Belize's Gambling Grey Area: Legal Or Not?

Gambling in Belize has been legal since the territory gained independence from the British Crown in 1981. The country has established itself as a tax haven and a popular destination for casino licensing, trading and business. The Belizean government recognised the online gambling industry as a profitable and rapidly expanding sector, and sought to boost its economy by regulating it.

The country's regulatory framework was devised to attract gaming operators, and as a result, little attention is given to player safety and protection. Despite this, Belize is still working to develop its recognition as a gaming jurisdiction.

All forms of gambling are legal in Belize, including online. The legal gambling age is set at 18, and international bookmakers and casinos can legally accept Belizean players. However, local players cannot use bookmakers with local licenses.

Belize's gambling laws

The Belize Computer Wagering Licensing Board, established under the Computer Wagering Licensing Act of 1995, is the designated authority for regulating gambling in the country. The Gaming Control Act of 2004, along with its regulations, governs gambling activities, including online casinos and gaming operators.

To obtain a gambling license in Belize, applicants must follow the requirements set out by the Gaming Control Act and its regulations. The license is granted by the Gaming Control Board, and failure to obtain one is considered an offence. The license is valid for 12 consecutive months, and applicants must apply for renewal 60 days before expiration. A licensing fee must be paid to the Government of Belize, and the amount is set at the board's discretion.

The law prohibits locally licensed online gambling providers from offering their services to Belizean residents. However, Belizeans are permitted to access and use international online gambling platforms.

In addition to the online sector, brick-and-mortar casinos are also legal in Belize, attracting both locals and tourists. The country has a few casinos, with the largest being the Golden Princess Casino in Belize City.

The legal gambling age in Belize is 18, and the industry is well-regulated to ensure player safety and protection.

Online gambling in Belize

Belize is a small country in Central America, with a thriving economy resting on tourism, fishing, and financial services connected to the international iGaming industry. Belize is one of the first countries to recognise and regulate online gambling, as early as 1995, with the Computer Wagering Licensing Act. The country has established itself as a tax haven and a popular destination for casino licensing, trading, and business.

Legal Status

All forms of gambling in Belize are legal, both land-based and online. The Belize Computer Wagering Licensing Board, established under the Computer Wagering Licensing Act of 1995, is the designated authority responsible for regulating gambling activities in the country. The Gaming Control Act of 2004 further outlines the regulations for the industry.

Licensing

Belize offers local licensing for gambling operations, but with a peculiar restriction. Local players are prohibited from betting online with locally licensed operators. Instead, they can legally access and play at international bookmakers and casinos. This restriction has made Belize an attractive destination for foreign gambling companies seeking to establish their operations in the country.

The process of obtaining an online gambling license in Belize is straightforward and efficient. The applicant must be an International Business Company incorporated in Belize and must demonstrate adequate financial means, integrity, and competence of its board of directors and management. Additionally, a licensing fee must be paid to the Government of Belize, and the license is valid for twelve consecutive months.

Future of Online Gambling in Belize

Land-based casinos in Belize

Belize has a thriving economy resting on tourism, fishing, and financial services connected to the international iGaming industry. Gambling has been legal in Belize since the territory gained independence from the British Crown in 1981.

The country's biggest land-based casino is the Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City. It is the closest you will get to a Las Vegas-style casino in this part of Central America. The casino has three table games: American Roulette, Blackjack, and Caribbean Stud Poker, as well as three hundred slot machines. The property is currently owned by the Turkey-based Princess Hotels and Casinos Group.

Other land-based casinos in Belize include:

• El Dorado Investment Limited – Corozal
• Casino Tropicana Company Limited – Belize City
• Princess Entertainment (Belize) Limited – Belize City
• Princess International (San Ignacio) Limited – San Ignacio Town
• Captain Morgan's Retreat
• Las Vegas Hotel Casino Belize
• Casino Captain Morgans
• Princess Casino Free Zone
• The Palace Casino Belize
• Princess Casino Belize
• Princess Hotel & Casino Free Zone
• San Ignacio Princess Casino

The land-based casinos in Belize offer a range of games, including poker, blackjack, slot machines, and roulette. However, it is worth noting that some locals claim that the slot machines in the "gaming rooms" aimed at locals are rigged.

