What gambling licences can you get in Belize and what do they do?

Gambling is one of the most popular hobbies around the world. People everywhere enjoy playing cards or betting on the action, whether it’s with official sportsbooks or friendly wagers on just about anything. Dice games and slot machines also draw huge crowds of players in person and online.

Belize is no different. Gambling has a long history in the country. Now that Belize has become a major tourist destination and cruise ship stopping point, there is an even greater interest in gambling in the country. Tourist gambling is a great source of revenue for the country.

While some departments within the government of Belize struggle to function efficiently — take the Transportation Department’s year-long licencing delays as an example — the Gaming Control Board has a firm handle on the licencing and regulation of gambling businesses within the country.

There are several different gambling licenses issued by the Gaming Control Board. In this article, we’ll take a quick look at the history of gambling in Belize and review each of the gambling licenses that you can get in Belize and their purposes.

History of gambling in Belize

After more than a century of British colonial rule, Belize became fully independent in 1981. Since then, the country has developed its own laws. This includes laws and regulations governing all types of gambling.

Before independence, the gambling culture in Belize was similar to the gambling culture in the United Kingdom. The imperial power and its military brought all their familiar gambling games and traditions with them when they travelled to Central America. There are still plenty of traces of these gambling days in the country’s culture.

The Gaming Control Act established the newly independent country’s gambling laws. Since it was first introduced, it has been consistently revised and updated to reflect the needs and desires of the population and the introduction of new gambling technology.

One local gambling game that is a Belize novelty is called Chicken Drop. This game has been taking place at a venue in San Pedro every week since the 1980s. A large board with the numbers 0-100 is set up inside a wire cage. People choose a number to bet on. During each round, a chicken is placed on the board and wherever it decides to ‘make a drop’ that number wins. It is a quirky game that has become a part of the country’s gambling history.

Gaming Control Board

The Gaming Control Board is composed of representatives from several sectors of the government. This ensures that the decisions made by the board are thoroughly informed and reflect the various social and economic interests of the country.

According to the Gaming Control Act, the board must be composed of a representative from the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Industry or Commerce and the Ministry of National Security. The remaining members include the Financial Secretary, a member of the Lotteries Committee and two members appointed by the Minister in charge of Gaming.

This balanced approach to the board’s composition shows how seriously the government of Belize takes gambling. It also illustrates that they understand how layered an impact gambling can have on a country and its economy.

Online gaming license

The creation of online casinos created a new challenge for governments to deal with. The impossibility of regulating offshore casinos made it necessary for some sort of online casino regulations and licencing to be put into place. The government of Belize realized early on that licenced online casinos could be a good source of revenue.

If a business meets the criteria established by the Gaming Control Board and pays the fee, they are able to operate an online casino. The online gaming licence also covers sportsbooks and any other form of legal online gambling. Online gaming licenses must be renewed every year.

Unlike some countries that have official government sites that list all their licensed casinos, Belize doesn’t provide an easy to access list. A casino guide site like https://www.newcasinos.com/ can help you find the ideal online casino sites to play at depending on your game preferences, preferred payment methods and location.

Lottery licence

Tourists may be drawn to the casinos, but lotteries are one of the most popular forms of gambling in Belize for locals. Lotteries in Belize are run by Belize Government Lotteries Ltd. Profits from these lotteries go to fund National Health Insurance and to the Official Charities Fund.

There are three main lotteries in Belize. These are the Boledo, Jackpot and the Ordinary Lottery. Since Belize Government Lotteries Ltd. is a company owned and operated by the government, it does not require a separate license to operate.

Individuals or businesses looking to run independent lotteries may apply for a lottery licence. Like the online gaming licence, a lottery licence is valid for one year. A licence is not required to hold a lottery for charity.

Share this article: