Online Casino Bhutan

Bhutan Online Casino Sites

What is important to consider while choosing an online casino?

Reviews and End-User Experience

The first step towards identifying a good online casino is to read online reviews and end-user experiences. There are plenty of resources on the Internet that provide detailed reviews of the best online casinos. You can refer to these resources to identify a credible online casino. End-user experience plays an important role in online gambling. You should be able to play the games & win real money in real-time and there should not be any lag or glitches while playing. With the growing proliferation of mobile devices, a good online casino should provide you the option of playing on mobile devices. You can play your favorite games on the go.

Licensing Details

Online casinos are registered and licensed under specific statutes. You must inquire about the licensing details of an online casino before playing on it. All the top online casinos accepting players from Bhutan are registered and licensed offshore. The Bhutanese government does not provide licenses to any online casino. Hence, any online casino that claims to be licensed locally is making a false claim and they should be avoided. It is very important to ensure that you do not play on unlicensed online casinos. Such casinos are illegal and not covered by any statute. If they fail to honor your prize-winning, then you will be unable to approach any regulatory body for getting protection and relief.

Credibility

Credibility is important in any business and online gambling is no exception. You should verify the credibility of an online casino before signing up with it. The casino should follow fair business practices and not try to cheat its customers. The games should not be rigged and provide a fair chance for the players to win. Shady online casinos may tamper with the games and make the odds of winning for you negligible. This amounts to unfair business practices and is cheating the customer. It is best to avoid playing on such online casinos.

Customer Focus

Just like any other business, a reliable online casino should be customer-centric. There can be occasional technical problems while playing on these online casinos. You will need technical support to get your grievances addressed at the earliest. Professional online casinos should have a 24/7 technical support team. This team should be prompt in taking the customer grievances and providing the resolution in the least possible time. You should have the option of multiple channels to reach the customer support. If you get stuck up with an online casino that does not have a robust and responsive technical support team, then you may find it difficult to play and withdraw your winning smoothly.

Software Security up

Software is the interface between an online casino and the player. Since there is no brick and mortar casino involved, the players engage with the software to gamble online. The software used by online casinos should be secure. You would need to provide personal and sensitive information to an online casino while signing up with them. If the software is not secure, your sensitive data can be breached into and stolen by hackers. You should check the software used by online casinos and verify its safety credentials before choosing them for playing. Some casinos regularly conduct a third-party audit of their software for finding any security issues and taking appropriate corrective actions. You can prefer such online casinos over those who do not undergo regular independent software audits.

Transparent Policies

A credible online casino should have transparent policies. It should not have shady procedures and policies that prevent you from winning and withdrawing your money. You should go through the policies of an online casino thoroughly before playing on it. Some online casinos put restrictions on the withdrawal. They do not allow you to withdraw all your winning at one go. Sometimes it may take you a few years to withdraw the entire prize-winning. Bonus is also treated differently by casinos. Some casinos may have a too high wagering requirement that can reduce the lucrativeness of playing on it. It does not make much sense to sign up and play on an online casino that does not follow transparent policies.

Online Gambling in Bhutan: Laws and Regulations

All forms of gambling are banned and illegal in Bhutan, except for lotteries. You cannot legally play at casinos or place wagers on sports events as the government has strictly banned them. Gambling is banned under the statue 393 of the Penal Code of Bhutan. The government has also fixed strict penal actions for any person found indulging in gambling. One can face a prison term of 1-12 months or/and a monetary fine if found involved in gambling. The punishment increases if a person is caught indulging in gambling the second time. In such repeat cases, you may not be able to pay the bail and the prison term may also be doubled. The stern punishment acts as a deterrent to most people who want to gamble in Bhutan.

The ban was first imposed in 1977 and as the Internet was not prevalent then, the law does not dwell on it. It was amended in 2007, however, there is still not clear mention of the legality of online gambling in the country. A key reason for this can be attributed to the low Internet penetration in Bhutan. It is estimated that only 37% of the Bhutanese population has access to the Internet. Online gambling has still not become too deep-rooted or widespread in Bhutan.

However, despite the strict rules against any form of gambling, online gambling is gradually flourishing in Bhutan. All online casinos offering their services in Bhutan are registered and licensed offshore. They do not need to take a license from the Bhutanese government. There have been no reported cases of any Bhutanese national being prosecuted and penalized for playing on online casinos. Most reputed online casinos can be easily accessed from Bhutan as the government has not blocked them. You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to remain anonymous and safe on the web. Using a VPN lets you connect to the Internet using a proxy server located in some other country. The authorities will be unable to determine that you logged in to an online casino from Bhutan.

Since there is no law governing online gambling, there is no legal playing age on online casinos. For the same reason, there is no tax liability on your prize-winning, meaning all that you win is yours without having to pay any taxes to the government. Considering the risks associated with online gambling, it is strongly recommended that you choose a professional online casino for playing. Maybe with time, the stance of the Bhutanese government towards online gambling may change and it may become easier or legal for you to do the same.

Gambling History in Bhutan

Bhutan is a small country situated in south-west Asia. It was an absolute monarchy for a very long time. The first political elections were conducted in Bhutan in 2008 and since then it has changed into a constitutional monarchy. However, despite this transformation, there is little change in the way gambling is seen in Bhutan. Gambling has been seen as bad in Bhutan by the authorities for a long time. Bhutanese perceive gambling as something that can cause undesired social changes. Since Bhutan has never been colonized, it has had minimal influence from the west. It is predominantly a Buddhist society that does not accept gambling as positive. The Buddhist firmly believe that gambling can negatively affect society. Lottery is the only form of gambling that is legal in Bhutan. It creates employment and brings revenues. This helps to strengthen the economy.

