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Are Casino Sites Legal to Play In Africa?

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Africa is the place where gambling is allowed legally. Any type of gambling was banned for a long time and then got started in 1995/96. All thanks to the National Gambling Act when the casinos got a chance to come back.

Casino Gaming in Africa Online

When talking about Africa’s gambling, nothing much can be said. Online slots have always remained popular in Africa, but the legalities are unfriendly. No doubt, various online operators offer to gamble for African players, but many of them have restrictions. This is because there was no gambling in 2004. The update in 2011 stated that online gambling is not allowed in the country.

Online Gambling Guide for African Players

If you are a native but have just entered the world of gambling, there are certain things about which you should be aware before trying your hands on this fun. While talking about online casinos, make sure to be careful while choosing one, as gambling is considered illegal and many operators don’t allow gambling. Go through the game selection, licenses, and security. Everything should be legit and worth your money and time. You can always check the reviews of the best casinos and a list of legal casino sites at casinosites.org.

Gambling Safety & License in Africa

We have mentioned it above, and saying it again – safety should be a major concern, especially when you are considering playing online. At the same time, selecting the casino where you will play, research, take your time, and look for the regulatory operators and licenses.

How to Look For the Great Product: Bets and Games

The product matters a lot – the bets, games, rooms, raffles, and the experience you gain while playing. Various gambling sites in Africa are there and you have to know which is best. Look for the casino that offers games of your choice. Even if there are the best bonus options, it’s not worth it as you have no interest.

Best Gambling Bonuses in Africa

It is essential to look for the operators with the best selection of games, but we can talk about the bonus as well. Online gambling in Africa has various hidden nooks and alleys about which you must know. Fun is good, but what can be better than extra cash coming straight in the pocket? Go through the terms and conditions carefully while claiming the bonus.

Responsible Gambling & Preventing Addiction

It is crucial to be responsible, especially while playing at the casino. Various African citizens struggle with gambling addiction or have just started to play and have early symptoms. What’s positive is that the National Gambling Board offers certain measures which help in fighting gambling addiction and abuse. There are also many self-exclusion programs open for African gamblers, which can prove to be helpful for them. The period is usually 6 months, but it can also be shorter or longer, everything depends upon what suits you.

Conclusion

Get the best knowledge about online gambling and its legalities. We hope we have covered it all. So, what are you waiting for? Happy gambling!

ADB Purchases Steel Bridges to Replace Infrastructure Destroyed in Cyclones

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Steel Bridge

The African Development Bank has finalized the purchase of 26 modular steel bridges to replace infrastructure that was destroyed in weather disasters in Mozambique.     

The modular bridges are due to be installed in coming months after the appointment of local contractors. The goal is to restore transport connections to the isolated regions of Manica, Sofala, Nampula and Cabo Delgado. An estimated 500,000 people are expected to benefit.

With a service lifespan of up to 100 years, the bridges will provide a temporary solution in areas that are vulnerable to extreme weather while the government invests in climate-smart permanent bridges.

“We are delighted to be able to deliver this important contribution to Mozambique and respond to the recent climate disasters while investing to building back better,” said Pietro Toigo, the African Development Bank’s country manager for Mozambique. “The Bank will remain at the forefront of the fight to mobilize climate finance for adaptation and contribute to climate justice for the African continent.”

The bridges are funded under the Post Cyclone Idai and Kenneth Emergency Recovery and Resilience Program, which was approved in the wake of these two cyclones that struck Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in 2019 and affected around 3 million people in the three countries.

The program is being implemented over four years, ending in December 2023, at a total cost of UA 70.86 million ($100 million) of which UA 66.01 million is to be paid by the Bank and the remainder by the affected governments. The funding was provided by the African Development Fund, the concessional arm of the African Development Bank Group.

Central Mozambique has been hit by extreme climate events in recent years. Cyclones Idai and Kenneth passed through the same region of the country in March and April 2019, also affecting neighboring countries. Disaster struck again with Tropical Storm Chalane in December 2020 and Cyclone Eloise in January 2021.

