What should one know about the Guyana casino landscape? In well-established markets, it's easy to find your way around. Less so in underregulated ones, such as Guyana. Read this guide to find out if you're eligible to play and what the best casinos in Guyana are.
In our curation, we followed strict principles. Upon scrutiny, these brands came out as the best online casinos in Guyana.
Wanna know more about the legal intricacies of the Guyanese gambling market first? Say no more. Read the sections below before committing.
Yes, gambling is legal in Guyana.
Legal basis: |
Guyana Gaming Authority is the local supervisory body. Since 2008, they've overseen casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and other forms of gambling.
Licensing from the Gaming Authority is necessary to operate in the country. That goes for betting shops and land-based casinos.
Guyana Lottery Company monopolizes sports betting and lottery. Other companies have no access to licenses.
Online gambling is NOT explicitly regulated in Guyana. Online casino sites cannot get licenses.
Does that mean you can't play at all? No. Players from Guyana can still play on foreign online casinos.
That means that as a resident can use int'l online gambling sites. They still have to be licensed and regulated in their jurisdictions.
However, not all casinos accept players from Guyana. Not to worry, because the ones featured on this page do.
The GGA plans to develop regulations for online gambling in the future.
Recently, several forms of online gambling have become legal. Among them are online lottery and online sports betting. Online lottery is typically a state affair, but not in Guyana. Guyana Lottery Company is the monopoly behind these.
Note that the foreign lottery sites won't accept players from Guyana. The lottery is either illegal or a state business.
Yes, because the online gambling laws don't apply to tourists. As long as you're not a citizen or a permanent resident, you're free to play online.
To gambling in Guyana, you must be 18 years old. Age verification measures are in place to prevent underage gambling.
There are two types of brick-and-mortar gambling venues in Guyana:
The popular casinos in Guyana include:
These gambling houses offer slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
Fun fact: Though the most luxurious and the biggest, Princess is the worst-ranked gambling venue. |
Apart from hotels, you'll find sports betting establishments in Guyana.
There are currently seven licensed providers. All handle more physical outlets. but the Gaming Authority provides scarce information on their locations.
Yes, there is. Operators pay taxes on gross gaming revenue. Rates vary for different forms of gambling.
Relevant Legislation: |
Cryptocurrency online gambling is not regulated. What is more, the local casinos don't even recognize these currencies. Crypto transactions in Guyana are not legal. If you're into crypto casinos, there are better places to play than Guyana.
But international online crypto casinos are free to play at. There is no criminal liability for using Bitcoin and other currencies.
Guyana saw its first gambling law in 1902 with the Gambling Prevention Act.
The Gambling Prevention, you might say, should be about banning gambling. It has prevention in its name, after all. Yes and no. Gambling activities are outlawed. But there's a catch. Hotels may host casinos, as long as the only visitors are their guests.
The rationale behind is clear. Stop locals from gambling, but generate profit from tourists.
Easier said than done. Nobody prevents players from Guyana from booking a room. As soon as they do, they can legally gamble as hotels' guests.
In any case, the Act is still the basis of regulation. There have been many amendments since its inception. As mentioned earlier, internet gambling still lacks regulation. For now, players can bet on sports or play the lottery. Canadian Bank-owned monopoly with exclusive rights handles both.
Here's a quick wrap-up of the key information:
Yes, gambling is legal in Guyana under the Gambling Prevention Act and the Government Lotteries Act. The Guyana Gaming Authority regulates this activity, overseeing casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and more.
While online gambling is not explicitly regulated, residents of Guyana can play on foreign online casinos that are licensed and regulated in their jurisdictions. However, online casino sites within Guyana cannot acquire licenses at this time.
Yes, tourists in Guyana can gamble online as the country's online gambling laws do not apply to them. They can freely play on international sites during their stay.
Individuals must be at least 18 years old to participate in gambling activities in Guyana, with age verification measures in place to prevent underage gambling.
Cryptocurrency online gambling is not regulated in Guyana. Local casinos do not recognize or accept cryptocurrencies, and crypto transactions are not considered legal. However, residents can still access and play on international online crypto casinos without facing criminal liability.