Land-based gambling in Mauritius is legal and regulated by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007, and the Act provides for an interactive (online) gambling licence. In practice, though, that part of the regime has not been switched on and there are no locally licensed online casinos, so Mauritians who bet online generally do so on foreign platforms. That offshore play is widely tolerated but unregulated locally, meaning no domestic consumer protection applies. Player winnings are not generally taxed, and cryptocurrency is legal and regulated as a virtual asset, though it is not authorised specifically for gambling.

All gambling in Mauritius falls under the GRA, a statutory body created by the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007 and operating under the Ministry of Finance. The Act gives the GRA power to issue, renew, suspend or revoke licences across casinos, bookmakers, totalisators, lotteries and gaming houses, and its framework includes a category for interactive gambling.

The practical gap is important and worth stating plainly: as of 2026 there are no locally licensed online casinos or bookmakers offering interactive play to the public. Although the Act has allowed for interactive licences since its enactment, that portion of the regime has not been activated in practice. Domestically licensed betting is centred on land-based casinos, horse-race bookmakers and the national lottery. Mauritians who want to play online casino games therefore use offshore sites licensed elsewhere. Mobile access is not prohibited, but an offshore operator is outside the GRA’s protection, so disputes, withheld withdrawals or unfair terms have no local remedy.

Licensed vs offshore operators

  • Locally licensed: Land-based casinos holding GRA casino licences, licensed fixed-odds bookmakers for local racing, totalisators and the Mauritius National Lottery.
  • Offshore: International online casinos and sportsbooks accessed from Mauritius. These are not GRA-licensed; any “licence” they display is from another jurisdiction.

If you choose an offshore site, verify its licence directly with that regulator, and treat local legality as unsettled rather than assured.

Payments: cards, bank transfers and crypto

Mauritius has a modern payment landscape, and card and bank transfers are common. Locally licensed venues use conventional banking channels. For offshore online play, players often rely on cards, e-wallets or cryptocurrency. Note that Mauritian banks apply AML/CFT checks, and payments to gambling merchants can be declined at the bank’s discretion.

Cryptocurrency is legal and regulated in Mauritius. The Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offering Services (VAITOS) Act, in force since February 2022, established a licensing regime under the Financial Services Commission (FSC) for Virtual Asset Service Providers. However, crypto is not legal tender, and no gambling-specific rule authorises crypto wagering. Using crypto to fund an offshore gambling account is a personal-risk decision with no local consumer protection.

Tax on winnings

Good news for players: there is no general tax on gambling winnings. Under Section 111O of the Income Tax Act, listed operators withhold 10% on any amount payable to a punter where the total exceeds Rs 100,000; amounts at or below that threshold are not subject to this withholding at the player level. Operators themselves pay gaming taxes and betting duties (for example, per the Mauritius Revenue Authority, horse-race bookmakers and totalisators are taxed at about 14% of gross stakes, and casinos at 15% of gross takings on specified games and 35% on gaming machines) plus a 2.5% Responsible Gambling levy.

Safer gambling and getting help

Licensed operators must provide responsible-gambling tools, and the GRA administers a statutory Responsible Gambling and Capacity Building Fund. The GRA also references a Problem Gambling Helpline (short code 8909) on its official website, and its general contact line is (230) 208 1582. If gambling stops being fun, set limits, take a break, or seek help.

Information here is general and limited by what is publicly published; it is not legal or tax advice. Verify current rules with the GRA or a qualified adviser.

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.

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