Sierra Leone or the Republic of Sierra Leone with its capital Freetown is an African country in the west side of the continent with its neighbors being Guinea to the north and to the east, Liberia to the south east and the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the south west. In this blog post, I will explain all the aspects of sports betting in Sierra Leone so read on to learn more. We will look at the gambling laws and their evolution, the authorities that oversee gambling, and the best betting sites in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone sports betting.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Getting to the Roots of Gambling in Sierra Leone
The history of gambling in Sierra Leone is quite extensive and rather diverse. Let’s take a closer look at some key milestones:
- 1959: The Lotteries ordinance act put into place the legal framework for gambling in Sierra Leone.
- 1961: UK’s independence paved way for the formulation of Sierra Leone’s very own gaming laws.
- 1969: The Control of Betting and Lotteries Act was enacted at the same time; it became the major piece of legislation regulating gambling.
Pari-mutuel betting was legalized in 1959, yet, the sector is not as well regulated as those in other African countries. This has however created risks and benefits for the bettors in Sierra Leone.
Gambling Activities of Betting Sites in Sierra Leone
The regulation of gambling in Sierra Leone is overseen by several entities:
- National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone: The main task of the commission is the issuance of gambling licenses.
- Ministry of Finance: Enforces the laws concerning the licensed gambling establishments and garners revenues through gambling taxes.
According to Charles S. Kamara, the Managing Director of the Sierra Leone State Lottery in 2016, there was the need for a national regulatory board for wagering activities. This board has been demanded since 2010 but up to now this board has not been set.
Prohibited and Permitted Bets
In Sierra Leone, the following forms of gambling are known to be legal:
- Casino Gambling (including poker)
- Lottery (Sierra Leone State Lottery’s business).
- Sports Betting (Sierra Leone State Lottery Company has the monopoly of this).
On the other hand, online gambling is relatively not well regulated except for sports betting and lotteries which are legal and fully controlled by the State Lottery.
Obtaining Gambling Licenses
The licensing of gambling activities in Sierra Leone is done by the National Tourist Board. Unfortunately, the information regarding the licensing process, fees, and the requirements is scarce on the web but one can get in touch with the board for further information.
Gambling Taxes and Fees
Sierra Leone gambling tax laws and rates are laid down in the Control of Betting and Lotteries Act of 1969 and the changes made in the Finance Act of 2017. The current tax rates are as follows:
- Gambling Tax: 20% on the gross gaming revenue
- Lottery Tax: This is particularly 20% of the gross gaming revenue.
- Betting Tax: 20% of the Gross gaming revenue shall be paid as a tax.
- Royalty Tax: 0. 20 % on gross revenues as well as all gambling companies.
Also, gambling winnings are taxed in the rate of 20%, this tax is shouldered by the companies. Players are not subjected to any form of taxation on the winnings that they make.
Best Betting Sites in Sierra Leone
Megapari
Megapari
The sports markets available in Megapari include football, basketball, and tennis. One has to agree that it is incredibly convenient to make bets with the help of a mobile application.
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Betwinner
Betwinner
Established in 2018, Betwinner offers its customers to place bets on over 1,000 events per day in different sports. They also have good odds and also have cashback promotions for clients.
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Betmaster
Betmaster
The Betmaster has an easy to use interface and this is coupled with live streaming option. They also provide games that are virtually real such as soccer games or horse racing games.
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Historical Highlights of Sports in Sierra Leone
The History of Leone Stars
The Sierra Leone national football team commonly known as the Leone Stars have also done fairly well. They went to the final of the African Nations Cup in 1996 and have been involved in other inter-continental competitions and tournaments despite the nations civil strife.
Sporting Glory
Sierra Leone has produced several sports heroes, including:
- Mohamed Kallon: First Sierra Leonean to play in the Italian Serie A and played for his country at the 2002 World Cup.
- Isha Johansen: First woman ever to be president of the Sierra Leone Football Association.
- Abu Bakarr Kargbo: Named 2004 African Championships in the 200m and won the bronze medal.
Gambling Laws of Other Countries
Guinea
- Legalized Gambling: Only in certain types, for instance, lotteries.
- Regulatory Body: Ministry of Economy and Finance is another important organization that also has some role in the implementation of this project.
- Taxes: Different for each gambling activity.
Liberia
- Legalized Gambling: Both covers the traditional and the modern form of gambling which includes the physical and the cyber form.
- Regulatory Body: This is the institution that is responsible for regulating the National Lottery in the country; hence, the National Lottery Authority.
- Taxes: These are the guidelines that are in place and are in some way defined by the government and maintained in a regular basis.
Ghana
- Legalized Gambling: Comprehensively including casinos, lotteries, sports betting.
- Regulatory Body: The Ghana Gaming Commission for example.
- Taxes: Gross gaming revenue to be taken as the basis for the calculation.
Conclusion
The current situation is quite dynamic and can be characterized as promising for both potential players and gambling related businesses. History, legal framework, and best betting sites will help you to make the right choices and just have more fun while betting. To extend the knowledge, it is suggested that one should register with the betting sites listed in this article and start placing the bets.
FAQ: Betting Sites in Sierra Leone
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