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Basic Law: Casino and Gaming Act (actually - Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Why the "Casino and Gaming Act" is inaccurate

The wording "Casino and Gaming Act" is sometimes found in public circulation, but in reality the core of gambling regulation in SVG is Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act (GLBA). It is this law that describes the framework for land casinos/bookmakers and lotteries and creates the Gaming Authority. International and specialized sources directly point to GLBA as the main act, and not to a separate "Casino and Gaming Act."

What GLBA Sets Up: The "Skeleton" of the Market

1) Regulatory body

Gaming Authority reviews permit applications and oversees ground formats. The composition includes, in particular, the Police Commissioner and the head of the tax (Comptroller of Inland Revenue) with two more members.

2) What activities are covered by the permit

• betting acceptance/mediation, betting offices and casinos, lotteries.
• These activities require a permit issued under GLBA.

3) Internet casinos in GLBA

Directly fixed: GLBA does not provide for the issuance of permits for online casinos. This creates a legal "vacuum" online: special licenses for remote casinos and online bookmakers are not provided by law.

4) Age and sharing

The country has a minimum age of 18 for gambling; this standard is supported by comparative reviews for the Caribbean and used by the regulator in related documents.

5) Taxes and connection with other acts

Income Tax Act (Cap. 435) directly refers to the National Lotteries Authority Act and Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act, setting, for example, a tax deduction on winnings from lotteries conducted under these laws (10% above the threshold). It shows how GLBA is built into the tax system.

AML/CFT and supervision: how the law is "woven" into the compliance system

• licensing/permits for casino and betting go through the Gaming Authority under GLBA;
• online casinos are not licensed by GLBA;
• for AML/CFT purposes, FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) oversees "non-regulated service providers" (NRSP) and applies "fit & proper" checks to responsible persons.

Historical context of GLBA application (short)

1968-1970s: introduction of the ground format control framework; SVG gambling has been considered legal since 1968.

1977: First casino opens in Kingstown; subsequently, the industry experiences ups and pauses. (The context is confirmed by industry reviews.)

2010: Club Privée closes in Canowan; today there are no operating land casinos, and the basic regulation remains with GLBA.

What it means for businesses and players

For potential operators

Terrestrial formats (betting office/casino/lottery) - only with the permission of the Gaming Authority under the GLBA.

Online casino/betting - not covered by GLBA; there is no separate online mode, therefore, there are no local licenses for remote operators. We need either a lottery model or a future "online add-on" to GLBA.

For the players

18 + - irreducible standard.

There is no local licensing online: foreign sites operate outside the jurisdiction of SVG, without local consumer protection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this the same "Casino and Gaming Act"?

In fact - yes, but its name in SVG is correct - Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act (GLBA). It covers casinos, betting and lotteries and establishes the Gaming Authority. There is no special act called "Casino and Gaming Act" in the SVG code of laws.

Can I legally obtain an online casino license?

No: GLBA does not provide for the issuance of permits for online casinos; this is explicitly noted in the CFATF assessment.

Who monitors AML/CFT compliance?

For casinos and related providers, there are mechanisms through FIU and related regulations; "fit & proper" checks and registration requirements for unregulated services are detailed in the by-law database.

How are taxes related to games?

Income Tax Act (Cap. 435) ties the taxation of winnings to the NLA Act and GLBA modes (for example, withholding 10% above the lottery threshold).

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act is the "basic law" of gambling, not the mythical "Casino and Gaming Act." GLBA creates the Gaming Authority, regulates casinos/bookmaking/lotteries, but does not give licenses to online casinos, and the 18 + age standard remains unchanged. For the state, this is a base on which to rely in a future update of the rules (for example, for a neat online mode); for business - a clear understanding that the path to ground formats goes through GLBA permissions, and the online part will require a separate legal solution.

• CFATF MER 2024 by SVG - the composition and role of the Gaming Authority; lack of GLBA permissions for internet casinos; AML/CFT surveillance.
• Industry legal reviews - the year of legalization (1968), the absence of a separate online regime.
• Income Tax Act (Cap. 435) - association of winnings taxation with NLA Act and GLBA.