Belize's gambling authorities

The Belize Computer Wagering Licensing Board, established under the Computer Wagering Licensing Act of 1995, is the designated authority responsible for overseeing and regulating the gambling industry in Belize. The Board issues licenses to gambling operators, with a focus on attracting genuine investors to participate in the expansion of the financial services sector. The licensing process is designed to be efficient, with the entire procedure taking no more than six to eight weeks, provided the applicant has all the necessary documents.

The Gaming Control Board is the only legal entity authorised to issue licenses for gambling activities in Belize. To obtain a license, applicants must demonstrate adequate financial means, integrity, and competence. This includes submitting audited financial statements for the last three years and providing full sets of fingerprints and identification documents for individuals with financial interests in the entity. The Board also has the discretion to require security deposits or surety bonds in amounts it deems appropriate.

In addition to the licensing requirements, gambling operators in Belize must also comply with the Gaming Control (Online Gaming) Regulations, which came into force in October 2004. These regulations specifically cater to online gambling operators, allowing them to maintain servers elsewhere while requiring customer service operations to be conducted within Belize. Licensees are also subject to annual renewal fees, payable to the Government of Belize.

While the country offers local licensing, an interesting aspect of Belize's gambling regulations is that local players can only legally bet online with international operators. If a bookmaker holds a local license, they are prohibited from offering their online services to Belizean residents. This peculiarity provides international operators with a unique opportunity to cater to the local market, while local licensed bookmakers are restricted to serving tourists or non-residents.

Overall, Belize's gambling authorities have created a favourable environment for both players and operators, with a clear focus on attracting investment and promoting a well-regulated industry. The country's gambling laws and licensing procedures are designed to be competitive and flexible, contributing to the growth of the sector while also addressing key issues such as player safety and protection.

The history of gambling in Belize

Gambling has been legal in Belize since the territory gained independence from the British Crown in 1981. However, the laws and regulations specifically related to internet casinos, poker, sports betting, and lotteries were developed between 1995 and 2000 as the Computer Wagering Licensing Act and officially came into effect in 2004.

Belize is home to the Belize offshore jurisdiction, and the country recognized online gambling as a profitable and rapidly expanding sector, establishing itself as a tax haven and one of the most popular destinations for casino licensing, trading, and business. The country's regulatory framework was devised to attract gaming operators, and as a result, many of its aspects are heavily focused on applicants, with little attention given to player safety and protection.

The online gaming industry is relatively new to Belize, and the government has introduced legislation to attract genuine investors to participate in the expansion of the financial services sector. The regulations of the Gaming Control Act, Revised Edition 2000, have been adapted from similar regulations in successful gaming countries and adjusted to suit Belize's situation. The Gaming Control (Online Gaming) Regulations provide for the regulation and administration of online casinos, and a licensed online gaming operator is allowed to maintain servers elsewhere, but customer service operations must be conducted from within Belize.

In terms of physical casinos, Belize's first Las Vegas-style casino, the Princess Belize Hotel & Casino, opened in January, with the former Ramada Inn undergoing extensive building and renovation to house the casino. The casino featured nearly 500 slot machines, video poker, and other electronic gaming machines, with live tables for blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker towards the back. The casino was open from noon until 4 am, and players could gamble using either Belizean or US dollars.

As of 2023, the biggest casino in Belize is still located at the Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City, now known as the Ramada Belize City Princess following a franchise rebranding. The casino features three table games—American Roulette, Blackjack, and Caribbean Stud Poker—and three hundred slot machines. The casino is well-maintained and fully air-conditioned, offering free drinks to gamblers. While Belizeans are not considered heavy gamblers, the country has a sizable Chinese community, which is often reflected in the casino's main clientele.

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