Angola is an active country located in the southwest of Africa, This is in addition to its beautiful terrains and fast growing cities, Angola is fast becoming a hub of gambling and sports betting. Most interesting is the process of the nation establishing its approach to the regulation of these activities. This guide will help you understand the historical background of Angola’s legal framework regarding gambling with an emphasis made on Angola bookmakers and Angola sports betting.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Evolution of Gambling Laws in Angola
Early History
- 1970: Gambling was officially allowed in Angola by the enactment of the Ordinance no. 517/70- Lei da Actividade de Jogo. This was the starting point of the regulated gambling operations within the physic territories of the country.
- 2016: The gambling legislation was totally revised to incorporate new laws that would help in the development of tourism and attract more investors as well as protect the consumers and minimize the adverse effects of gambling.
Recent Developments
- 2020: Before, Section 131 of the bullish Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chartered in 1976 under presidential decree no. 1465 allowed online casinos to be operated legally within the Philippines by private entities through Presidential Decree No. 131/20. This decree spells out the legal provisions of remote online gaming and betting within the territory of Angola.
Existing Laws and Licenses on Gambling
Governing Bodies
The major regulator of gambling operations in the territory of Angola is the Gaming Supervision Institute (Instituto de Supervisão de Jogos – ISJ). This organization is in charge of licensing and regulating the compliance with the existing national gambling legislation.
Types of Licenses
Angola offers several types of gambling licenses:
- General Activity License: Applicable to any form of gambling.
- Single Activity License: Applies only to one kind of gambling.
- Authorization for Occasional Offering: Allows, but limited, gambling, betting, raffles, and other similar forms of games.
Licensing Requirements
To obtain a gambling license in Angola, an entity must:
- Be an Angolan company whose principal business is gambling.
- Meets the standard of having a good reputation (no criminal records of employees, founders, and owners).
- Be able to establish adequate capital to cover for the player winnings as well as funding the project.
- Illustrate the relevant industry experience of the key personnel of the company.
Fees and Taxes
Licensing Fees
The general activity gambling license usually costs 750,000 Kz (about $1,400 or €1,200). Such licenses are usually issued for a period of 10 years and this provides stability to the gambling business operations.
Gambling Taxes
Angola imposes various taxes on gambling activities:
- Land-Based Gambling Tax: Pay 25% of their gross gambling revenue;.
- Online Gambling Tax: One quarter of the gross gambling revenue.
- Sports Betting Tax: 1/5 of the gross gambling yield.
- Social Games Tax: Depends on the prize amount, the interest rates start from 0% to 20%.
However, gambling earnings are taxed at 15% and thus form part of the taxation structure in the country.
Sports Betting and Angola Bookmakers
Regulatory Framework
The regulation of online sports betting and bookmakers in Angola was legalized through Presidential Decree No. 131/20. This decree permit the grant of licenses for both online and land based gambling operators to foster a legal sports betting market.
Licensing Conditions
Companies interested in offering sports betting services must adhere to several conditions:
- Hold an account with an Angolan bank of its choice.
- Adhere to the provisions of the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing laws.
- Reveal the names of all the shareholders and inform the supervisory authority of any changes within a period of one month.
Famous Sports and Events of Angola
Angola has a rich sports culture, with several notable achievements across various disciplines:
- Football: Angola has had success in the African Nations Cup winning it twice (2010, 2019) and the COSAFA Cup also twice (1999, 2019). The country has also gifted the world with good footballers such as Manucho Goncalves.
- Basketball: The men’s national basketball team of Angola has clinched the African Championship two times in the years 1999 as well as 2013 and the FIBA Africa Championship for women two times in the years 2003 and 2011. Some of the famous people are Carlos Morais a basketball player who once played in NBA.
- Athletics: Angola is rich in athletics, Maria de Lurdes Mutola has claimed gold medals in both the 400m and 800m categories at the Olympics.
- Boxing: Angola is known to have nurtured some of the best boxers in the world such as Agostinho Neto.
- Volleyball: The national team has been the African champion twice (2003, 2011) and the FIVB World Championship for Women twice (2007, 2011).
Conclusion
Using the legal analysis of the Angolan gambling and sports betting market, the country seems to be one of the most advanced in the African region when it comes to regulation. Through defining clear principles, having strict licensing conditions, and strong tax systems, Angola is to create favorable conditions for both the operators and the players. It will also go without saying that with the passage of time, the country will become one of the main centers for gambling and fans of sports betting.
FAQ About Angola Bookmakers
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