Online betting is restricted in Fiji: the Gaming Act 2009 treats all gambling as prohibited unless specifically licensed, and Fiji issues no internet-gambling licences. In the law, “remote gambling” is limited to telephone, radio and television, not the internet, so there is no legal, locally licensed online casino or sportsbook. Offshore gambling sites are not authorised, and since 30 August 2025 the Reserve Bank of Fiji has banned all cryptocurrency and virtual-asset services. Fijians should treat online betting as unregulated and legally risky, and gamble only where clearly lawful. This is a small market with limited published data, so parts of the picture below are qualitative rather than statistical.

Fiji’s core gambling statute is the Gaming Act 2009. Its starting point is that gambling is illegal unless a specific exemption or licence applies. The Act contemplates “remote gambling” only through telephone, radio and television, and does not extend to internet gambling. Fiji does not operate an online-gambling licensing regime, so there is no such thing as a Fiji-licensed online casino or online bookmaker. Offshore operators that accept Fijian players are not authorised under Fiji law, and engaging in unlicensed gambling can expose participants to penalties (reportedly fines up to FJ$5,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment).

Because of this, the honest characterisation of online betting in Fiji is restricted / effectively unregulated, not “legal and licensed.”

Licensed vs offshore

Licensing under the Gaming Act 2009 is aimed at land-based and traditional activity: lotteries, raffles, prize competitions and social gaming, permitted locally (for example through the District Commissioner’s Office). Casino gaming is not currently available: Fiji’s first exclusive casino licence (One Hundred Sands, Denarau) was revoked in 2015 for breach of licence conditions, and that revocation was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2017. In 2023 the Prime Minister confirmed no casino policy guidelines had been approved and no new licences issued.

There are no domestic online operators. Any “.com” casino targeting Fiji is offshore and outside Fiji’s consumer protections, dispute resolution and responsible-gambling safeguards.

Payments and crypto status

Everyday licensed gambling in Fiji (lottery tickets, scratch cards, raffles) is cash-based, in Fijian dollars, at physical agents.

Cryptocurrency deserves special attention. Effective 30 August 2025, under an amendment to the Reserve Bank of Fiji Act 1983, the RBF prohibited all virtual-asset services including exchange, transfer, safekeeping, sale and marketing of Bitcoin, stablecoins, NFTs and other digital tokens. The ban applies whether the provider is inside Fiji or offshore, and penalties have been reported at up to FJ$1 million and/or 14 years imprisonment. Crypto is not legal tender in Fiji. In practical terms, crypto-funded online gambling is not lawfully available to people in Fiji, and using it carries serious legal exposure.

Winnings and tax

Fiji does not levy a dedicated personal “winnings tax” on individual players. Instead, the tax burden sits with operators: a Gambling Turnover Tax under the Gambling Turnover Tax Act 1991 (Decree No. 57 of 1991, in force from 1 July 1992) applies to licensed lotteries and gaming, with promoters paying 15% of gross proceeds to the Commissioner (within seven days of a draw), in addition to normal corporate tax collected by the Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS). Individuals with unusual circumstances should confirm their position directly with FRCS.

Safety and safer gambling

Because offshore online sites sit outside Fiji’s oversight, players have little recourse if funds are withheld or terms change. If you choose to gamble at all, stick to clearly lawful, licensed local activity, set strict limits, and never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.

If gambling is causing harm, free confidential help is available in Fiji: Empower Pacific 24/7 counselling helpline 5626 and Lifeline Fiji 1543.

18+. Gamble responsibly. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, call Empower Pacific on 5626 (Fiji).

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