Cape Verde Bookmakers

Cape Verde is a North Atlantic Ocean country which is one of the very few African countries that has legal rules for gambling including online gambling like sports betting. This extensive manual aims to detail the history of betting legislation in with regard to Cape Verde bookmakers and sports betting. It includes the legal foundation, permit regime, regulating authorities, sorts of permitted and forbidden wagers, taxes and charges, as well as major sports events.

Cape Verde Bookmakers

1977: The Red Cross of Cape Verde was allowed to carry out a national lottery.

2005: Gambling in all its forms including casinos was made legal by Law 77/VI/2005.

2015: Decree Law No. 73-2015 governs the online betting and gambling.

2015: Macau Legend Development Ltd. got the first online gambling permit.

2017: The first casino which is known as Casino Royal was established in Santa Maria, Sal.

History of Gambling Laws in Cape Verde

Early Regulations

  • 1975: This year Cape Verde claimed independence from Portugal. At the very beginning, it was forbidden to engage in any types of gambling.
  • 1977: According to Decree-Law No. 76/771 Cape Verde Red Cross was allowed to start a national lottery which remained the only legal means of gambling until 2005.
  • 2005: The 2005 Games of Chance Act, Law 77/VI/2005, legalised the activities such as casinos among others. But, online gambling was not well regulated at the beginning.

Modern Legislation

  • 2015: Weaknesses of the first legislation on online gambling were overcome with the adoption of the Decreto-Lei nº 73-2015, The Digital Games of Chance Act. It was a law concerning online gambling and enforcement of which private companies could get license. Macau Legend Development Ltd. among others were issued the first digital casino licenses to foreign companies.

Regulatory Bodies

Concerning the regulation of gambling activities, there is the Cape Verde Gaming Inspection Authority commonly referred to as Serviço Central de Inspeção e Controlo da Atividade de Jogos. This body is responsible for the grant of licences to the local and international gambling operators to facilitate compliance with the laid down standards.

License Fees of Cape Verde Bookmakers

The licensing fees and the requirements can be obtained from the Cape Verde Gaming Inspection Authority’s website which is only in Portuguese. The fees are predefined; it means, they are not negotiable and depend on the performance of the operators, which makes it easier for potential operators to calculate the costs of the project.

Licensing and Regulation

Anyone who wants to provide bookmaking services in Cape Verde should apply for a license at the Cape Verde Gaming Inspection Authority. The types of licenses available include:

  • Online Gambling: Includes the concepts of digital casinos and sports betting.
  • Casinos: Physical gambling establishments.
  • Bingo: Licensed bingo halls.
  • Special Licenses: For gambling activities on aircraft, on luxury cruises or for gambling in areas that are not designated for gambling under certain conditions.

Licenses are only issued for operations within the five designated gambling zones: Santiago, São Vicente, Sal, Boavista and Maio are some of the islands of Cape Verde. All the gambling establishments should be connected to 4 or 5-star hotels in order to boost the tourism.

Prohibited and Allowed Bets

  • Allowed Bets: All the forms of betting provided for in the issued licenses are legal and these include sports betting, casino and bingo.
  • Prohibited Bets: Any kind of gambling, which does not have a valid permit is prohibited. Also, some events or results that may be politically sensitive may not be offered for betting.

Taxation on Gambling

Cape Verde has a flat rate of 20% on all forms of gambling winnings which are treated as capital gains. This tax affects the winnings of the players of various games. As for the companies, they do not pay the performance-based gambling tax, but they pay the fixed licenses.

Cape Verde Sports Betting

The practice of sports betting is also well developed in Cape Verde due to the people’s passion for sports and the legal permits for gambling. The performance of the national football team especially getting to the Africa Cup of Nations in the years 2013 and 2017 has boosted the interest in sports betting.

Prominent Sporting Events

Athletes from Cape Verde are also known, which indicates that sports are developed in the country. Some significant achievements include:

  • October 2012: The national football team of Cape Verde had a victory over Cameroon 3-2 and proceeded to the Africa Cup of Nations in the year 2013.
  • 1996: The marathon athlete Fernanda Ribeiro took the gold medal in 10,000 meters race during the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta.
  • 2004: Olympian, Sprinter Francis Obikwelu got the silver in the 100 meters race during Athens Olympics.
  • 2003: Nuno Pinheiro a volleyball player was crowned with gold in the World Championships that were held in Rio de Janeiro.

Sports Betting Milestones

Sports betting in Cape Verde is still developing and more and more people from foreign and local countries are involved in it. Key milestones include:

  • 2015: The new law on online sports betting – the Digital Games of Chance Act.
  • 2015: Macau Legend Development Ltd has been issued with the first online sports betting license.

Conclusion

This can be seen in measures used by Cape Verde in the regulation of bookmakers and sports betting to promote gambling. Due to the fact that there are legal frameworks in place and regulatory authorities that have been established, the country has all it takes to become the face of sports betting in Africa. To enter this market, one has to comprehend the laws and regulations of the country, get proper licenses, and meet the tax requirements.

FAQ about Cape Verde Bookmakers

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