Legality of casinos, lotteries and bookmakers in Suriname

Summary

Suriname carried out a large-scale reform of gambling legislation in September 2023. Key acts were updated: new Wet Hazardspelen (Gambling Act), changes to Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes and Casino Tax Act (S.B. 2023 No. 135), updated Wet Toezicht en Controle op Kansspelen (Gambling Supervision and Control Act) - S.S. B. 2023 No. 134, and also adopted a new Loterijwet (Lottery Law) - S.B. 2023 No. 136. These documents consolidated a unified licensing and supervision system, strengthened the requirements for operators and introduced modern standards for the online segment.

Regulator and supervision model

The industry is overseen by the Gaming Control Board Suriname (GCBS), operating under the Supervision and Control Act. According to it, the institute:

advises the President on the issue of licenses;
monitors compliance with license conditions;
performs functions in the AML/CFT system (AML/CFT) within the limits defined by law.
The issuance of licenses is formally carried out by the President on the basis of the GCBS conclusion.

Casinos (land)

Casinos in Suriname are allowed subject to conditions, including accommodation inside a hotel that is assigned at least a 3-star category (established by the basic norms of the state act).

Entry to the casino is allowed only to persons 21 +, for visitors mandatory identification and registration at the entrance is provided.

These requirements are aimed at protecting players, financial transparency and access control.

Online casino

The operation of online casinos in Suriname is prohibited without a local license issued by the President on the advice of GCBS. The law directly sets the ceiling - no more than three (3) licenses for online casinos.

The norm has an extraterritorial effect: the offer of online casino services in Suriname without a local license is prohibited, regardless of the country of actual operation.

Sports betting and betting

They are recorded as "gambling" in the sense of a general law and are subject to a general licensing model: activity is possible only with a national license and under the supervision of GCBS (including requirements for reporting, internal control, advertising and compliance with the rules of the game). The specific procedural and control powers of the regulator are enshrined in the Law on Supervision and Control (S.B. 2023 No. 134).

💡 Note: marketing and operation of foreign operators without a local license in Suriname is prohibited (see general mode for "hazardspelen" and online section).

Lotteries

The new Loterijwet (2023) has established a separate mode for lotteries:

operation of lotteries is allowed only under a lottery license;
the act modernizes the old 1939 lottery base and introduces expanded powers of supervision/enforcement;
participation and promotion of lotteries without a national license is prohibited.

Advertising, rules of the game and compliance

Wet Hazardspelen gives the supervisory institution the right to inspect:

honesty and reliability of the gameplay and prevention of fraud;
admin. organization and internal control;
financial statements;
operator's charter/regulations;
solvency/liquidity;
advertising procedure;
operation of online casinos.

Age restrictions and KYC

The minimum age for casino access is 21, and visitors are required to complete identification and check-in (KYC). These rules are aligned with the country's enhanced AML circuit.

Taxes and fiscal norms

The 2023 reform is accompanied by changes in Wet Casinobelasting 2002 (Casino Tax Act), reflected in S.B. 2023 No. 135, and for lotteries there is its own tax framework associated with the new Loterijwet (S.B. 2023 No. 136). Specific rates and payment mechanics are established by bylaws and fiscal documents.

Liability and sanctions

Changes in 2023 were also made to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes - to increase liability for unlicensed activities and violations in the field of gambling, as well as to increase the effectiveness of the suppression of offenses.

What is allowed and what is prohibited (summary)

Allowed subject to license:

Land casinos (in hotels ≥ 3) - 21 +, KYC at the entrance.
Online casinos - only under a local license (maximum 3 licenses at a time).
Lotteries - under lottery license according to Loterijwet (2023).
Bookmaker activity (sports betting) - as a type of "hazardspelen" according to the general license model; oversight - GCBS.

Prohibited:

Any online casino operation without a Surinamese license; it is also forbidden to offer online casino services to overseas players in Suriname without a local license.
Promotion/operations of lotteries without national license.

Practical conclusions for operators and players

Operators need to prepare a license package (organization of control, financial reporting, regulations, advertising, AML/KYC) and take into account the limitation on the number of online licenses.

Players: no admission to casinos under 21; Login will require an ID and registration. Online sites without a Surinamese license are illegal to offer in the country.

Sources of law (key acts)

Wet Hazardspelen (S.B. 2023 No. 135) - general gambling law; amendments to the Criminal Code/Criminal Procedure Code and the casino tax law. (Text and cover page).

Art. 6-8 Wet Hazardspelen - online licenses (limit 3), extraterritorial norm, 3-hotel for casinos, age 21 + and KYC.

Wet Toezicht en Controle op Kansspelen (S.B. 2009 No. 78, rev. S.B. 2023 No. 134) - GCBS mandate: license consulting and compliance supervision.

Loterijwet (S.B. 2023 No. 136) - a modern mode for lotteries, mandatory license.

Disclaimer

Suriname regulations were actively updated in 2023-2024. Before launching a project or publishing advertising materials, we recommend that you check with the current by-laws and clarifications of GCBS (including possible new Staatsbesluit for casinos and lotteries).