St Lucia is one of the most attractive islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea thanks to its beautiful sceneries and colorful history. A small country though, it has managed to put in place good legal measures in the provision of gambling services to its citizens and visitors. But its evolution in the sphere of gambling, especially in the sphere of bookmakers and sports betting, has been no less interesting. This article looks at the history, the laws and the regulation that govern the sports betting and Saint Lucia bookmakers.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Gambling Laws in Saint Lucia
Although gambling is not a very long practiced activity in Saint Lucia as compared to some of the other countries in the Caribbean, it has come a long way since the late 1900s. At the start, the only form of gambling allowed was state lotteries. This was not the case with the coming of the National Lotteries Act No. 27 of 1998 that legalized gambling but within certain measures put in place.
Major Legislative Milestones
- 1998: The National Lotteries Act No. 27 was passed in to law in Saint Lucia, thus legalizing gambling in the country but only for the state lotteries.
- 2004: The Gaming Control Act was passed into law which extended the list of allowed games and created the Gaming, Racing, and Betting Authority.
- 2005: This was in April 1997 when Treasure Bay (St. Lucia) Limited was granted the license to offer casino gaming services thus shifting a significant gear in the country’s gambling industry.
- 2010: Treasure Bay Casino was opened and that became the first and to this day the only terrestrial casino in Saint Lucia.
- 2020: The shuffling of Treasure Bay Casino, the focus was shifted back to the online gaming platforms.
Features of Saint Lucia Bookmakers Gambling Laws
Regulatory Framework
The main regulator of the gambling business in Saint Lucia is the Gaming, Racing and Betting Authority. This regulatory agency is tasked with:
- The functions include; evaluating and approving license applications
- Compliance with the gambling laws
- Verification of the individuals who apply for a job
- Inspecting gaming devices
- The publication of blacklists of persons prohibited from engaging in gambling activities.
Types of Licenses
Under the Gaming Control Act, several types of licenses can be granted, including:
- Gaming Operator License
- Gaming Distributor License
- Gaming Manufacturer License
- Gaming Machine License
- Racecourse Operator License
- Betting Provider License
These licenses make sure that all the gambling activities that are being carried out in Saint Lucia are being done legally and in the right manner thus protecting the image of the gambling sector in the country.
Bookmakers and Saint Lucia Sports Betting.
Permitted and Prohibited Bets
While the law allows various forms of gambling, there are specific restrictions in place:
- Usually locals are not allowed to bet in the facilities which are licensed and this only applies to the state lottery.
- Online Sports betting is not yet legal in the country but the government has not turn away from the idea of legalizing it.
Licensing Fees and Taxes
Acquiring a gambling license in Saint Lucia involves a comprehensive application process, including:
- Verification of the financial reliability of all owners and other company’s executives.
- The Gaming Control Authority is expected to have conducted a very critical due diligence investigation.
- Paying of the necessary licensing fees that is require for the operation
Surprisingly, there is no fixed gambling tax charged from the operators besides these fixed licensing fees. Also, there are no taxes on the players’ gambling winnings within the territory of Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia Bookmakers: Sports Betting
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
The island has a rich history of sporting achievements, with several key events contributing to its legacy:
- 2012: Darren Sammy was the captain of the West Indies cricket team that clinched the ICC World Twenty20.
- 1984: Erma Gene Evans took the bronze in the Women’s 400m hurdles during the Los Angeles Olympics.
- 2016: Levern Spencer got the silver medal in the women high jump event at the Rio Olympics.
- 2014: Keddy Lesporis does well in the Commonwealth Games to clinch a bronze medal in the mixed doubles tennis event.
- 1992: Ivan Drago killed another man in a boxing match and of course Lennox Lewis became the world heavyweight boxing champion.
Bookmakers and the Existing Laws on Sports Betting
This paper seeks to analyze the Saint Lucia’s approach towards the development of sports betting. However, despite the general restrictions on the activities of conventional bookmakers, the online sports betting market is still largely unexplored. This opens a great potential for the future if only proper legal conditions are to be put in place.
Conclusion
Talking about gambling in Saint Lucia, the country has been very successful in establishing a legal framework for the sector; bookmakers and sports betting are the most popular. The legal system of the island provides for the proper and responsible gambling environment with the possibilities for the development and evolution.
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