Bermuda: gambling regulation and licensing
Part of United Kingdom
- Online sports bettingRegulated
- Online casinoProhibited
- Online pokerProhibited
- Lottery and iLotteryProhibited
- Land-based (reference)Regulated
- Regulator
- Bermuda Gaming Commission
- Headline tax
- 10% GGR
- Licence required
- Yes
- Last verified
- 21 Oct 2026
Summary
Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, licenses no online casino, poker or lottery. The Gaming Act 2014, enacted as the Casino Gaming Act 2014 and renamed in 2021, makes it an offence for anyone in Bermuda to offer, place or accept a wager by remote communication, and for anyone outside Bermuda to accept one from a person in Bermuda, unless it is done under a licence granted under the Act (s.167A). Offering a gaming service remotely to people in Bermuda carries a fine of up to $500,000 or five years in prison (s.167B). The only lawful eGaming is play inside an eGaming zone on a licensed casino's designated site. The Bermuda Gaming Commission, set up in 2015 and answerable to the Minister of Finance, regulates casinos, betting, lotteries and cruise ship casinos. Up to three casino licences may be in force, each for ten years, and casino tax is 10% of gross gaming revenue. Betting is licensed premise by premise under the Betting Act 2021. A bookmaker may let Bermuda-resident registered patrons bet by telephone or remotely from a cash-funded customer account capped at $1,000, the only remote betting the law provides for. Betting duty is 20% of all bets. Lotteries are unlawful outside the exempt classes in the Lotteries Act 1944. The Commission granted the first casino licence, to Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd for the St Regis resort in St George's, in October 2022, but no casino has opened. In March 2026 the Commission told The Royal Gazette that no casino or betting shop industry was operating and that it had received no casino licence applications in five years; its licensing work is mainly 40 to 50 cruise ship casino licences a year. The consolidated Gaming Act records no amendment after 2023.
Common pitfalls
Assuming offshore online gambling is tolerated: since August 2021 the Gaming Act makes remote wagering an offence for operators abroad and for players in Bermuda alike. Reading the eGaming provisions as an online licence: eGaming is lawful only inside a zone on a licensed casino's site. Treating the betting customer account as an online sportsbook: it is open only to Bermuda residents registered in person, funded in cash and capped at $1,000. Relying on the Tax Commissioner's betting duty page for the legal basis: it still cites the repealed Betting Act 1975.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Bermuda Gaming Commission (BGC)
- Regulator type
- Dedicated regulator
- Headline tax
- 10% GGR
- Licence required
- Yes
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Tax base
- Casino tax: 10% of monthly gross gaming revenue, defined as the amount wagered minus winnings returned to players (Gaming Act 2014 ss.140 and 141; Gaming (General Reserve and Casino Taxes) Regulations 2017 reg 6). Betting duty: 20% of all bets made, received or negotiated by a licensed bookmaker or pool betting agent, a turnover tax (Miscellaneous Taxes Act 1976 s.33). Casino operators are outside betting duty (Gaming Act 2014 s.145(2)).
- Capital
- Hamilton
- Currency
- BMD
- Official languages
- English
How to get a gambling licence in Bermuda
The regulator is the Bermuda Gaming Commission (BGC).
We record 4 licence types for Bermuda.
For the Casino licence, the application fee is BMD 600,000 (as of 26 Nov 2019) and the annual fee is BMD 1,000,000 (as of 26 Nov 2019).
- Licence cap
- 3
- Local presence
- A local company or establishment is required.
- Headline tax
- 10% GGR (see Taxation for the full position)
Licence fees in Bermuda
| Licence type | Application fee | Annual fee | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino licenceApplication fee of $600,000 plus cost recovery; provisional licence issue fee of $1.4 million; casino licence issue fee of $1 million; annual casino licence fee of $1 million, reduced by the casino tax paid in the year, by up to 100%. | BMD 600,000 (as of 26 Nov 2019) | BMD 1,000,000 (as of 26 Nov 2019) | 10 years (Gaming Act 2014 s.43) |
| Bookmaker's licenceFixed application fee plus cost recovery; renewal application fee $6,186; the Act allows an annual fee to be prescribed (s.20). | BMD 8,686 (as of 1 Aug 2021) | Not yet verified | 1 April to 31 March (Betting Act 2021 s.19(4)) |
Built from the record on this page, last verified 21 Oct 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.
