaming operators seeking access to Asian markets. The interview, conducted at the three-day summit that welcomed over 13,000 delegates, revealed details of Timor Leste’s newly launched regulatory framework designed to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth through offshore gaming operations.
Selective licensing framework
Timor Leste’s approach to offshore gaming regulation centres on exclusivity and established credibility. “We only can provide the sub-license to the operator who has the home license,” Ng told the interviewer. The framework works specifically with operators holding valid licences from Malta, Cura?ao, and Anjouan who want to break into Asian markets.
This targeted approach tackles what Ng calls a genuine market opportunity.“We believe that a lot of our operators who have Malta licence and licence do not have space to operate in Asia, so that’s where we come into the picture to provide the facility, the human resources and also the sublicence for them to operate legally,” he stated.
The regulatory structure operates under the oversight of the Inspectorate General of Gaming (IGJ), which Ng describes as “an agency who are controlling all the gaming regulation in the country, including issuing licences and also including all the checking on the device machine or the gaming types of equipment.” Under this structure, GRU acts as the primary operator, while a compliance council oversees operations to keep the gaming framework sustainable.
Support services and pricing
The country’s approach stretches beyond licensing alone, covering all operational needs. At $28,000 USD annually, the sub-licence fee includes the incorporation of a local company, legal partnership fees, secretarial services, audit firm access, and accounting firm services. “The price that you pay for the sub-license is going to be lower,” Ng noted, emphasising the cost-effectiveness of the package.
Physical infrastructure forms a crucial component of the offering through designated compliance zones, particularly the TOGO Hub. “We’re promoting TOGO Hub, which is actually the compliance zone, a corporate office that we also offer like a core office space for the operator to operate,” Ng explained. The hub provides options for both shared corporate spaces and private zones, with expansion plans including TOGO City scheduled to commence next year. The concierge services extend to comprehensive travel support. “We not only provide supplies but also the concierge service. We provide the first-time visit to Timor Leste; we provide the tickets, we provide the hotel and all the concierge service, airport transfers, securities,” Ng detailed. This full-service approach reflects the government’s mandate to promote both gaming investment and broader country awareness.
The country sweetens the deal with 100% foreign ownership rights, competitive labour costs, and attractive tax structures. “We want to use gaming as a tool to move the economy of the country,” Ng said, underlining the initiative’s central role in national economic development. Timor Leste’s entry into the regulated offshore gaming sector represents a calculated approach to economic diversification, combining regulatory compliance with comprehensive operational support for international operators seeking Asian market access.
