Income from taxes and licenses - Guyana

The fiscal ecosystem of the Guyana gambling industry historically relies on an offline core (slot salons, small casino zones, betting shops) and lotteries. Online games are still developing in the "border" mode through foreign licenses, so their contribution to visible budget revenues is lower than the actual expenses of players. This creates a "tax gap" that can be closed as the remote segment is formalized.

Fiscal flow map: what makes up budget income

1) Licenses and permit fees

one-time and annual payments for the right to operate the site/terminals/vendor services;

gaming device approval fees (list of certified slots/tables);

fees for expanding the range (new games, live tables), changing locations, etc.

2) Taxes on operating result

Gross gaming income tax (GGR-tax), if applicable: charged on the difference between the bet − winnings;

Income tax/corporate tax including allowable deductions;

Indirect taxes (VAT/duties) on part of related services.

3) Lottery fees

fixed license fees + share of turnover/prize pool set in permit conditions;

payments for retail distribution (agency networks, kiosks).

4) Administrative fines and penalties

for violations of reporting, AML/KYC, marketing restrictions, work outside the permitted hours, etc.

💡 Offline, the lion's share of revenues is annual licenses + corporate taxes. Online, with a civilized model, the GGR tax + fees for a remote license/content certification become an anchor.

How to count: basic formulas for assessing income

GGR (Gross Gaming Income) = gamblers' bets − pay winnings.

GGR tax = GGR × GGR rate.

License base = ∑ (annual licenses by type of venue/game) + ∑ (one-time payments for changes/extensions).

Income tax = (income − operating expenses − depreciation − permitted deductions) × income tax rate.

It is useful for the regulator to separate the visible and potential base:

Visible base: offline + lotteries + locally registered online activities.
Potential base: visible + assessment of "leakage" into offshore online.

Offline vs. Online: Collection Differences

Offline

easier to inspect (counting devices, field checks, cash discipline);

fiscalization of terminals/slots (tags, inventory) → stable collection of licenses;

the main uncertainty - cash accounting and "gray" shifts, is solved by cash control/audit.

Online (now - mostly offshore access)

difficult to control without local registration/hosting;

real amounts of deposits/withdrawals flow out of tax visibility;

as formalized: connection to the regulatory hub (reporting server), content certification, round/lot report, transparent KPIs of the responsible game.

Taxation models: what works in small markets

1. GGR tax + annual license

The GGR rate is moderate, but covers online and offline segments;

Annual license differentiated: casino/slots/bookmaker/content provider.

2. Hybrid "Turnover-cap" for sports

A small rate from the turnover of bets (turnover) or GGR (which is more/less, according to the "minimum/maximum" formula);

Useful at stages when the bookmaker's margin is volatile.

3. One-stop batch licensing for online operators

One basic license + modules: casino, sports, live, virtual machines;

Package discount → incentive to register locally.

4. Vendor/Studio Licenses

Low fixed fee, but mandatory RNG/live stream certification;

Creates a "white" B2B chain, simplifies control.

Lotteries: A steady fiscal anchor

High collection: wide retail, low average check, stable customer habits;

Parameters for setting: share of the prize fund, fees from agency points, the minimum amount of social contributions;

Recommendation: annual report on transparency in areas of social projects.

"Tax gap" online segment

Problem: a significant part of remote activity goes to sites licensed abroad, which:

reduces GGR/license revenues;
complicates control of responsible play and data protection;
creates unequal conditions for local offline operators.

Gap reduction tools:

Voluntary registration amnesty (grace period) for foreign brands with an input package: reduced duty in the first year + obligations for local reporting and RG instruments;
Technical integration: centralized reporting gateway (data-hub) with unloading by rounds/bets (anonymous to players, pseudonymization);
Communication with banks/payment: MCC/tag marking for gambling transactions, AML framework.

Collection risks and how to hedge them

Rates are "too high" → an incentive to offshore. Solution: moderate rates + broad base (better 2-5% GGR than 0% at leak).

Complex reporting → operators "hang" in compliance. Solution: unified forms, API integrations, test sandbox.

Budget volatility with the seasonality of sports → combined mechanisms (minimum fix + share).

Bonus abuse → clear rules for accounting for promos in the GGR database, uniform definitions of net-gaming-revenue.

Transparency and control: minimum set

Unified register of licenses (public), real-time update;

Quarterly publication of aggregates: total rates, payments, GGR, share of responsible instruments (limits, self-exclusion);
Rotation of RNG certification laboratories/live streams;
Reporting audit: random checks with cross-control of payment providers;

Ombudsman for players: simplified claims procedure.

Operators: how to plan the fiscal burden

Lay licenses/certification in the first year CAPEX;

Build a tax calendar (annual/quarterly payments + reporting deadlines);
Set up separate accounting for products (slots, live, sports, lotteries);
Automate KPI uploads: bets, wins, bonus net, deductions, payout speed;

Regularly review the bonus policy for promo accounting rules.

Regulator: formalization roadmap to 2030

1. 2025-2026: registry, basic online licenses, reporting hub connection, minimum RG requirements.

2. 2026-2027: introduction of GGR tax for online/sports, unification of terms (GGR/bonusable turnover), public statistics.

3. 2027-2028: mandatory local integration of payment gateways, e-KYC, AML alerts, sandbox for new providers.

4. 2028-2030: fine-tuning rates, B2B licensing of studios/aggregators, data sharing agreements with neighboring jurisdictions.

The expected effect: the growth of "white" revenues without excessive burden on the business, reducing disputes, strengthening the protection of players.

FAQ (short)

Why is GGR tax better than working capital? It is tied to the real "game product" (bets minus winnings), less distorts margin and motivation.

Do I need to tax bonuses? Usually they take into account the net effect of the promo (write-off of bonuses/freespins), so as not to "double" tax on imaginary revenue.

How to reduce "offshore leakage"? Moderate rates, simple procedures, reporting hub, clear advertising rules and RG.

Income from taxes and licenses in Guyana today is based on offline and lotteries, while online remains unaccounted for. The key to growth is moderate rates + transparent rules + technical reporting. This design reduces incentives to offshore, increases collection and provides a balance between the fiscal interests of the state, business sustainability and player protection. The architecture now adopted will determine how quickly the "potential" base will turn into stable budget revenues by 2030.