Laws and Restrictions in Seychelles
Even with a small population, Seychelles draws many live casino operators from other countries. As such, live gaming is a popular pastime activity. The local government has taken steps to ensure lawful decorum in the live casino industry. The legislators have made attempts in the past to give operators interactive gaming permits but could not succeed due to inadequate infrastructure. Currently, online gambling is governed by the following acts.
Interactive Gambling Act 3 of 2003
Technically, gambling was legalized in Seychelles on 1 September 2003. The Interactive Gambling Act requires resident operators to apply for a license accompanied by a registration fee. For non-Seychellois providers, they shall appoint a Seychelles resident as the authorized agent of their company. According to the act, interactive games should be conducted with proper computer software, accounting systems, administrative procedures, and standard terms and conditions.
Seychelles Gambling Act 2014
Live casinos are legal according to the 2014 Gambling Act, which came into effect on 16 November 2015. The authorities adopted new licensing legislation, which allows three types of licenses based on the specific kind of gambling.
I. Brick-and-mortar casinos
II. Online casinos (interactive gaming)
III. Slot machines
A slot machine license permits casinos to offer physical machines. This requires an annual fee depending on the size of the establishment and the number of machines. Land-based operators with more tables also pay a higher licensing amount. However, live casinos pay a standard fee. Online operators may include unlimited slots and games such as baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and poker on their websites.
Some requirements for an online gambling license are so strict that no operator has been granted one. For instance, the local government has to conduct thorough background checks and periodic audits for anyone in the casino business. For this matter, only land-based gambling houses operate in Seychelles. But players can freely register with offshore sites regulated by reputable jurisdictions.
