Online bookmakers (offshore) - Barbados

Online bookmakers (offshore) (Barbados)

1) In short: where are the "offshore," and where is the law

Barbados has three key acts: Gambling, Cap. 134 (bans and "common gaming house"), Betting & Gaming, Cap. 134A (licenses for gaming halls, pool/off-course betting and charity lotteries) and Betting & Gaming Duties Act, Cap. 60 (duties, including for pool betting and cross-border pools). These norms form an offline system and a running tote; they do not have a separate mode of local online sports books.

In 2023, the Ministry of Finance publicly announced plans to submit to parliament a bill to regulate the online game, which indirectly confirms the absence of a completed "digital" framework at that time. As of October 2025, a profile "online act" on local licenses for betting sites has not yet been introduced.

Conclusion: classic bookmaker sites operating "from abroad" without a Barbadian license are offshore; they are not regulated at Barbados level and are not subject to local consumer protection guarantees.

2) What in Barbados is a legal alternative

Pari-mutuel (sweepstakes) at races under the auspices of the Barbados Turf Club - at the hippodrome and remotely. The club has an official BTCBets web/mobile channel and pages with rules and simulcast rates (settlements are made in Barbados dollars). This is not a universal sports book, namely pool betting on running.

Taxes and duties at rates (including features for pools where the promoter is outside Barbados) are regulated by Cap. 60. For "external" pools, the law explicitly describes who is liable for the duty in Barbados.

3) Why offshore online bookmakers are a high-risk area

Lack of local regulation and complaint mechanism. On offshore sites, you do not have access to Barbados consumer protection/payment procedures. (The very fact that the government was discussing a future "digital" framework shows the regulatory vacuum.)

Tax and legal "gray zones." Bets and intermediaries accepting money outside the contours of Cap. 60/134A, risk falling under violations; while tote and registered off-course pool betting are subject to duties and administered.

Compliance and KYC/AML. Offshore sites have varying standards for data verification and storage; in the event of a dispute or blocking of funds, the dispute will have to be conducted in a foreign jurisdiction.

Reputational statements ≠ legal guarantees. Industry reviews and aggregators often write that "offshore play is not prosecuted" and "many sites accept Barbadians," but this does not give you local legal guarantees and supervision. (Use such sources with caution.)

4) How to recognize an offshore site and not confuse it with a legal product

There is no mention of a licence/approval in Barbados or a link to the Barbados Turf Club for race betting on the site.

Fixed odds for football/cricket/basketball are offered for residents of Barbados - while there is no local regime for such online sports books.

Accept crypto-only deposits without a transparent verification and return policy.

There is no explicit information on how disputes are resolved, in which jurisdiction the operator is registered and which regulator deals with complaints.

5) Frequent Questions (FAQs)

Is it generally "prohibited" for the player?

The current Barbados acts do not create a local licensing regime for online sportsbooks; therefore, play on offshore sites occurs outside of local regulation and safeguards. Legal risks increase for intermediaries/organizers, and the consumer remains unprotected.

Is there an "official" online channel?

Yes, but narrow: BTCBets is a web/mobile betting channel for horse racing at the Barbados Turf Club (not a "bookmaker for all sports").

Why isn't Barbados opening an online marketplace?

The authorities publicly announced the preparation of the bill (2023), citing risks for the financial sector and the economy. Until the framework is adopted, offshore companies remain a "de facto" channel without a local license.

6) Responsible choice: what to do for the player and business today

To the player

Avoid "private" betting techniques in bars/chat bullets - this falls under the Cap logic. 134 about "common gaming house" and carries the risks of non-payment.

Follow 18 + and Responsible Gaming principles: limit budget/time in advance, keep checks/receipts until settlement (for running - up to OFFICIAL status with the organizer).

Business (operators/sites)

Do not accept fixed online sports bets without a local regulatory framework - instead, partnerships with Turf Club are possible within the framework of the current pool betting rules and Cap fees. 60.

Follow government initiatives on online regulation to build KYC/AML and reporting for future law in time.

7) What's Next (2025-2030): Scenarios

1. Status quo: offshore sites continue to operate outside the local license; the state relies on sweepstakes and offline segments.

2. New "digital" framework: licensing of online operators with reporting on GGR, KYC/AML and complaint mechanisms is introduced - part of the traffic flows from offshore to the "white" zone (this corresponds to the trend of the region).

As of October 11, 2025, Barbados has a strong offline base (betting on running, lottery, gaming halls) and does not have its own licensing regime for online sports books. Any betting site that accepts gamblers from Barbados without a local licence is offshore: it is beyond Barbadian oversight and warranties. The safest way is to stay within the Barbados Turf Club/BTCBets for horse racing pool betting and wait for local digital regulation to appear.