Algeria, the largest country on the African continent, has borders with the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya and Tunisia to the east, Niger to the south east and Mali to the south; while the western part of Algeria borders Morocco. Traditional forms of gambling are not allowed, but some types of bets are allowed provided that they are regulated. This article is aimed at discussing Algeria gambling laws and mainly focusing on Algeria Bookmakers and Algeria sports betting.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Gambling Laws in Algeria
Early Legislation Post-Independence
Algeria got its independence from France in the year 1962 and to date, the country has not embraced gambling and has a number of laws against it. The regulation of gambling activities is undertaken by the Penal Code and the Family Code and the penalties provided for gambling offences are very stiff.
Key Legal Milestones
- 1962: Becoming an independent country; beginning of the measures against gambling.
- 1984: Adoption of the Algerian Family Code which also has provisions on gambling activities.
- 2010: The regulation of the internet censorship was introduced to curb down on online gambling.
- 2018: An act which made online betting and gambling in the country unlawful, yet there is a weak implementation of the law.
Regulatory Agencies for Bookmakers
The Ministry of Youth and Sports controls all the legal gambling activities, where the only legal gambling company is Pari Sportif Algérien (PSA). This government-owned corporation is in charge of the National Lottery and only a few types of sports betting, following the guidelines set by religion and law.
Allowed and Prohibited Gambling Activities
Permitted Activities
- State-Run Lottery: Managed by the PSA; has games such as Lotto Mohtaref and Lotto Erriadhi.
- Sports Betting: Another one that is controlled by the PSA, but has approved certain forms of betting on sports.
Prohibited Activities
- All types of facilities that are used for private gambling activities.
- Online betting and gambling although is legal but the enforcement is not very strong.
- Any and all forms of unauthorized card games, board games and other games of chance.
Algeria Bookmakers Licenses and Fees
Licensing for PSA
The PSA is the only company that has a license from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to conduct lottery and sport betting businesses. Algeria does not allow any private companies to be issued gambling licenses.
License Fees
Since it is the only operating company in the industry, PSA does not reveal the exact costs of licenses. Nonetheless, costs are likely to be high mainly due to the regulatory requirements in the industry.
Gambling Taxes
Taxation on Winnings
- 40% Tax: Applicable to all gambling winnings that originate from PSA’s operated activities. This tax isulosely deducted at the time of making the payment to the employee.
Player Taxation
- No Additional Taxes: There is no more taxation that the players will have to pay on their gambling winnings after the 40% has been taken by the PSA.
Types of Sports Betting
Algeria betting on sports is only allowed through the PSA. The most popular options include:
Lotto Erriadhi: A game that can be completed in 49 balls in which players have to guess six numbers.
Lotto Mohtaref: A 35 ball game where seven numbers must be matched by the players.
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
Sporting activities have always been a part of the Algerian culture especially football and martial arts. Here are some notable milestones:
- 1960: World Military Cup that took place in Algeria.
- 1975: Mediterranean Games that were taking place in the capital city of Algeria, Algiers.
- 1978: Algeria hosting of All – African Games.
- 1990: Algeria takes the title of African Cup of Nations.
- 2019: Algeria becomes the African champions once more after clinching the African Cup of Nations.
Prominent Algerian Athletes
Like any other country, Algeria has been privileged to raise several international sportsmen and women, thus boosting the country’s sports culture. Some of the most notable names include:
- Hassiba Boulmerka: First Algerian female to win the Olympic gold in the 1500m at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Riyad Mahrez: English Premier League champion with Leicester City in the year 2016 and was awarded the African Footballer of the year in the same year.
- Taoufik Makhloufi: Won the gold in the 1500m race in the London Olympic held in the year 2012.
- Hocine Soltani: Britain’s Olympic gold medallist from the 1996 games in Atlanta in the sport of boxing.
Conclusion
Algeria has very strict gambling laws but the only legal betting is done through the state-run PSA. This is because anyone interested in Algeria bookmakers and Algeria sports betting has to know these regulations. Though the environment is still very much monitored, the Chinese people and sports fans can still look up to the country’s past and notable accomplishments in the world of sports.
FAQ about Algeria Bookmakers
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