Legal framework
Primary statutes
- Year
- 2014
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Enacted as the Casino Gaming Act 2014 and renamed in 2021. Establishes the Bermuda Gaming Commission and the Problem Gaming Council; allows no more than three casino licences on designated sites (s.28), each for ten years (s.43); permits eGaming only in an eGaming zone on a casino's designated site (s.29); sets casino tax on gross gaming revenue (Part 9); and since 2021 makes remote wagering and remote gaming services offences unless licensed (ss.167A and 167B).
- Year
- 2021
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Repealed and replaced the Betting Act 1975. The Commission licenses bookmakers, restricted bookmakers (fixed odds on football and cricket) and pool betting agents for single premises, issues event permits, and regulates registered patrons, customer accounts, minors and exclusion orders.
- Year
- 1944
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Prohibits lotteries and the sale, import and advertising of lottery tickets except for exempt small, society, charitable, hotel, private and business lotteries, which the Commission approves.
Miscellaneous Taxes Act 1976, Part VI (Betting Duty)
- Year
- 1976
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Charges betting duty on all bets made, received or negotiated by a licensed betting operator, at the rate set in the Rates Act, paid weekly by the bookmaker or pool betting agent.
Secondary instruments
Betting Regulations 2021 (BR 104/2021)
- Year
- 2021
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Rules on accepting bets (no bets on Bermuda political events), registered patrons and customer accounts, including remote and telephone betting from a cash-funded account.
Betting Fees Regulations 2021 (BR 105/2021)
- Year
- 2021
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Application, renewal, transfer and event permit fees for betting licences, plus cost recovery for investigations; in effect from 1 August 2021.
Gaming (Casino Fees) Regulations 2017
- Year
- 2017
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Casino licence application, provisional licence, issue and annual fees, and fees for eGaming approval, special employee licences and gaming suppliers.
Gaming (General Reserve and Casino Taxes) Regulations 2017
- Year
- 2017
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Sets casino tax at 10% of gross gaming revenue and governs its calculation, payment and the Commission's general reserve.
Key amendments
- 12 Jan 2017Casino Gaming Amendment Act 2016 (2016:48) in force: introduced eGaming zones and on-site betting at casinos (s.29), repealed the simulated gaming provision, and excluded the St George's resort developer's licence from the three-licence cap (s.28(3)).
- 1 Aug 2021Gaming (Transfer of Functions) Act 2021 in force: renamed the Act and the Commission, transferred regulation of all forms of gaming, including betting and lotteries, to the Bermuda Gaming Commission, and inserted the remote wagering and gaming service offences in ss.167A and 167B. The Betting Act 2021 replaced the Betting Act 1975 on the same day.
- 31 Mar 2023Amendment 2023:15 made the Minister of Finance the Minister responsible under the Gaming Act 2014 and amended the casino tax and general reserve provisions.
Licensing
- Licence required
- Yes
- Application window
- Not yet verified
- Local establishment required
- Yes
- Local server required
- Not yet verified
- Licence cap
- 3
- Notable licensees
- Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd (St Regis Bermuda Resort, St George's): casino licence granted by the Bermuda Gaming Commission in October 2022; casino not open
- Certification requirements
- Casino games, rules and gaming equipment need Commission approval (Gaming Act 2014 ss.91 and 93); betting operators may use only relevant equipment described to, and where required approved by, the Commission (Betting Act 2021 s.35).
- Barriers to entry
- Casino licences are tied to designated sites made by ministerial order and carry seven-figure fees. Betting licences are premise-based, published in the Gazette and open to objection by the police, the municipalities and neighbours within 300 metres. There is no licence for online casino, poker or lottery.
Licence types
Casino licence
- Scope
- One casino on a designated site, which may include an eGaming zone and on-site betting with Commission approval. No more than three in force at once, excluding the St George's resort developer's licence.
- Term
- 10 years (Gaming Act 2014 s.43)
- Application fee
- BMD 600,000 as of 26 Nov 2019
- Annual fee
- BMD 1,000,000 as of 26 Nov 2019
- Fee basis
- Application fee of $600,000 plus cost recovery; provisional licence issue fee of $1.4 million; casino licence issue fee of $1 million; annual casino licence fee of $1 million, reduced by the casino tax paid in the year, by up to 100%.
Bookmaker's licence
- Scope
- Bookmaker service on a single specified premises, with event permits for off-site events and optional customer accounts for Bermuda-resident registered patrons, who may bet by telephone or remotely.
- Term
- 1 April to 31 March (Betting Act 2021 s.19(4))
- Application fee
- BMD 8,686 as of 1 Aug 2021
- Fee basis
- Fixed application fee plus cost recovery; renewal application fee $6,186; the Act allows an annual fee to be prescribed (s.20).
- Renewal terms
- Apply no later than three months before the end of the licence term (s.13(4)).
Restricted bookmaker's licence
- Scope
- Fixed odds betting on the results of football and cricket matches only, on a single specified premises (Betting Act 2021 s.10).
- Term
- 1 April to 31 March (Betting Act 2021 s.19(4))
Pool betting agent's licence
- Scope
- Receiving pool bets, or transacting pool betting for patrons where the promoter is outside Bermuda, on a single specified premises (Betting Act 2021 s.11).
- Term
- 1 April to 31 March (Betting Act 2021 s.19(4))
Taxation
- Headline GGR tax
- 10% GGR
- Effective date
- Not yet verified
- Turnover tax
- 20%
- Player winnings tax
- On fixed odds bets the bookmaker may recover betting duty from the winnings, up to the rate of betting duty (Miscellaneous Taxes Act 1976 s.33(3)).
- Withholding mechanism
- Casino operators file a monthly return within 10 days of month end and pay casino tax to the Commission, which passes it to the Tax Commissioner. Betting duty is paid weekly at close of business with a return certified by a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda; operators register with the Office of the Tax Commissioner within seven days of first becoming liable.
- Tax base
- Casino tax: 10% of monthly gross gaming revenue, defined as the amount wagered minus winnings returned to players (Gaming Act 2014 ss.140 and 141; Gaming (General Reserve and Casino Taxes) Regulations 2017 reg 6). Betting duty: 20% of all bets made, received or negotiated by a licensed bookmaker or pool betting agent, a turnover tax (Miscellaneous Taxes Act 1976 s.33). Casino operators are outside betting duty (Gaming Act 2014 s.145(2)).
Compliance
- Minimum age
- 18+
- National self-exclusion
- Self-exclusion orders made by the Bermuda Gaming Commission (Gaming Act 2014 s.112; Betting Act 2021 s.59)
- KYC timing
- Registration in person before a customer account is opened or a significant bet accepted
- AML regime
- The Proceeds of Crime (AML/ATF Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2008 designates the Bermuda Gaming Commission as supervisory authority for casino operators, with a duty to monitor them on a risk-sensitive basis. Betting operators must record every single cash transaction of $1,000 or more into or out of the premises (Betting Act 2021 s.29).
- AML supervisor
- Bermuda Gaming Commission (casino operators)
- Deposit limits
- Customer account deposits must be in cash and the betting account balance may not exceed $1,000; winnings may be drawn only in person, in cash, up to $1,500 a day (Betting Regulations 2021 reg 12).
- Source of funds thresholds
- Betting operators record single transactions of $1,000 or more (Betting Act 2021 s.29).
- KYC requirements
- Betting operators may register a patron only if the person appears at the premises in person with government-issued photographic ID and is not a minor or an excluded person (Betting Act 2021 s.37). A bet with possible winnings of $1,000 or more may be accepted only from a registered patron (s.38).
- Stake limits
- A registered patron may not draw on the betting account for a bet whose winnings would take the winnings account above $5,000 (Betting Regulations 2021 reg 12(2)(e)).
- Reporting obligations
- Casino operators file monthly casino tax returns within 10 days of month end (Gaming Act 2014 s.142). Betting operators file weekly betting duty returns certified by a chartered accountant.
