Mauritius Planning to Regulate Online Gambling

Mauritius intends to create a platform for online betting and gambling as part of the authority initiative of combating money laundering through online gambling. The government wants to end the illegality of online gambling.

The State intends to regularize the gambling sector to pocket big in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), as a result the Authority as shown kin interest to generate substantial tax through online gambling and betting. Consequently, the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has requested that local or international bidders can come forward by submitting their bid in the development of interactive gaming in Mauritius. The deadline for interested companies has been pushed twice due to the Covid-19 health curfew, which prevails in many jurisdictions worldwide. Those concerned or interested company have until March 2021 to come forward.

However, the GRA Act state there is betting on games, but that has not yet been enacted. Though one of the organization’s top executives indicates that many Mauritius citizens are currently betting on online betting, but they do so illegally. “There is a loophole in the law, and bettors use this to bet on online betting like Bet365 and Ladbrokes; this is done illegally.”He says, “With what is happening now, the state is not receiving any income,” he says. “Once the online betting is regularized, the country will then have money on each transaction made,” he said. As mentioned earlier, this platform’s creation is also part of the objective of combating money laundering through online gambling.

The Authority intends to develop best practices to fight against illegal betting and problems related to money laundering offenses. Part of the regulation will downside the Mauritians who will not be able to participate. It will be strictly reserved for foreigners. However, most common forms of gambling have been legal in the country since 1973 and regulated by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is a body established in 2007, which operates under the aegis of the prime minister’s office, while the Authority is administered and managed by Gambling Regulatory Board. The Regulatory Board regulates and controls gambling and gaming activities and ensures that gambling is conducted fairly and transparently, and fosters responsible gambling in Mauritius.

Also, the body is responsible for issuing a license such as a lottery, casinos, and sports betting. However, sports betting is the most common form of betting horseracing, mainly is a big enterprise in Mauritius contributes substantial revenue to the Authority. The most popular activity amongst Mauritian citizens, 838 horse owners, the horse racing board has one of the oldest racecourses globally, the Champ de Mars, which opened in 1812. However, it is interesting to know that the Authority has committed to regularizing the online sector discovering the sector’s loopholes. In contrast, spotting offshore bookmakers target players in the country without any form of revenue generated, though the Authority has come up with this initiative to regularize the sector.

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