Andorra Gambling Business

Gambling in Andorra has been available for 18 years. In the past, the minimum age for gambling was 21 years, but in 1987 the law was changed and all citizens over the age of 18 can play gambling.

Until early 2010, the gambling business was banned in Andorra. Then the government of the smallest European country developed a long-term plan to attract tourists since the country is visited by about 10 million tourists annually. According to various estimates, the income from tourism is 60-90% of the total budget of the country. With the legalization of the gambling business, it became possible to attract more tourists and thus increase the country's income.

In 2012, a special agency (the Interagency Gambling Commission Agency) was set up, which later became the Consell Regulador Andorrà del Joc.

Gambling legislation

By 2017, Andorran gambling legislation was also actively reviewed and rewritten. The main law at this time is 37/2014, adopted on 11 December (Llei 37/2014, de l'11 de desembre, de regulació dels jocs d'atzar). It regulates all areas of the gambling business. The government has recently made changes and Bingo is now regulated by Law 28/2012 adopted on 18 October 2012. The law states that social risk groups will be constantly monitored. Also, the task of the government will be to protect health and safety.

Gaming regulators

The gaming regulator in Andorra is the Consell Regulador Andorrà del Joc, whose functions include:

• Supply and demand constraints;
• Control over the activities of operators;
• Prevention of gambling addiction;
• Detecting and punishing criminal activities.

This regulator regulates technical systems, audits equipment, controls the conduct of games, and the compliance of bets and prizes. To prevent illegal activities, the Andorran Regulatory Council works with other government agencies:

• FIU;
• INAF;
• Data Protection Agency;
• Andorra Telecommunication Service.
• License conditions

Andorra distinguishes between the following types of licenses:

• Class A licenses are issued to casino operators for organizing gambling, betting and slot machine use. It also gives the right to organize games on cruise ships;
• Class B allows second category operators to arrange bingo halls and video bingo zones;
• Class C allows third category operators to organize any type of gaming sites, while C @ allows the organization of any type of online games;
• Class D @ - Organize only online games in any form;
• Class E gives the right to hold competitions, for example: lotteries, promo and promotional lotteries, which are held irregularly;
• Class F - License for any kind of charity games;
• G and H class - gives the right to distribute gaming equipment;
• Class I - License for managerial activities in the gaming industry;
• Class J - Allows you to sell, supply, manufacture, import and export, install gaming equipment and maintenance.
• To obtain a license for A - D @ classes, the operator must be registered in Andorra. The main activity of the company should be focused on the gambling business.
• The operator who obtains the E - J class license can be a natural or legal person.

To obtain a license, the operator must submit to the Andorran Regulatory Board:

• Information about the operator itself;
• Information about the Director and the Board of Directors;
• Accounting and financial reporting;
• How beneficial the operator’s activities are to the public, the company’s plans and assets. The operator must have all the data during the five years of its operation, up to the moment of obtaining the license;
• A description of all the provided game is required;
• Staff Information: Selection Criteria, Qualifications and Training;
• Data on materials and equipment.
• In addition, there should be bank guarantees and descriptions of systems that oppose money laundering.

Gaming licensed species

The Government of Andorra allows several types of games to be organized, including:

• Exclusively gambling are games that are based only on luck (such as lotteries).
• The second type is games that require skill, the outcome of which depends to some extent on luck.
• In the case of sports betting and other bets, winning or losing depends on the outcome of the event - the player can not influence it, but he can use his intellectual abilities to determine the outcome.
• Board games that rely more on players' skills than randomness.
• Compete with the element of chance. Games that are played on TV, radio and other media.

The following are the types of games in Andorran law:

• Lotteries and promo lotteries;
• Bingo;
• Slot machines.
• Only licensed games are allowed.

Types of gaming operators

In Andorra there is a concept of types of gaming operators. The law is divided into 6 classes for game organizers and equipment distributors:

• The first category gambling operator is a legal entity that engages only in gambling: bets, skill games, slot machines. This also includes organizing cruise ship games;
• The second category is a legal entity engaged only in bingo, video bingo and slot machines;
• The third is a legal entity that engages only in land and / or online gambling. This includes the full range of games, from games to draws to games of skill;
• The fourth is a legal entity that is only engaged in online services
• Fifth - a natural or legal person participating in competitions;
• Sixth - a natural or legal person who participates in Quinto Games or other gaming games solely for charitable purposes.

50% of the taxes paid by the operators are directed to public projects: education, health, science, culture, security.

Online gambling in the country

The D @ class license for online operators is designed according to the same rules as the rest. The duration of the license is determined based on a tender conducted by the Andorran Games Regulatory Board. Usually, this period does not exceed five years.

The license application contains the website address and description, the range of games and other information about the online operator.

So far, the Andorran online marketplace is almost a gray area. However, market analysts believe that this field will develop very soon, especially in bingo and lotteries.

The best online casinos in Andorra are:

• Euromoon Casino;
• 888 Casino;
• Parklane Casino;
• Casino-1;
• Atlantic Casino.

All of them offer customers a flexible bonus policy with bonuses, free spins and deposit rewards. The range of online casinos includes slot machines and casino games from leading manufacturers.

Popular slot machines in the country

The most popular slot machines in Andorra are:

• The Angler;
• Magic Shoppe;
• Mega Power Heroes;
• Trump It;
• Fa Fa Twins.

Conclusion

The gambling business in Andorra is mainly focused on tourists. Tourism revenue accounts for 80% of budget revenues. The government of the country is making every effort to develop gambling within the proper framework and to cause minimal harm to the society.