São Tomé and Príncipe is an archipelagic state situated in the Gulf of Guinea on the western coast of central Africa. Thus, as the country develops, the interest in gambling and specifically in São Tomé and Príncipe bookmakers and sports betting also increases. This paper intended to offer a comprehensive understanding of the gambling laws of the country, the regulating bodies, permitted and prohibited types of bets, taxation, and the development of sports betting.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Information on the Laws and Legislation of Gambling
Independence and Early Years
- 1975: São Tomé and Príncipe got its independence from Portugal.
Legalization of Gambling
- 2004: The government approved Law 1/2004 that allowed gambling with an aim of increasing tourists’ traffic and revenues.
- 2005: The Decree 4/2005 was issued to complement the aforesaid basic law on gambling due to the inadequacies of the latter.
The following laws provided the basis for the legal regulation of gambling activities in São Tomé and Príncipe to this day.
Regulatory Framework for Bookmakers
Licensing and Regulation
The gambling business in São Tomé and Principe is strictly controlled to avoid any possible cheating and scamming of the clients. The Minister of Tourism controls the issue of permits for gambling business, including bookmakers.
- Licensing: The licenses for the casinos are granted via the tender. Each island is allowed to have only one casino.
- Regulation: The legal system set by the Law 1/2004 regulates Licensing, Taxes and Supervision on Gambling related activities.
Allowed and Prohibited Bets
Permitted Bets
In São Tomé and Príncipe, land-based casinos are allowed to offer a variety of games, including:
- Blackjack
- Slot Machines
- Prohibited Bets
Online gambling is not fully legal but it is not prohibited either and the regulation of such activities is quite poor. The law requires that a land based casino cannot carry out a casino business through the internet under the same license. Hence, majority of the population involves foreign sites in their betting activities.
São Tomé and Príncipe Bookmakers Licenses and Fees
Types of Licenses
The licenses for the gambling operations, including bookmakers, are given through tenders that are conducted by the Minister of Tourism. These tenders set out the terms and conditions of the licenses such as the taxes and charges that are to be paid.
Licensing Fees
- Application Fee: Dependent on the public tender that will be conducted for the said project.
- Annual License Fee: According to the condition of the tender.
Taxation
- Gambling Tax: It is a 20% of gross gaming revenue.
- Corporate Tax: Another 25 percent is charged on all gambling businesses.
This tax structure makes sure that gambling forms a large portion of the revenue that is generated to the government.
Betting on sports in São Tomé and Principe
Popular Sports
Football also known as soccer is the most well-known sports in São Tomé and Príncipe. The first local football association was formed in 1931 and the national football association came into existence in 1977 two years after the country’s attainment of its independence. The country has seen some notable achievements in sports, including:
- Africa Cup of Nations: Certified in the years 1996 and 2006.
- Amílcar Cabral Cup: Has won three times.
Notable Athletes
- Armandinho: He was the leading goal-scorer in the national championship for the three years in a row (1981-1983).
- Jason Semedo: The only player who is in the current team flying the colorful flag of Nigeria is with Vitoria de Guimaraes in Portugal.
- Celma Bonfim: The above mentioned student won a gold medal at the 2003 African Championships in Athletics.
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
- 1996: São Tomé and Príncipe national football team has been able to book themselves a place in the Africa Cup of Nations.
- 2003: Rwandan Celma Bonfim grabbed the gold at the African Championships in Athletics.
- 2006: National football team has equally qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations once again.
- 2003: Carlos Almeida has become a gold medalist of the African Basketball Championship.
- 2016: It was in the year 1968 when Celma Bonfim gave the first representation of a woman from the country in the Olympic Games.
Conclusion
It can be said that São Tomé and Príncipe has managed to develop a proper framework for gambling with its key focus on land-based casinos and São Tomé and Príncipe bookmakers. Even though there is a legal ambiguity concerning online gambling, the country is not lagging behind in the gambling industry and tries to develop this sphere as a resource for the tourism industry. Knowing the legal situation of the São Tomé and Príncipe bookmakers or São Tomé and Príncipe sports betting will definitely be beneficial if you are planning to try your luck in this field.
FAQ – São Tomé and Príncipe Bookmakers
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