Nevis Has Set Out the Two Appointments Every Licensee Must Make

The Nevis Online Gaming Authority has published detailed requirements for two mandatory governance roles that every licensee must appoint and maintain throughout the life of their licence. The regulator will monitor both positions continuously to ensure compliance with the new standards.

The two required roles are a Compliance Officer and a Local Reporting Officer, each serving distinct functions within the licensee’s operational structure. Both appointments are non-negotiable and subject to ongoing regulatory oversight.

Compliance Officer Requirements

The Compliance Officer will be responsible for running the licensee’s compliance and anti-money laundering controls. This role can be based outside of Nevis, providing operational flexibility for international operators. However, the regulator has imposed strict independence requirements to ensure effective oversight.

The Compliance Officer must remain independent from both ownership and management structures within the organisation. Candidates must demonstrate either one to two years of relevant experience in the field or hold a related degree that qualifies them for the position. This requirement ensures that compliance functions are handled by professionals with appropriate expertise and without conflicts of interest.

Local Reporting Officer Specifications

The Local Reporting Officer serves as the licensee’s direct liaison with the Nevis Online Gaming Authority. Unlike the Compliance Officer role, this position carries strict residency requirements. The appointed individual must be a resident of Nevis and hold registration with the FSRC (Financial Services Regulatory Commission).

These requirements effectively prevent licensees from fulfilling this role remotely or through offshore arrangements, ensuring the regulator has consistent local access to a responsible party for each licensed operator.

Implications for Operators

The publication of these governance requirements represents a clear move by Nevis to strengthen its regulatory framework and align with international standards for gaming jurisdictions. Operators seeking or maintaining a Nevis licence will need to factor in the costs and logistics of maintaining both positions.

The Local Reporting Officer requirement in particular may present challenges for smaller operators or those without existing infrastructure in Nevis. The need for a FSRC-registered resident creates an additional barrier to entry and ongoing operational expense that licensees must account for in their jurisdiction selection process.

For existing licensees, the continuous monitoring aspect means these appointments are not merely a one-time compliance exercise but an ongoing regulatory obligation. Operators will need to ensure both positions remain filled and compliant with the stated requirements throughout their licensing period, with any changes likely requiring regulatory notification and approval.