Mozambique is regarded as one of the world’s most climate-stressed countries. In its 2018-2022 Country Strategy Paper for Mozambique, the African Development Bank identifies climate change as a key development challenge, and has directed roughly $120 million to strengthening the country’s climate resilience.

A Prenuptial Agreement: All You Need To Know

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A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement (commonly referred to as a prenup), is a written contract entered into by a couple prior to marriage contraction or a civil union that enables them to select and control many of the legal rights they acquire upon marrying, and what happens when their marriage eventually ends by death or divorce.

However, it’s crucial that you establish the difference between a prenuptial and postnuptial agreement, whereas we have defined the former in the opening paragraph, the latter is similar to prenuptial agreements, except that they are entered into after a couple is married. When divorce is imminent, postnuptial agreements are referred to as separation agreements

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. This article will provide some basic information about prenups including how prenuptial agreements are entered into and by whom. In this article, you can also find out about the rights acquired and remedies available in case of separation by divorce or death.

Couples enter into a written prenuptial agreement to supersede many of the default marital laws that would otherwise apply in the event of divorce, such as the laws that govern the division of property, retirement benefits, savings, and the right to seek alimony (spousal support) with agreed-upon terms that provide certainty and clarify their marital rights.

This premarital agreement may also contain waivers of a surviving spouse’s right to claim in what is known as an elective share of the estate of the deceased spouse.

In some countries, including Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, the prenuptial agreement not only provides for what happens in the event of a divorce or death but also protects some property during the marriage, for instance in case of bankruptcy.

WHO MAY NEED A PRENUP

Contrary to popular opinion countrywide and across Africa, prenups are not just for the rich. While prenups are often used to protect the assets of a wealthy fiancé, couples of more modest means are increasingly turning to them for their own purposes. Here we bring you some reasons why some people should consider contracting a prenup prior to marriage:

Pass separate property to children from prior marriages. A married couple with children from prior marriages may find it conducive to use a prenup to spell out what will happen to their property when they die so that they can pass on separate property to their children and still provide for each other, if necessary. Without a prenup, a surviving spouse might have the right to claim a large portion of the other spouse’s property, leaving much less for the kids.

Clarify financial rights. Couples with or without children, wealthy or not, may simply want to clarify their financial rights and responsibilities during marriage.

Avoid arguments in case of divorce. Or they may want to avoid potential arguments if they ever divorce, by specifying in advance how their property will be divided, and whether or not either spouse will receive alimony. (A few African countries won’t allow a spouse to give up the right to alimony, however, and, in most others, a waiver of alimony will be scrutinized heavily and won’t be enforced if the spouse who is giving up alimony didn’t have a lawyer.)

It’s important that we acknowledge that the law on prenups has not taken a clear shape.

We shall keep updating this article from time to time.

How Do Neobanks Make Money

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We live in a digitally advanced world where everything is within your reach. Gone are those days when you had to wait outside the bank or the ATM to get some cash.

Everything has gone digital! While there is an option of doing online banking, there are some new players on the field: neobanks.

Neobanks are digital-only fiscal services platforms, and they’re fairly new. And it’s not only US neobanks, but different nations have also embraced the new digital financial platform.

Wait a minute! You may be wondering how neo-banks make money. But let’s start with what neobank is.

Understanding the Concept of Neobank

A neo bank is a new variant of financial services. It’s an online-only bank for customers, so all the operations are carried forward digitally.

In traditional banking, you have physical branches, but neobanks are different. There is no physical branch, and all the focus is on improving user experience.

Neobanks operate online, but you must know they are mostly fintech companies and not actual banks.

How Does a Neobank Make Money?

A traditional bank has many ways to make money. They offer services like lending which gives them a chance to earn interest. The question is – how would neobankss make money? Although lending is not a form of revenue source, they can count on interchange fees, which specifically come from debit cards.

Let’s say a customer uses a debit card at a grocery store or swipes it at a hotel, there will be an interchange fee. This fee is the transaction cost that a merchant prays every time the customer uses the debit card.

Neobanks need to improve their transactional relationship with customers to increase their overall revenue. That’s the catch!

Why are Neobanks Garnering Attention?

Neobanks is garnering attention because they are offering online banking convenience. But these neobanks have a limited audience which may change shortly considering the concept is getting popular.

