Possibility of regulating online gambling (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

1) Context for 2025

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), land-based gambling is historically allowed, but the market is small and in recent years there have been virtually no operating casinos. The main legal segment is national lottery products through the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), including Lotto, Super 6, 3D and Play 4, with digital services for checking results and a mobile app. Online casinos and online betting as separate categories of law have not yet been spelled out, licenses for them are not issued.

In terms of compliance and financial supervision, the country passed the latest CFATF/FATF assessment (MER 2024), building a modern AML/CFT system (FIU, FSA, updated regulations 2014-2023). This is an important foundation for any future online regulation.

2) Current legal framework and gaps

Offline basis: application of Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act (historical act regulating offline lotteries, sweepstakes and halls). It does not cover remote (online) forms.

Lotteries: The NLA operates national lotteries and digital services, but this is not equal to the overall online casino/sports betting permit from private operators.

Online legal vacuum: There are no specific regulations for licensing online casinos/online betting; local users de facto access international sites.

Market realities: profile directories note the lack of existing local casinos and the lack of online licensing. (Data vary on the details of the story, but the general vector is "no operating casinos, online not settled.")

3) What exactly can (and should) be settled

1. Online sports betting (fixed odds, wagering match and esports).

2. Online casinos (slots, desktop, live dealers).

3. Online lotteries/instant games (NLA role extension or private operators).

4. Fantasy sports and social games (separate modes).

5. Currencies and payments: bank cards, e-wallets, vouchers, cryptocurrencies - with clear rules for VASP and virtual assets under AML/CFT.

4) Regulation model options (from "soft" to "full")

A. Lottery Monopoly online (via NLA)

Allow NLA to run a limited set of online products (sports betting, instant games) and B2B partnerships (white-label).

Pros: Quick start, managed risk. Cons: limited competition and innovation.

B. Limited licensing "sports only"

Separate law/section: licenses for online betting (including esports), and leave casinos "on pause."

Pros: easier to supervise, quick economic effect. Cons: Casino demand going offshore.

C. Full mode (sports + casino + live)

Create a full-fledged multi-level mode (B2C, B2B, content providers, aggregators, payment providers, affiliates).

Pros: maximum tax base and employment, consumer control. Cons: requirements for regulator states and IT infrastructure.

D. "Sandbox "/Pilots

Temporary licenses (12-24 months) for a limited pool of games/operators, platform certification, AML/KYC stress test and RG tools.

Pros: remove the risks of "salvo" launch, collect data before scaling.

The international trend is from "point" permits to complex national regimes (an example of the region is a series of reforms in LatAm from 2023-2025), which confirms the advisability of SVG moving towards clear rules.

5) Roadmap for 12-24 months

Stage 1. Policy and concept (0-3 months)

The Cabinet approves the "green book" with the goals: consumer protection, taxes/investments, tourism, the fight against illegal offshore.

Model solution (A-D) and NLA role (operator/co-regulator/owner of exclusives).

Stage 2. Law and by-law (3-9 months)

Special Online Gambling Act or complex amendments to the current act.

License categories (B2C/B2B/VASP/afiliates), technical standards (RNG, live studios, hosting, laboratory certification).

Responsible play tools (age 18 +, deposit/time limits, self-exclusion, RG messages).

Advertising rules (clear marking 18 +, prohibition of aggressive promo).

Stage 3. Supervision and IT core (6-12 months)

Regulatory backhoe: licensing portal, register of operators, GGR reporting/boydings, RG/AML module of alerts.

Interdepartmental coordination: FIU (suspicious transactions), FSA, tax, communication with banks/payments, cross-border cop.

Stage 4. Pilots and release (12-18 months)

Pilot licenses to 3-5 operators, audit, public report on RG and AML.

Post-pilot tax/fee rate adjustments.

6) Taxes and fees: benchmarks (framework for discussion)

License fees: reasonable start fork/annual + certification fee.

GGR tax: a starting rate of 10-20% to keep the region competitive; differentiation of sports/casinos is possible.

RG fund: 1-2% of GGR for treatment/prevention of gambling addiction.

(Note: exact rates should be determined by regulatory assessment of the market and fiscal objectives; international reviews show wide variation - SVG's task is to find a balance of competition and revenue.)

7) AML/KYC and virtual assets

KYC by risk: mandatory verification of identity, source of funds at thresholds and "triggers" (large deposits, frequent chargebacks).

FIU and reporting: SAR/STR procedures, data storage, training of operator personnel.

VASP and crypto: licensing of virtual asset providers, travel rule, mixing monitoring, sanctions lists.

Testing and auditing: independent checks of AML/KYC policies and technologies (fraud rates, geo-filters, behavioral analytics).

The support is the already existing SVG AML system (POCA, regulations 2014-2023, FIU/FSA institutes), reflected in MER 2024.

8) Economic and social impact

Pros:

Return of part of the traffic from offshore to the "white" segment, fiscal revenues (GGR tax, fees), local jobs (compliance, risk management, IT, support).
Transparency, player protection, responsible play tools.

Risks:

Lack of regulator frames; the growth of AML vulnerabilities during the influx of operators without strict selection; reputational risks (SVG is known as offshore for some types of business - it is important to separate the igaming regime from registration practices). MER 2024 explicitly emphasizes the priority of AML efficiency - this should be the cornerstone of reform.

9) Recommended model for SVG

Hybrid B → C: start with online sports betting (including esports) and controlled expansion of online lotteries through NLA, while preparing standards for online casinos (live/slots) for the pilot stage in 12-18 months. This allows:

quickly create a legal digital product, test RG/AML mechanics on sports bets, avoid a one-time load on the regulator, use the NLA brand as a reliable "anchor" of trust.

10) Forecast to 2030

When adopting the law and launching pilots in 2026, SVG can by 2027-2028. form a stable "light" segment with a growing GGR and a moderate tax rate, and by 2030 - move to a full-format mode with a competitive B2C line and a strong B2B cluster (content providers, risk and payment services). The key to success is high-quality supervision, transparent rules and friendly (but tough on violators) compliance. International practice 2023-2025. in the region confirms that clear online rules "return" offshore demand to the regulated sector.

Sources and confirmations

Overview of the law and status of online games in SVG: no separate online licenses, offline base - Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act.

National Lottery (NLA SVG): official website and channels - Lotto, Super 6, 3D, Play 4 games; mobile services.

Fresh AML/CFT (MER 2024) assessment confirming institutional willingness to build oversight.

Add. certificates of the current absence of casinos/online licenses: industry catalogs and state. reports.