Bhutan Bookmakers

Bhutan is situated on the southern slope of the eastern Himalayas and it shares its border with China in three directions east, north and west and south with India and is also a country which has restricted gambling laws. This article aims to provide the information on the gambling laws of Bhutan bookmakers and Bhutan sports betting, including the history of the legislation, the current state of the gambling industry, and the prospects of sports betting and Bhutan bookmakers.

Bhutan Bookmakers

Table of Contents

1977: King Jigme Dorje Wangchuck banned gambling.

2010: It was further restricted in some festivals by authorities to reduce the rates of gambling.

Statute 393: Banned all types of gambling with the exception of lotteries.

2017: Some of the social problems that were evident include that police arrested about 30 people for gambling.

20% Tax: Lottery winnings are subject to taxation, which is at the rate of 20% and is withheld at source.

Brief History of Gambling Laws in Bhutan

The Outlawing of Gambling

  • 1977: The third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, banned gambling. This ban has been in place right up to the present time with very little modification.

Stricter Enforcement

  • 2010: Unauthorised betting emerged as a major problem and the authorities stepped up the implementation of the betting ban. Some even prohibited gambling during the tsechus, traditional festivals of the country.

Penal Code of Bhutan

  • Statute 393: This statute states that all forms of gambling are prohibited in the kingdom with an exception of lotteries which are not regarded as gambling under the laws of Bhutan.

Tolerated but Illegal Practices

  • Exceptions: Other types of legal gambling include, dice games and betting on darts during the tshechus festival which otherwise is unlawful.

Current Laws on Bhutan Bookmakers and Sports

Legal Status

It is prohibited to engage in any gambling activities in Bhutan with the exception of bookmakers and sports betting, lotteries only. The Bhutan Lottery Limited is the only authorized body to conduct and manage these games, including digital lottery.

Prohibited and Allowed Bets

  • Prohibited: Gambling in any form with respect to games of chance or future and other contingent events is prohibited.
  • Allowed: Lottery and lottery based games only are allowed and are run only by Bhutan Lottery Limited.

Enforcement and Penalties

  • Penalties: The offenses relating to gambling are petty misdemeanors and the legal punishment for such crimes is imprisonment that ranges from one to twelve months.
  • Enforcement: All other forms of gambling, however, are prohibited, but not strictly enforced; while digital lotteries are allowed.

Regulatory Agencies

Bhutan has a blanket ban on the provision of commercial gambling licenses to private companies. All legal gambling activities are operated under the state’s regulation through the Bhutan Lottery Limited.

Taxation of Gambling Winnings

  • Tax Rate: Lottery winnings are taxable at 20 per cent and are charged at source.

Traditional Bhutanese Sports and Their Influence

Bhutan has a number of traditions in sports, but the most popular is the archery. Other traditional sports are degor which is a discus, pungdo which is a shot put, khuru which is like darts, soksum which is javelin, and keshi which is wrestling. These sports do not only demand for physical power, but also focus.

Modern Sports and Their Rising Fame

The modern sports such as football and cricket for instance have been embraced through introduction of television channels from neighboring countries.

Major Sports Activities and Accomplishments

  • Football: The other match they played was against Montserrat in a match known as the ‘The Other Final’ in the year 2002 where Bhutan triumphed 4-0.
  • Cricket: The country’s cricket team has been to the quarter final stage of the 2004 ACC Trophy.
  • Olympics: Bhutan began its Olympic journey in 1984 and the main sport that represented the country was archery. Other sports were added in the later games and Kunzang Choden participated in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting event in the London Olympics 2012.

Emerging Sports

  • Basketball: Bhutan has been part of FIBA since 1983 and it has also taken part in different FIBA Asia Championship qualifiers.
  • Baseball: Baseball has become the most popular sport in Bhutan by the year 2023 with over 6000 children participating in it regularly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bhutan has very strict gambling laws, but there are some exceptions for lotteries. The culture of the country with diverse traditions and the increasing trend towards the latest trends in sports makes it a perfect blend of tradition as well as the new age. Even though betting and sports books are still prohibited, the situation can change, adapting to the worldwide tendencies and local changes.

FAQ of Bhutan bookmakers

Related content

Asia Bookmakers

Turkey Bookmakers

Turkey Bookmakers

Turkey is a country that crosses two continents; Europe and Asia; it is located at the Black Sea to the North, Mediterranean Sea to the south and borders Syria and Iraq in the south-east. Being a country with highly developed ... Read More about Turkey Bookmakers
Azerbaijan Bookmakers

Azerbaijan Bookmakers

Azerbaijan is a country situated in the southeastern part of the Transcaucasian region on the border of Europe-Asia continental divide. It is not only the country with a long history and a diverse population but also the country with the ... Read More about Azerbaijan Bookmakers
Mongolia Bookmakers

Mongolia Bookmakers

Mongolia is a country in Central Asia, sandwiched between China and Russia. However, the laws of the country concerning gambling are also quite interesting especially if it concerns Mongolia bookmakers and sports betting. This article will discuss the current and ... Read More about Mongolia Bookmakers
Taiwan Bookmakers

Taiwan Bookmakers

Taiwan is formally referred to as the Republic of China (ROC). While there are some categories of gambling that are legal and may be practiced legally, there are others that are still against the law regardless of how strict or ... Read More about Taiwan Bookmakers
India Bookmakers

India Bookmakers

Located to the north of India is China, east of it is Nepal and Bhutan, south of it is Bangladesh and to the east is Myanmar. Another interesting issue that can be observed in contemporary India is the peculiarities of ... Read More about India Bookmakers
Qatar Bookmakers

Qatar Bookmakers

Qatar Peninsula on the southwest shores of the Persian Gulf and the country capital is Doha. The subject of gambling in Qatar currently remains to a large extent as strictly controlled and heavily regulated as in the case of numerous ... Read More about Qatar Bookmakers
Brunei Bookmakers

Brunei Bookmakers

Brunei is situated in the north of the island of Borneo in the South East Asia region. They are also referred to as the three states of North Borneo together with Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia. Its legislation regarding gambling ... Read More about Brunei Bookmakers
Kazakhstan Bookmakers

Kazakhstan Bookmakers

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, It also borders Russia to the north, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan in the south and the Caspian sea in the west and China in the east. Kazakhstan is a country ... Read More about Kazakhstan Bookmakers
East Timor Bookmakers

East Timor Bookmakers

East Timor is an island country situated in southeastern part of Nusa Tenggara region surrounded by West Timor, Indonesia to the west and Australia to the south across the Timor Sea. It is gradually transforming into the center of activities ... Read More about East Timor Bookmakers
Scroll to Top