The Development of Nicaraguan Gaming Market

Nicaragua, a Central American state has undergone progressive mutation in terms of its human rights, gambling laws and more so the embrace and the eventual fine-tuning of online gambling regulations.

Nicaragua and its influence on human rights

Historically, Nicaragua was a Spanish colony up to 1821 when it gained independence. Nicaragua then became a member of the Central America Federal Republic. Like the rest of the young American and Caribbean countries, Nicaragua has gone through fiscal crises, political unrests and authoritarian styles of leadership.

Unique in its identity, Nicaragua has however committed herself to various supra-national authorities and treaties which makes her one of the constituent parts of the international community. Most notably, is her membership to the United Nations obligations and agreements. As such, being a member of a respectable global body, Nicaragua has time and again come under the radar of UN Security Council over its judicial and executive excesses to the masses. In a period where the whole world is paying close attention to the human rights, Nicaragua has had her share of blame regarding its lack for respect to universal human rights especially the political ones.

Gambling Regulation

In terms of gambling whether offline or online, Nicaragua made a breakthrough in the year 2001 when the government signed into law, an act that sought to introduce and legalize gambling. This opened a window of opportunity for gaming entrepreneurs who flocked into the lucrative online gaming sites and even sportsbook. At a time when the world was increasingly gravitating towards web-based gambling, it is no wonder that Nicaraguans greatly embraced this type of casinos.

However, like any other tech industry, online gambling in Nicaragua was infiltrated by rotten apples who encouraged illegal gambling hence eroding the gains earlier made by the industry. This necessitated the government to craft another act in 2011 to factor in the challenges that had so far been experienced.

The new gambling act of 2011 created a framework for the formation of a gaming board that was domiciled under the ministry of Tourism. The act further divided Nicaragua gaming establishments into four categories. Small and less resourced operators who were perceived as the root causes of illegal gambling were banned. As such, it is only operators who had at least 10 slot machines that were licensed to offer land-based slot machines.

In 2014, the industry experienced a significant regulatory shift when the government act of 2014 migrated the management of gambling activities to the ministry of finance. This was seen as a viable move, especially at a time when the government was tightening its belt in a bid to boost its revenue collections. Under the ministry of Finance, the gambling industry was put under the Financial Analysis Unit which established the casino control council in a bid to effectively regulate and leverage this revenue source for the greater benefits of the government.

Regarding the 2014 Act, licensing of casinos was solely reserved to the Treasury. Any establishment that has not been afforded green light by the Treasury is deemed illegal and members of public are therefore advised to keep off such establishments. An office for casino and gambling halls was further set up to check on the standards of the manufactured and imported gaming machines. This was aimed at ensuring compliance to international standards, and the fairness of the said machines as the Random Number Generators are required to be fair to deter any possible manipulation of the winning patterns.

Casino Games in the Nicaragua market

Having witnessed such immense strides in gambling regulation, Nicaraguan land-based venues and casino sites witnessed an unprecedented surge in the number of both players and the games offered. Almost all of the casino operators listed at www.fineonlinecasinos.com report similar data. Players prefer the likes of Slots, Roulette, Poker variants and Blackjack to mention just a few. In case you choose to gamble on offshore casinos, there is no penalty whatsoever.

Bingo gaming is a good example of what is offered in the Nicaragua market. With the likes of online BGO Bingo and Bettson Bingo sites, one can enjoy multiple variants of Bingo and diverse promotion packages. The bonuses could be either real cash or loyalty points which are swapped at a future date for either free gaming sessions or specialized rewards.

Poker variants are also popularly played across Nicaraguan casinos. Some of the popular options here include the Joker Poker and the Aces and Faces which are also dominant in offshore sites. Interestingly, gaming tech entrepreneurs are continuously investing in revolutionary innovations which enable you to enjoy the best Poker games while on the move. As such, with a tablet, mobile phone or a laptop, you can have lovely Poker sessions irrespective of the operating system.

Mobile Gaming

Equally accessible thorough mobile phones are dynamic slot games and table games like Roulette and Blackjack. Gaming designers behind such games normally ensure the incorporation of the basic HTML5 software which enhances playability while on the move.

Well, talking of mobile-optimized games, foreign-based casinos sites have also been designed for full mobile access across Nicaragua. However, before registering real money accounts into such sites, it is highly advisable to check whether they have been duly licensed by reputable bodies which have been put forward by respective jurisdictions to promote fair and responsible gambling.

Licensing

Good examples of the offshore licensing bodies include the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Alderney Gaming Commission and Kahnawake Gaming Commission to mention just a few. When you want to put your money into stake, always check whether your chosen casino is licensed by such bodies. You can as well check for online reviews so as to get updated on the gamers experience with specific casinos overtime.

For offline gamblers, Nicaraguan land-based casinos are mainly spread in the country’s major cities of Masaya, Managua and Bluefields. The renowned Pharaohs casino has for instance put Bluefields City as the one of the most preferred gambling cities in Nicaragua and the rest of the Central America states. Casino Princess is located at the heart of the country’s largest city, Managua and boosts of a rich gaming profile with a good range of video games and table games.

Online casinos offering games in Nicaragua include the renowned 888 Casino, Jackpot City Casino, Night Rush, Gaming Club, Play Fran, LeoVegas and the Golden Lion Casino among others. Such casinos are regularly supplied games by top-notch designers who include but not limited to Microgaming, NetEnt, Play n’ Go and Betsoft.

Conclusion

With a regularized gaming environment, it can be fairly argued that Nicaragua has morphed into one of the best gaming markets in Central America and the surrounding islands. The proactive role taken by the government authorities in terms of providing a legal framework for licensing purposes is a great plus. Unlike in the past when the government agencies could conduct the night raids and curtail civilian rights with regards to betting, Nicaragua has adopted forward-looking policies that seek to advance all forms of human rights in relation to UN conventions. As such, whenever wagering your bankroll in Nicaragua, always bear in mind that you are protected by laws that are not only domestically anchored but also with backing from supra-national entities. Nonetheless, the gaming and gambling terms exist for specific casinos, hence it is advisable to visit such terms and acquaint yourself with the laid down terms before engaging in real money wagering.