A Brief Overview of Online Gambling in Venezuela
Online gambling in Venezuela falls into a grey area. While the country’s land-based casinos, bingo halls, and slot machines are regulated by the government, there are no laws legalising or prohibiting online gambling and sports betting. As a result, players from Venezuela can access offshore casinos to gamble online.
Gambling Regulations in Venezuela
Venezuela legalised gambling in 1997 under Law No. 36.254, which led to the establishment of the National Commission of Casinos, Bingo Rooms, and Slot Machines (CNC). Here are the CNC’s primary functions:
- To authorise, issue, renew, and suspend licenses for establishments, including casinos, bingo halls, and slot machines.
- To issue the necessary rules for compliance with the provisions of the Special Law for the Control of Casinos and Bingo Halls.
- To authorise preventive measures such as seizing property associated with illegal activities carried out in contravention of this Law.
While the CNC oversees all land-based gambling in Venezuela, there are no clear regulations for online gambling. Therefore, residents access international casino sites or VPN-friendly casinos without the fear of legal repercussions. However, it’s important to note that unregulated online casinos are inherently risky. Hence, Venezuelan gamblers must exercise greater caution while signing up for online gambling.