It is a group of islands in the south pacific consisting of two large islands known as Upolu and Savaii and other minor ones. After the year 2010, the gambling market in this country transformed, moving mainly from the illegal operating zone to the legal business. In this article you will find information on the current and past gambling laws in Samoa, licensing authorities, the gambling licenses in Samoa, the structure of gambling taxes as well as information about betting sites in Samoa and Samoan sports betting.
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Samoa Gambling Legislation and History
Key Legislative Milestones
- 1978: National Lotteries Act which regulates all lotteries in the country is passed.
- October 2009: The government sale the authority of the lottery and formed the Lotto Samoa Company.
- 19 October 2010: Casino & Gambling Control Act passed and introduced the Gambling Control Authority (GCA) for the regulation of gambling properties.
- 2012: New law making changes to the Casino and Gambling Control Act.
- 2014: First casino opened under the new Act of parliament passed to allow construction of casinos.
- 2015: Interactive gambling mostly became the center of attention in the Casino and Gambling Control Amendment Act enacted.
- 2016: Republicans have proposed a new Gaming Control Bill as a strategy towards responsible gambling.
- 2018: Amendment of the primary legislation while maintaining only minor changes in online gambling.
- February 2021: These and many more saw GCA send word to the Samoa Government that it could no longer pay dividends because of the absence of government grants.
Regulatory Bodies: Gambling Control Authority (GCA)
The GCA was set up by the Casino and Gambling Control Act of the twenty – tenth year of the reign of King George the Second, 2010. Its primary responsibilities include:
- Maintain integrity and prevent fraud in gambling.
- To achieve the licensing and regulation of gambling operators.
- Licensing and regulation of gambling operators.
Policies that are supposed to govern the operations of a gambling facility must always be adherent to gambling laws and regulation.
Gambling Law and Regulation in Samoa – 5 Things to Know
Licenses and Fees of Betting Sites in Samoa
Licensing Process
This licensing process in Samoa is rigorous as the GCA grants licenses only to suitable operators. Major license types and associated fees include:
- Casino Licenses: Two legalised casinos allowed at the maximum. These two licenses are the existing ones of Grey Investment Group who runs Whitesands Casinos.
- Non-Profit Gambling Licenses: For promoting bingo or any charitable games and events.
License Fees
- Casino License Fee: Governing contract association fee stated in this article as a fixed amount.
- Non-Profit Bingo License Fee: Conventional service charges relate to non-profit organizations.
Gambling Taxes of Betting Sites in Samoa
Taxation of Gambling Winnings
- For Players: Currently, gambling winnings in Samoa are events that are free from taxation to the players.
- For Non-Profit Bingo: The 2% tax applies to any jackpot taken by the people.
Taxes on Gambling Operators
- Casino Operators: This means that the license fee should be a one-off amount determined by the GCA and paid upfront.
General Tax Structure:
- Personal Income Tax: Yes it applies to individual earnings in terms of inequality.
- Withholding Tax: 30% for non-US residents, available for a refund, but not without much difficulties.
Federal Tax:
- $600 at a horse track or amount 300 times the original wager because.
- A total of $1,200 may be spent on slot machines or bingo.
- $1,500 in keno winnings.
- Fifty years of five thousand dollars in poker tournament winnings.
- All other gambling winnings other than those aforementioned that equal $600 or fifty times the initial bet.
Prohibited and Permitted Bets
Permitted Bets
- Casino Gambling: Applicable only to foreigners in possession of passports who are living in licensed casino hotels or resorts.
- Sports Betting: Online betting for horse races has been legal in the UK since 2002 and on-site betting options are open for people who are sixteen and seventeen years or older.
- Lotteries: Operated by Samoa National Lotto, with local and overseas lottery services; for examples, OZ Lotto, Tattslotto, and US Powerball.
- Prohibited Bets
- Local Participation in Casinos: Locals, at least those that are of Samoan origin and do not possess a passport of any foreign country, cannot frequent casinos for gambling.
- Online Gambling: It should be noted, however, that the law does not specifically mention online gambling that lacks a license as legal. However enforcement is lacking and players don’t pay a price and are not arrested.
Historical Timeline of Gambling Laws
- 2002: The actual gambling on horse races started.
- 19 October 2010: Casino and Gambling Control Act passed.
- 2014: The first casino to open was the Crown Royale Casino under the new Act.
- 2015: The Casino and Gambling Control Amendment Act was the one introduced.
- 2016: Bill on the control of gaming submitted .
- 2018: The last amendment of crucial gambling law:
- February 2021: GCA stops declaring and paying dividends to the government of South Africa.
Conclusion
Gambling Samoa has quite developed over the course of the last decade, specifically since the early 2000s when Samoa initiated the formation of the Gambling Control Authority and enacted the Casino and Gambling Control Act in 2010. On one hand the legislation is meant to facilitate tourism and improve the living standards of the people; on the other hand, it entails stringent conditions and restrictions on locals and finally targets foreigners.