The modern and digital-only approach of neo-banks is gaining momentum and more people are getting interested in understanding the perks of neo-banks.

Four Compelling Reasons to Opt For Neobank

Since the concept is new to you, and you are interested to know whether or not neo-banks can help with gaining financial benefits, let us unravel the four reasons you must opt for the new-age banking.

#1 The UI is straightforward and quite friendly

It’s all about creating a convenient experience for the users. Opening the applications and websites aren’t a hassle.

#2 Opening an Account is Easy

Even though account opening in any traditional bank is simple. You just have to fill the application form and submit all the documents in the branch near you. Now, the thing about neobanks is that you can use your smartphone to open an account. It just takes a few simple steps to set up a US Neobanks account.

#3 Affordability is the Key

Since there are no physical bank branches, neobanks save all the overhead costs. There is no annual maintenance charge or any withdrawal fee. You save a lot of money and can utilize it elsewhere.

#4 It’s Ideal for MSMEs

The whole process of approval, disbursal procedure, and application seems a bit too overwhelming with a traditional bank. Fortunately, neobanks can be advantageous for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Tips To Keep Your Employees Happy

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1. Be A Good Employer

As a good employer, you should set clear expectations for your employees. You should inform them what needs to be done, the deadlines, and where their work is shown once they are done with their responsibilities. Tracktime24 can help you to outline deadlines, tasks, and responsibilities. With these expectations, you should be able to set clear boundaries, demonstrate healthy leadership, and provide the best direction. You need to spell out rules, policies, regulations, and procedures. It’s easy enough to accomplish this by having a proper employee manual in place.

Also, you should try using personal touch and talk to your employees one on one or in a group. Set expectations that are consistent with all your employees. You should include everything including break times, clocking in early, and much more. For instance, is it okay to clock in early and leave early? Are there mandatory breaks? Will your employees’ wages be docked if they take too long with lunch? If you outline more issues and expectations, you will have fewer problems and have productive workers.

2. Help Your Employees Feel Valued

You need to be more encouraging to your employees and give them praise whenever appropriate. You should always thank them by doing a good job and show them that you value them. If something goes wrong or if one of your employees makes a mistake, you shouldn’t punish the person. Instead, you should talk to the person, teach them correct procedures and offer encouragement or further teaching whenever necessary. By punishing your employee, you will be making things worse because your employer is likely going to get angry and bitter. Actually, they might end up sabotaging their work to get back at the company.

If there are further errors after correction, you can evaluate the person to make sure they are a good fit for the job. Remember, as an employer, you have an excellent opportunity to make a difference in the lives of your employees. Take the time to smile at them, ask them about their family, ask about their problems or interests too. If you feel that someone is depressed, you can help them get the necessary therapy. Note that, employees with depression will have higher absenteeism rates, decreased performance and increased health problems.

3. Create A Productive Atmosphere

The physical layout of your office is important if you want to maximize productivity. You need to give your employees enough room to work, provide the right supplies/materials, and a pleasant and comfortable environment. You should have ergonomic equipment that motivates your workers positively to help them with the needs they require for their job. Don’t forget about ecotherapy since it is an important element in a productive environment.
Some of the most important factors to note about ecotherapy include:

  • The environment should have live green plants. People will feel better about themselves, their jobs, and their duties when there is a connection to nature around them. Actually, workers who are near plants or windows will have higher job satisfaction, boss appreciation and coworker cooperation compared to those without. They are also happier. If you can’t have live plants, you can include murals or pictures of outdoor scenes.
  • Make sure your employees are breathing in healthy air. A lot of buildings have indoor air pollution. You should have air purifiers and change your air filters regularly. Also, you should allow your employees to keep their windows open.
  • Utilize real sunlight whenever possible. If there are no windows in the offices or workspaces, you should install full spectrum or light bulbs in all fixtures including the overhead fluorescent lights.
  • Make sure there are healthy food choices in the break room or cafeteria. Healthy food allows people to think better. It also improves their mood and boosts their energy levels. You should have healthy food challenges at work to encourage people to eat better. Make sure your restaurant brings in healthy food occasionally for catered lunches.
  • Allow your employees to personalize their workspace but within reason. Everyone should have a place they can call their own.

