Guatemala is a country in the southern part of North America and it neighbors with countries such as Belize, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras. This is especially important as sports betting sites become popular and the interest in sports betting grows as the bettors and enthusiasts must be able to understand the intricacies of the local gambling environment. This blog post aims to provide the reader with a complete guide to gambling laws, the best betting sites in Guatemala, and vital events in sports in the country.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Evolution of Gambling Laws in Guatemala
Gambling has been prevalent in Guatemala for a long time now, even as early as the 1900s. However, the legal framework has not always been very well defined in this regard.
- 1880: Guatemala was among the first countries in Central America to legalize gambling, this was through the integration of Section 477 of Decree Number 17-73 in the Penal Code.
- 2005: Gambling was limited to the lottery which is legally okay and is administered well.
- 2011: A bill (No. 4294) suggested a 3 percent tax on all gambling services, although it was not adopted.
- 2013: Another bill (No. 4685) was intended to create two regulatory authorities; however, it also was a draft.
Regulatory of Betting Sites in Guatemala
In Guatemala, the regulatory environment is rather elaborate and, to some extent, dispersed. While there is no body that regulates all the gambling activities there are several proposals that have been made to create better co-ordination of the regulation. The 2013 draft law (No. 4685) suggested the formation of two regulatory authorities
- National Gambling Commission (Comisión Nacional de Juegos de Azar): This agency would be composed of representatives from different branches of the government for instance the Ministry of Economy, the Tax Office, and the Guatemala Tourism Institute.
- Director of Gaming: This agency will therefore be charged with the decentralised regulation and licensing and compliance with the gambling laws.
Prohibited and Permitted Bets
Any bettor in Guatemala must know what is allowed and what is not allowed for him or her to place a bet.
Permitted:
- Lottery is the only legal and most certainly the only regulated form of gambling.
- Online betting is famous and common across the population, yet there is no specific law against it.
Prohibited:
- Basically, casinos and betting shops are prohibited by the Penal Code.
- Gambling houses that operate without proper license can be liable to some serious consequences such as imprisonment or fines.
Gambling Licenses and Fees
The procedure of gambling license getting in Guatemala is not very clear.
- Licensing is done by the Ministry of Interior, which operates under the name of MINGOB but the information about fees and necessary procedures is rather scarce.
- The 2013 draft law put forward a tax of 3% on gambling revenues but this has not been done.
Best Betting Sites in Guatemala
Although there is legal uncertainty, some trusted betting sites are accessible in Guatemala.
Dafabet
Dafabet: Provide a variety of sports products with football, basketball and tennis as some of the markets. Offers live betting and virtual sports as some of the products they offer.
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Betandyou
Betandyou: Mainly focuses on customer satisfaction and has good odds in boxing, baseball and soccer.
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22Bet
22Bet: Boasts one of the biggest collections of markets worldwide with live stream coverage of some events.
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Important Sporting Events in Guatemala
Sporting activities have always been well developed in Guatemala and the country has always been famous for holding and attending important events.
- 1950: Specifically, it was a host of the Central American Games.
- 2001 & 1996: The national football team emerged champions of the UNCAF Nations Cup while the other won the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
- 2010 & 2014: The national basketball team emerged champions of the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Sports Star Glory
There are many famous athletes originating from Guatemala who have done the country proud in various competitions.
- Erick Barrondo: He was awarded the first Olympic medal of Guatemala, a silver in the men’s 20km walk event at the 2012 Olympics held in London.
- Carlos “El Pescadito” Ruiz: The best soccer player of Guatemala has ever produced has had his trial at teams in Europe and the United States of America.
- Ricardo Mayorga: Former WBA and WBC welterweight champion who is famous for his attacking fighting style.
Gambling Laws of Neighboring Countries
It is useful to know the legal environment of the neighboring countries to understand the context somehow.
Belize
- Regulation:
- The gaming industry is regulated through the setting of some rules and regulations; however, the implementation of these laws is quite lax.
- Some measures are being taken towards fighting the vice of money laundering in casinos.
- Licenses:
- The running of the organization is under the Ministry of Finance.
- Comprises of very strict measures in the fight against money laundering as one of the basic preventive measures.
Honduras
- Regulation:
- Similar to the case of Guatemala we have seen that the industry is not well regulated by any formal set of rules and regulation.
- There have been efforts in the recent years to come up with a legal framework that govern the operation of the sector.
- Licenses:
- Since this is a branch of the ministry of interior, it is important that this organization complies with the laid down principles.
- Has not explained the cost or the specifics of the prerequisites.
El Salvador
- Regulation:
- Somewhat more favourable than Guatemala and Honduras regarding the regulation element.
- Deals with the issue of elaboration of the measures to counteract the illicit gambling and money laundering.
- Licenses:
- It is under the ministry of finance.
- Gives a step by step process on how to go about applying for the license and the fee to be paid for the license.
Conclusion
For a sports fan to be in a position to place a good bet in Guatemala, it is advisable to understand some complicated aspects of the sports betting system. Although the legal position is still rather ambiguous, there are some sites that one can trust and risk one’s money in placing the bets. Watch for future changes in the law, for the industry is going to be controlled sometime in the near future.
FAQ about Betting Sites in Guatemala
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