Saint Kitts And Nevis

St Kitts and Nevis Jurisdiction

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, or the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is the smallest independent country in the Americas. Consisting of two islands in the West Indies and with a population just shy of 55,000 people (in 2016), it is a Commonwealth realm, having become fully independent in 1983. The robust gambling scene there is an outgrowth of a thriving tourist industry, with 100,000 - 160,000 visitors flocking to its gorgeous beaches each year.

Licensing

Gambling has been legal in Saint Kitts and Nevis since The Betting and Gaming (Control) Act of 1999. Regulation is provided by the Saint Christopher and Nevis Gaming Board, which determines which individuals and corporations are permitted to conduct gaming on the islands. In order to receive a license, gaming organizations must pay an initial concession fee of $80,000, as well as a $2,000 filing fee, and an annual gaming tax of $40,000 thereafter, all USD.

If an individual, applicants must submit police requirements, passports, and not be owners of a bank. Corporate applicants must be incorporated and registered in Saint Kitts, must own and operate a hotel with at least 200 rooms, and may be asked to submit similar materials to those asked of individual applicants for its employees. All player transactions must go through banks based in Saint Kitts.

Implementation

Once a license is granted, the Saint Christopher and Nevis Gaming Board does not distinguish between brick-and-mortar casinos and online gaming. The minimum gambling age is 21, and most all casinos and gaming parlors are located on the larger island of Saint Kitts.

Online gaming sites licensed there are not permitted to accept wagers from residents of Saint Kitts. However, it is Saint Kitts Federal policy neither to police nor penalizes online gamblers playing on sites registered in Saint Kitts who may be playing from a location where gambling is not legal: that is viewed as a matter between foreign players and local governments.

Overview

Much of the success and growth of legal gambling in Saint Kitts is a function of its proximity to the United States, and popularity among American tourists. While the online gaming economy was set back by the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 in the United States. Nevertheless, casinos and gaming sites in Saint Kitts and Nevis remain popular among gamers and tourists worldwide.