Finally, the workplace should be family-friendly. Allow your employees to take time off for their children’s school events. You should also allow them to stay home if their children are sick. They should also take their vacation days. If possible, you should offer child care on the premises or near it. Give your employees at least 13 weeks of maternity leave and paternity leave.

4. Get Everyone Involved

Make sure there is a clear and comprehensive employee manual. It should include procedures on how to handle various scenarios including family emergencies. Ask your employees for their ideas regarding the manual so they can feel like they belong to the company. Allow them to contribute their opinions and voice their concerns. Your company should be able to gain valuable information about products and concerns that will hurt the bottom line.

You should plan for special employee events where the family will be involved such as fairs, picnics, and workshops. If you create more sense of family in the workplace, your employees will become productive. Create a designated charity where people can donate money and time. That way, everyone can see the larger picture. Research shows that people feel better and their lives will improve when they volunteer. It will boost their overall performance too.

Ugandan Court Rules that Using a foreign trademark in a business attracts payment of VAT

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Some companies usually do business using foreign trademarks licensed under franchise arrangements. This allows a locally registered entity to locally use a trademark owned by a foreign company, usually for a fee and subject to certain standards as specified.

Considering the nature of the arrangement, which on the face of it, offers a business advantage to the local entity; there has always been an issue as to whether the local/ Ugandan company is considered imported a service into Uganda?

This issue was the subject of a ruling by the Tax Appeals Tribunal in the case of Apollo Hotel Corporation Ltd v Uganda Revenue Authority TAT Application No. 68 of 2018.

The facts were that in 2008, Apollo Hotel Corporation Ltd (the Applicant) entered into an international license agreement with Sheraton International Inc. a company incorporated in the United States of America. The agreement granted the Applicant the right to operate its hotel in Kampala under the trademarked brand name “Sheraton” and also to use Sheraton International’s centralized reservation system by paying franchise fees to Sheraton International. URA raised a tax assessment of VAT amounting to Ugx. 398,418,285 on the franchise fees. Apollo objected to the assessment and the matter was left for determination by the Tribunal.

The main issue was whether the use of the brand name “Sheraton” and the provision of the centralized reservation system amounted to a supply of an “imported service” for purposes of VAT?

Tax Appeal’s Tribunal in their ruling dated 27th August 2021, dismissed the Application holding that;

i. The use of the trademarked brand name “Sheraton” and the provision of the centralized reservation system amounted to a supply of an imported service.

ii. That VAT was only due on the principal service namely, the right to operate the hotel under the trademark name “Sheraton” using the centralized reservation system.

In reaching its holding, the Tribunal relied on the case of Sagar Ratna Restaurants Pvt Ltd & Ors v The Value Added Tax Officer Where the Delhi High Court in India found that the use of the trademark McDonald’s amounted to a service and not goods for purposes of VAT. The Tribunal thus concluded that the use of the brand name Sheraton under the agreement amounted to service and not goods.

The Tribunal also invoked the destination principle which provides that services supplied from a foreign jurisdiction and consumed in one’s own jurisdiction are considered as imported services. The Tribunal thus reasoned that the Sheraton brand and reservation system was supplied for use in Uganda by Sheraton International Inc. and was used by the Applicant in Uganda. It follows that these services were imported services for the reason that they were supplied from a foreign jurisdiction and consumed in Uganda.

Effect of the decision.

The above decision by the Tribunal sets a precedent that all companies in Uganda which are running businesses using foreign trademarks by paying franchise fees must charge VAT on payments to those foreign persons. The principle in the decision is of wide application and will most likely affect all businesses operating under the franchise arrangements in Uganda.

This decision is a great win for URA in its attempt to tax the digital economy and intangible intellectual property rights. The use of the centralized reservation system which is located in the United States of America is similar to the running of most digital platform-based businesses. This poses a challenge for taxation under the permanent establishment principle which provides for taxation only when an entity has a physical presence in a foreign jurisdiction. The decision provides a window for the taxation of the digital economy.