Online casinos accepting players from Sao Tome & Principe

São Tomé and Príncipe is a Portuguese-speaking island country in the Gulf of Guinea. Officially known as the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, the country is the second-smallest and the second-least populous African sovereign state after Seychelles.

While land-based gambling, that is, games of chance, are legal in the country, no laws encompass online casino gambling. Players from this African island interested in trying luck with casino games on the internet can do so on offshore betting websites.

When it comes to internet stability, São Tomé and Príncipe lags behind in the expansion of broadband internet connections. Approximately 33 percent of all residents have access to the world wide web, which probably explains why the development of the iGaming sector is rather slow.

Laws and Regulations

According to Lei no. 1/2004, de 7 de Abril de 2005, DR no. 4 -Lei que define o quadro jurídico-legal regulador dos jogos de fortuna ou azar em São Tomé e Príncipe, gambling is legal in this country. This law is in force since 2005. There isn’t much data on the gambling industry before the said year, but it is assumed that it existed in an illegal form.

This document defines the legal framework for licensing procedures, and tax levels and is in charge of supervising the gambling industry. As far as noted, casino licenses can be obtained through public tender, which, among all dictates the size of taxes. The minimum is set at 20% of the gross gaming profits.

On the other hand, online gambling is not regulated in São Tomé and Príncipe, so technically, it’s neither legal nor illegal. The law only states that a land-based casino cannot operate an online platform with the same license.

Having in mind that there are no locally certified interactive casinos. Saotomean players who want to gamble on the Internet usually visit foreign online casinos, and they are not prosecuted for doing that.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures

In order to prevent people from gambling on offshore betting platforms, some countries and territories block certain IP addresses with the help of local ISPs. It’s one of the most common player protection measures countries use in order to minimize the rate of gambling-related issues.

However, São Tomé and Príncipe doesn’t have it, which is why they can gamble on foreign sites as much as they want. In situations like that, players need to act responsibly themselves and ensure they are not wasting their time and money with disreputable brands.

Here are a couple of handy directions:

• Check whether a casino is licensed- find a seal in the footer and click on it to verify the status
• Inspect the site for responsible gambling measures such as deposit limits, cool-off, self-exclusion
• See which channels of communication with the support team are there at your disposal (live chat, e-mail, phone)

If you discovered no red flags in these three fields, you can proceed and explore a couple of more details. One of those things is the selection of banking methods and payment policy, which is precisely what we shall discuss below.

Payment Methods and Banking

The official currency of São Tomé and Príncipe is called dobra (STD) and it is divided into 100 cêntimos. Its name derives from the Portuguese word “dobra” which means “doubloons”. As no online casino supports it, players interested in gambling online must opt for alternative currencies such as EUR, USD, GBP, or others.

Cryptocurrencies are still unregulated so trading in Bitcoin and other crypto assets represents a risky investment. People may use it to fund the account and cash out, but there’s no law or regulation they can refer to in case something goes wrong.

As for the methods players can use for deposit and withdrawals at online casinos, a variety of options exist. Cards and versatile e-wallets are the most frequently used options, but consumers can also make transactions via bank transfers and pay by mobile.

When choosing a method, don’t forget to take a look at the following details:

• Daily, weekly, and monthly limits for both deposit and withdrawal-certain exceptions exist when cashing out winnings from progressive jackpots
• Pending and processing time, especially if the operator requires a customer to submit some documents for ID verification
• Potential fees on transactions

Of course, don’t forget that the availability of methods depends on the customer’s country of residence. Players from certain corners of the globe will have a solid selection of methods, while the others may be limited to one or two options.

What Should Players from São Tomé and Príncipe Pay Attention to When Selecting a Casino?

If you’ve carefully followed the directions we shared with you so far, you are already halfway to having fun with your favorite casino games. Responsible gambling and payment policy are among two crucial fields to consider when making up your mind between casinos, but there’s more.

Playing games is what people do in online casinos, right? Different people have different tastes, so this should be taken into account when selecting a betting platform.

If you are a fan of slot games, you will focus on sites that offer a variety of digital one-armed bandits. The good thing is that slots are the most dominant group of games, so finding the ones with cool themes, innovative features, and great stories won’t be a problem.

In case you prefer table games, video poker, or live dealer games, you will look for platforms that cooperate with providers of such content. Finally, if you are interested in trying luck with a variety of genres, then look for casinos with highly-diversified portfolios.

The next in line are bonuses and promos. Details to inspect include wagering requirements, max cashout limits, and contribution percentage per game. And country restrictions, of course.

And last, but not least important- mobile optimization and available languages. Players who like checking out games while out and about will appreciate a smooth mobile experience. Knowing that Portuguese is the official language on the island, local players will surely appreciate if the platform has multi-lingual options.

Although it may seem like a complex procedure, this investigation will take up to 20 minutes max. That’s not much to invest knowing that in return you get something that fully fits your demands.

Have fun and gamble responsibly!

FAQ

Is it legal to gamble online in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Online gambling is not regulated in São Tomé and Príncipe. Local players who want to play interactive casino games can do so on foreign betting platforms.

What are the most popular online casino games among Santomean players?

Consumers from São Tomé and Príncipe like to play slots, table games, and live dealer games, but they are also willing to explore other genres such as Bingo, scratchcards, instant win, and so on.

Is demo play available in São Tomé and Príncipe-friendly online casinos?

Sao Tomean players can explore games in demo mode. In most cases, fun mode is available to all consumers, but a limited number of casinos require registration for accessing this option.

Can players from São Tomé and Príncipe gamble on mobile devices?

Players from São Tomé and Príncipe can play their favorite games on tablets and smartphones, provided that the internet connection is stable.

What kind of online casino bonuses can Santomean players claim?

Santomean players are mainly interested in claiming welcome offers, no-deposit bonuses, and cashback. Keep in mind that the bonus availability differs from one country to another, so check the terms for restrictions based on the country of residence.