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Legality of land-based casinos and lotteries (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

The main thing in two lines

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, land-based casinos, betting points and lotteries are permitted by the basic Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act (GLBA), which creates the Gaming Authority and sets the procedures for issuing permits. At the same time, online casinos do not have a separate national license. The lottery is run by the state National Lotteries Authority (NLA), established in 1984.

Legal framework: what exactly is allowed

GLBA = "skeleton" of regulation. The law defines that ground activities in the form of casinos, betting offices and lotteries are allowed under the permissions of the Gaming Authority; it contains definitions, forms and procedures for issuing permits/licenses. (The exact text is widely cited in the region and is available in compilations and regulations for Cap. 120.)

Online aside. In the materials of the mutual assessment of CFATF (MER 2023/2024), it is directly emphasized: the GLBA frame is focused on the ground sector; Internet casinos as a separate licensed type are not provided in SVG.

Casinos: Legal but now out of business

Status by law. Land-based casinos have been legal since the late 1960s based on GLBA. The first Kingstown site opened in 1977.

Actual position. Today, there are no operating casinos in the country: the last was Club Privée on Canowan, closed in 2010 (the premises were then used as a hurricane shelter). This is consistently confirmed by industry and regional publications.

Conclusion: in principle, it is possible to open a casino (there is a right), but there are no real working objects now - a new investment initiative and permission from the Gaming Authority are required.

Lotteries: Legal and live

State operator. The National Lotteries Authority (NLA) was established on June 18, 1984 and has been running a line of circulation and daily games since then, financing sports and culture. The date and public mission are confirmed by archival publications of local media and official channels.

Tax bundle. The procedure for taxing winnings is reflected in the Income Tax Act (Cap. 435) (in the section on the tax on prizes/winnings and derivative provisions), which shows the integration of lotteries into the fiscal system.

Who regulates and how

The Gaming Authority (created by GLBA) reviews applications and issues permits for land casinos/betting offices, and also monitors compliance with the conditions. This is the "entry point" for any offline operator.

AML/CFT loop. The CFATF report (MER 2023/2024) describes the current supervision in terms of combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism: casinos are "mandatory entities," and unregulated online providers do not have a local license.

Frequent questions

Is it possible to open a land-based casino in SVG today?

Yes, there is a legal opportunity - through GLBA and the permission of the Gaming Authority. Consider compliance and AML/CFT requirements separately. In fact, there are no operating casinos now.

Do lotteries work?

Yes I did. The NLA has been active since 1984 and publicly reports on its activities and social programs.

Are online casinos legal?

There is no separate national license for internet casinos in SVG; this is supported by the CFATF assessment.

At what age can you participate?

Comparative legal materials and regional reviews record 18 + as the minimum age for gambling in SVG. (Local practice follows this standard.)

In SVG, land-based casinos, betting and lotteries are legal and regulated by Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act through the Gaming Authority. Lotteries actually work (NLA since 1984); in fact, there are no casinos now, although the law allows such activities. Online casinos remain out of national licensing. For investors, this means: offline projects are following the trajectory of the GLBA → Gaming Authority, and remote services will require a separate legislatively built "online add-on."

Reference sources: text and regulations for Gambling, Lotteries and Betting Act (Cap. 120); CFATF MER 2023/2024 on AML/CFT and online licensing status; publications about the closure of Club Privée and the absence of operating casinos; National Lotteries Authority materials and channels (1984); Income Tax Act (Cap. 435) (tax linkage to lotteries).