Often abbreviated to BVI, the British Virgin Islands is, as the name suggests, a British Overseas Territory. Despite the links to the United Kingdom, where gambling is rampant and well-regulated, gambling is against the law on the British Virgin Islands. Though the country is a British dependency, basing its legal system on British law, it can act autonomously when creating domestic laws.
The British Virgin Islands consist of main islands named Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, as well as about fifty smaller islands. Only sixteen of the islands are inhabited in total, with the capital of Road Town located on Tortola. In total, the islands take up around fifty-nine square miles and there are about thirty-two thousand people living on them.
British Virgin Islands & Gambling
A self-governing dependency of the United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands has banned all form of gambling. This means that not even online gambling companies can get a licence from the BVI and there are no land-based casinos anywhere in the territory. There is a stable legal system in place and beneficial taxes, which makes the island an appealing one for businesses.
Whether you’re looking at organised gambling events, games of chance, games of skill or lotteries, they are illegal on the British Virgin Islands. Locations that are offering such activities are liable to be raided, with money and items involved being seized. Those taking part in the illegal activities can be imprisoned or fined.
Proposals have been made for certain types of gambling to legalised, if for no other reason than BVI residents still get involved in lotteries and so on despite knowing that they’re illegal. The only thing that the government will consider at the time of writing is the ability for cruise ships to open casinos when in BVI waters, though they would be exclusively for tourist use.