- Game content restrictions
- Bets may not be accepted on the outcome of any political event in Bermuda, or on any event the Commission prohibits by written direction (Betting Regulations 2021 reg 4(4)).
Advertising
- Advertising permitted
- Not yet verified
- Penalties for breach
- The Commission may serve a discontinuance notice; breaching s.166 or failing to comply with a notice is an offence carrying a fine of up to $50,000 on summary conviction, and casino operators and special employees face disciplinary action (Gaming Act 2014 ss.166 and 167).
Restrictions
- Advertising or promotion relating to gaming in a casino or to betting in Bermuda must comply with ministerial regulations and Commission codes, guidance and directions, which may set form, content, timing and location (Gaming Act 2014 s.166)
- Advertising a lottery, other than an exempt lottery, is an offence under the Lotteries Act 1944 s.2(2)
Payments
- Credit card ban
- Not yet verified
- Crypto stance
- Not yet verified
- Permitted methods
- Cash, Customer account funded in cash (registered patrons only), Other methods, including credit cards and cheques, only where the Commission permits them by written direction
- Withdrawal timeframe rules
- Winnings paid into a customer account may be drawn only in person and in cash, up to $1,500 a day; winnings not drawn within 21 days make the account dormant until drawn (Betting Regulations 2021 reg 12(2)).
Enforcement
- ISP blocking
- Not yet verified
- DNS blocking
- Not yet verified
- Payment blocking
- Not yet verified
- App store takedowns
- Not yet verified
- Administrative penalties
- Disciplinary action, financial penalties, suspension or cancellation against casino and betting licensees (Gaming Act 2014 Part 3 Chapter 4; Betting Act 2021 Part 6).
- Criminal penalties
- Remote wagering in breach of Gaming Act 2014 s.167A: a fine of up to 100,000 or two years in prison, or both. Offering a gaming service in breach of s.167B: a fine of up to $500,000 or five years in prison, or both, plus an order to pay a sum equal to gross gaming revenue for the period of the offence. Unlicensed bookmaking: a fine of up to $10,000 or six months, plus $500 a day for a continuing offence (Betting Act 2021 s.5).
- Operator liability
- Operators outside Bermuda commit an offence by accepting wagers from, or providing a gaming service to, persons in Bermuda by remote communication without a licence or approval under the Gaming Act 2014 (ss.167A(2) and 167B(2)).
- Player liability
- A person in Bermuda who makes or places a wager by remote communication commits an offence under Gaming Act 2014 s.167A(1) unless it is done under a licence or approval or is exempt conduct, such as a purely private wager (s.179A).
Timeline
22 Dec 2014
Casino Gaming Act 2014 receives assent
1 Mar 2015
Sections establishing the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission come into force
6 Nov 2015
Casino licensing, operations, casino tax and offences provisions come into force
12 Jan 2017
Casino Gaming Amendment Act 2016 in force, adding eGaming zones and on-site casino betting
1 Aug 2021
Betting Act 2021 and Gaming (Transfer of Functions) Act 2021 in force: the Commission becomes the Bermuda Gaming Commission for all gaming, and remote wagering becomes an offence
8 Oct 2022
The Bermuda Gaming Commission grants Bermuda's first casino licence to Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd (St Regis Bermuda Resort, St George's); no casino has opened
31 Mar 2023
Minister of Finance becomes the Minister responsible for gaming
30 Mar 2026
Commission reports no operating casino or betting shop industry and no casino licence applications in five years
Outlook
No gaming bill is before the legislature in the sources checked, and the Commission would not say in March 2026 whether further gaming legislation is being drafted. The Premier told Parliament in March 2026 that the correspondent banking impasse that stalled the casino industry had been resolved, while saying demand was too low for a viable gaming sector. The Fairmont Southampton gaming site designation runs to April 2027, and the Commission would not say whether an extension had been sought.
Frequently asked questions
- Is online gambling legal in Bermuda?
- No online casino, poker or lottery licence exists. Since 1 August 2021 the Gaming Act 2014 makes it an offence to place or accept a wager by remote communication with a person in Bermuda unless it is done under a licence under that Act. The only remote betting the law provides for is account betting by Bermuda-resident registered patrons with a licensed bookmaker.
- Who regulates gambling in Bermuda?
