Laos is a landlocked country located, bordering China to the north, Cambodia to the south, Vietnam to the east, Myanmar to the northwest, and Thailand to the southwest. It has a land area of 236,800 square kilometers. But there is another aspect that may generate curiosity: its gambling legislation, especially concerning Laos bookmakers and sports betting. This article discusses the issue of gambling laws in Laos with a focus on the country’s stance and policies on bookmakers and sports betting.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Gambling Laws in Laos
Lao has a rather convoluted history of legislation of gambling activities. Most types of gambling are prohibited for the Lao people, but certain exceptions are made for foreigners in SEZs. This division produces a rather complex and sometimes contradictory regulatory landscape.
- 2003: Lao officially banned almost all types of gambling, including casinos and online gambling.
- 2011: The Royal Jinlun Hotel and casino on the border of China and Lao was closed down because it involved in unlawful business.
- 2012: Savan Vegas casino was closed by the government due to non-payment of taxes and an arbitration case followed through the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Current Legislation and Regulations
The Lao citizens are generally restricted from gambling, but several exceptions and possibilities make it a little more complicated.
Casino Gambling
Even though casinos are restricted, some function in SEZs. These places are rented by the Laotian authorities and have different rules of operation.
- Savan Vegas: This casino is situated in the area close to the Thai border which makes it one of the most popular casinos in the country; It has 500 slots and 85 tables that include baccarat, blackjack, roulette and others. But, its online casino services are not very reliable because there is no authority to monitor them.
- Kings Romans Casino: This casino is located in Bokeo Province and it caters for Chinese visitors only and uses Thai baht and Chinese yuan.
Online Gambling
Online casinos are not specifically prohibited under the Lao laws on gambling but they are banned under the general laws on casinos. Nonetheless, there are offshore online bookmakers who welcome Lao players and therefore, the practice of online sports betting is prevalent.
Regulatory and Licensing of Laos Bookmakers
As it was mentioned above, Laos does not possess an independent gambling commission to regulate the activity and functioning of gambling in the country. This lack of regulation applies to both, physical casinos within SEZs and online gambling companies.
- Special Economic Zones (SEZs): These areas differ in the regulation of the activity, and some of them allow gambling to some extent. However, this lack of a regulating authority implies that the honesty and efficiency of these types of establishments might not always be credible.
Taxes and Fees
Since most types of gambling are prohibited for Lao people, there are no legal taxes or charges linked with gambling. However, casinos that are located in SEZs may be bound by special arrangements with the Laotian authorities.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
- Prohibited: Online betting for sports is prohibited for the citizens of Laos and almost all forms of gambling.
- Allowed: The Lao citizens are prohibited from gambling in SEZs, but they can bet on the Internet with the offshore bookmakers.
Sports Betting in Laos
Sport betting is rife in Laos even though the practice is prohibited for citizens of the country. This popularity is mainly due to the fact that many international online bookmakers welcome Lao players.
National Sports
- Muay Lao: Like Thailand’s Muay Thai, the national sport.
- Football: Gaining more and more popularity, but the national team has not entered the large-scaled competitions.
Sporting Milestones in Laos
Over the years, Laos has been quite active in the sporting arena and has produced quite significant results despite the size of the country and population. Here are some key milestones:
- 1959: Originally a member of the South East Asian Games Federation.
- 1980: First time competing at the Summer Olympic Games.
- 2000: Sydney Olympics Men’s 800m event is won by Somsay Phounsavath and thus he bags the gold medal.
- 2008: Khamla Soukaphone will receive the bronze medal in weightlifting for the Beijing Olympics.
- 2011: Loss making Royal Jinlun Hotel and casino complex shutting down its operations.
Key Takeaways
- Historical Developments: Discuss the journey of gambling laws in Laos starting with a complete ban to the current SEZs.
- Regulatory Challenges: Lack of a specific gambling commission is an issue because it makes the situation even more foggy.
- Sports Betting: However, the betting on sports is still prevalent through the offshore online bookmakers as they operate illegally.
- National Sports: Sport has always played an important role in Laos and the country is well documented in supplying talent to regional and international sporting events.
- Future Prospects: As the global interest in the regulation of online gambling increases, Lao could soon be witnessing changes to its gambling laws.
Conclusion
Laos’ laws regulating gambling are somewhat ambiguous and dynamic, but Laos’ rich history and budding fascination with sports betting make it an interesting subject. And even if you are a local, it will be useful to consider the peculiarities of Laos gambling laws to get an idea of the potential opportunities in this specific market segment.
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