The subsidiary of the online lottery operator GD Lotto has obtained a license to operate on an island within the Malay Archipelago.
The newly established company Golden River Universe (GRU) aims to position East Timor as "the Malta of Asia," making it a reliable offshore center for digital gaming, innovation, and regulatory compliance. GRU will operate under the supervision of the Gaming Regulatory Authority of East Timor.
GD Lotto is its parent company and the leading online lottery operator in East Timor, having obtained licenses in Cambodia and Nigeria, with services reportedly covering more than 10 countries. As the business expands, GD Lotto announced the relocation of its research and development, customer service, and global support operations from Cambodia and the Philippines to East Timor.
East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, was ruled by Portugal for four centuries before the Indonesian invasion in the mid-1970s. After years of occupation, the country gained independence in 2002 with the support of the United Nations.
Currently, East Timor has good relations with Indonesia. In October 2024, leaders of the two countries signed an agreement to promote joint economic and social development. Indonesia also supports East Timor's efforts to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a move that is expected to enhance East Timor's global status and economic prospects.
In an interview with Tatoli News Agency, GRU CEO Datuk Harry Ng stated that the emerging gaming industry is a catalyst for national growth and a clear signal that East Timor is ready to embrace the global digital economy.