- The Bermuda Gaming Commission, established in 2015 under the Casino Gaming Act 2014 and answerable to the Minister of Finance. Since August 2021 it regulates casinos, betting, lotteries and cruise ship casinos.
- What are the gambling taxes?
- Casino tax is 10% of gross gaming revenue, the amount wagered minus winnings returned. Betting duty is 20% of all bets received by licensed bookmakers and pool betting agents, paid weekly.
- Is there a casino in Bermuda?
- The law allows up to three casino licences on designated sites, plus the St George's resort developer's licence outside that cap. The Commission granted that developer, Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd (St Regis), a casino licence in October 2022, but no casino has opened: in March 2026 the Commission said no casino or betting shop industry was operating.
- Can players in Bermuda be prosecuted for gambling online?
- Section 167A of the Gaming Act 2014 makes it an offence for a person in Bermuda to make or place a wager by remote communication, other than under a licence or as exempt conduct such as a purely private wager. The maximum penalty is a fine of 100,000 or two years in prison.
- How much does a gambling licence cost in Bermuda?
- For the Casino licence, the application fee is BMD 600,000 (as of 26 Nov 2019) and the annual fee is BMD 1,000,000 (as of 26 Nov 2019). For the Bookmaker's licence, the application fee is BMD 8,686 (as of 1 Aug 2021). The Licensing section lists all 4 licence types recorded for Bermuda. Last verified 21 Oct 2026.
Glossary and directory
Sources
Source tiers. Tier 1: the law, official gazette, licence register or regulator itself. Tier 3: established trade press, used to find and date the primary source. Only tier 1 and tier 2 sources can support a fact on their own.
- Gaming Act 2014 (2014:37), consolidated, including ss.2, 28, 29, 32A, 43, 140 to 145, 166, 167A, 167B and 179A
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 22 Dec 2014 - Gaming (Transfer of Functions) Act 2021 (2021:23)
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 2 Jun 2021 - Betting Act 2021 (2021:22), consolidated, including ss.5, 9 to 11, 13, 19, 29, 37 to 39 and 49
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 1 Jun 2021 - Betting Regulations 2021 (BR 104/2021), including regs 4 and 12
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Betting Fees Regulations 2021 (BR 105/2021), Schedule of Fees
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 6 Jul 2021 - Gaming (Casino Fees) Regulations 2017 (BR 24/2017), consolidated, including Schedule
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 28 Mar 2017 - Gaming (General Reserve and Casino Taxes) Regulations 2017, consolidated, including reg 6 (rate of casino tax)
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Lotteries Act 1944, consolidated
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Miscellaneous Taxes Act 1976, consolidated, Part VI (Betting Duty), ss.33 and 34
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Laws Not In Force: commencement of the Casino Gaming Act 2014 and the Betting Act 2021
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Law Title Changes: Casino Gaming Act 2014 renamed Gaming Act 2014 by the Gaming (Transfer of Functions) Act 2021
Bermuda Laws Online (bermudalaws.bm)
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Betting Duty: Turfs and Pools (last updated 6 July 2026)
Office of the Tax Commissioner, Government of Bermuda (gov.bm)
The page gives the 20% rate but still cites the Betting Act 1975, which the Betting Act 2021 repealed; the Miscellaneous Taxes Act 1976 s.33 now charges duty on bets received by Betting Act 2021 licensees. The rate in the Rates Act itself was not checked.
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 2 Mar 2016 - About Us: Bermuda Gaming Commission (establishment, remit and contact)
Bermuda Gaming Commission
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Betting: licence types under the Betting Act 2021
Bermuda Gaming Commission
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Lotteries and Raffles
Bermuda Gaming Commission
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - AML/ATF Controls: Commission as supervisory authority for casino operators
Bermuda Gaming Commission
Tier 1Accessed 15 Oct 2026 - Gaming commission has ample work, say chair and CEO
The Royal Gazette
Tier 3Accessed 15 Oct 2026Published 30 Mar 2026 - Royal Gazette report on the casino licence granted to Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd (St Regis Bermuda Resort)
The Royal Gazette
Tier 3Accessed 21 Oct 2026Published Oct 2022