Considering the illegal status of gambling and strict penal actions in place, gambling is done by locals in an unorganized manner. It is done as a means of recreation and to make some money. Local gamblers usually get together in a place and indulge in gambling. The local police authorities conduct regular raids to catch these gamblers.  Sports betting is also illegal in the country. There are no local sports betting agencies where Bhutanese citizens can place bets. The only way to put sporting bets is by using online sports betting websites.

With growing penetration and access to the Internet, Bhutanese nationals are becoming more aware and informed on different aspects. They are becoming more tech-savvy and finding new ways of indulging in online gambling. The cost of finding and prosecuting players on online casinos is high and this deters the government from widespread prosecution.

The Future of Online Gambling in Bhutan

Some of the key drivers for online gambling include Internet penetration, disposable incomes, and awareness. All these are likely to improve in Bhutan in the near term, which may drive the online gambling industry. More tech-savvy Bhutanese youth will use VPN and other means to play anonymously on online casinos. The number of online casinos offering their services in Bhutan and accepting Bhutanese players can also increase in the future. Virtual reality (VR) is likely to make a big impact on the online gaming industry in the country. The use of VR provides a more realistic and immersive gambling experience. More online casinos will adopt VR technologies in their platform to provide a better end-user experience.

Cryptocurrencies may make its way into the online gambling industry soon. While online casinos accept common deposit methods like bank transfers, credit cards, online wallets, etc., they are expected to accept cryptocurrencies too. This will make the process of depositing money more secure and cost-effective. The Bhutanese government has been pushing for a cashless economy, and cryptocurrencies can help on this front.  Another expected development in the near future is live dealer games. It is being offered by the most reputed online casinos now also and the trend is likely to continue and even become more popular.

Mobile gaming is extremely popular with the youth. In the near term, most online casinos are expected to offer online gambling to people on their mobile devices. This will allow them to play their favorite games from the comfort of their homes without having to visit a brick and mortar casino. Mobile gaming stations go a step further and provide you the convenience of playing on the go. The scope of online gambling in Bhutan looks brighter than today. The government may also change its policies and legalize it going forward.

Bhutan Casino Online FAQ (5)

• Is It Legal to Play on Online Gambling Sites in Bhutan?

  Gambling of any form except lotteries is illegal in Bhutan. Even sports betting, poker, etc. are banned and illegal in the country. The government has strict laws and enforcement mechanisms which one should be careful of. However, gamblers continue to thrive on various online casinos. There have been no reported cases of Bhutanese nationals being penalized or prosecuted for online gambling. As there is no law governing or regulating online gambling, there are some ambiguities. The legal age for online gambling and tax liabilities on the prize-winning is not clear. Hence, a gambler of any age can play on the online casinos without paying any taxes on the prize-winning. You should be careful about choosing only reputed online casinos to play.

• Do Bhutan Authorities Allow Online Sports Betting?

  Sports betting is not legalized in Bhutan. There are no sports betting agencies where you can put your wagers on sporting events. The government has strict anti-gambling laws and enforces them. This has not deterred people from indulging in sports betting through offshore sports betting sites. These sites are licensed and registered offshore and do not need permission from the Bhutanese government to operate. You can place your bets on any sporting event of your choice by signing up with these international sports betting websites. The government has not shown any interest to block these offshore betting websites or to prosecute people who place bets on them. Hence, you can indulge in sports betting in Bhutan, with a little precaution.

• Is online gambling safe for Bhutan?

  The safety of online gambling in any country depends on two major factors- the legality of it and security measures followed by the operator. Online gambling is not legal in Bhutan, though there is no specific law governing the same. Hence, you can enjoy online gambling as the government has not prosecuted any person doing so, thus far. You can use a secure VPN connection for increasing your safety and remain safe from the authorities. The other part of a safe online gambling experience is to choose a good online casino to play on. You should check the track record of an online casino thoroughly before signing up with it for playing your favorite games.

• Are Bonuses Offered by Online Casinos in Bhutan?

  Bonuses are a way of attracting new customers and retaining them for longer. The online gambling industry is very competitive, and casinos have to find new and unique ways of retaining customers. Most online casinos offer bonuses to the users in Bhutan. You must ensure that the casino you sign up with accepts players from Bhutan. If they do, you can use the bonus for playing games on their site. Generally, bonuses are provided as a free bonus or first-time deposit bonus. There is a wagering requirement on bonuses. If an online casino places wagering of 5X, it means you will have to play games worth 5-times the bonus amount on their platform to withdraw your earnings. Bonuses can go up to 2-3 times the initial deposit.

• What Are the Available Deposit Methods?

  Online casinos provide many deposit methods. A deposit method is simply the channel provided by casinos to deposit money in your account. Some of the most common deposit methods include credit card, bank transfer, online wallets like Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, etc. The more the number of deposit methods, the better it is for you. Cryptocurrencies have become popular in recent times. Some online casinos have moved towards accepting different cryptocurrencies for depositing in your online gambling account. The online deposit method offered by online casinos should be secure and ensure instant deposit of funds to your online gambling account.