Online gambling in the Solomon Islands is best described as a legal grey area: there is no law that licenses it and no law that clearly bans it. The country’s Gaming and Lotteries Act regulates land-based gaming and lotteries through the Gaming and Lotteries Board, but it says nothing about remote or internet betting. As a result, no operator can hold a genuine Solomon Islands online-gambling licence, and residents who use offshore sites do so without local consumer protection or dispute resolution. This guide sets out what is known - and, honestly, where the published information runs out.

The Solomon Islands has no dedicated online-gambling legislation. The Gaming and Lotteries Act covers physical gaming and lotteries; it does not create a licensing regime for online casinos, sportsbooks or poker. Because the law is silent on remote betting, individual play on offshore websites is not specifically criminalised, but it is also not protected. Treat any offshore site as unregulated from a Solomon Islands standpoint.

Who regulates gambling?

Land-based gambling is overseen by the Gaming and Lotteries Board, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which grants and revokes gaming and lotteries licences and permits. There is no separate online-gambling regulator. Any “Solomon Islands licence” advertised by an internet casino should be treated with suspicion, as no such online licence category exists.

Licensed vs offshore operators

Domestically, licensing applies only to physical venues - notably the casinos in Honiara. By a policy in place since the mid-2000s, casino gambling is oriented toward foreign visitors rather than the resident public. Every online option available to residents is therefore offshore and outside Solomon Islands oversight. If you choose to play, favour operators licensed by established regulators abroad, and understand that Solomon Islands authorities cannot help you recover funds or resolve disputes.

Payments and crypto

Local card and bank options may be limited or blocked for gambling merchants, so many offshore users turn to e-wallets or cryptocurrency. On crypto, the position from the central bank is clear: the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) states that cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin are not issued or regulated by it, have no legal-tender status, and are “very risky and speculative.” Using crypto is not specifically banned, but you carry all the risk, including price volatility and no recourse if a site fails to pay. Separately, CBSI has been piloting its own central bank digital currency, Bokolo Cash, pegged one-to-one to the Solomon Islands dollar (a proof-of-concept launched in November 2023) - a regulated digital money that is entirely distinct from unregulated crypto.

Are winnings taxed?

There is no clearly published tax specifically on gambling winnings. The Inland Revenue Division (IRD) taxes residents on chargeable income - such as business, employment, rent, dividends and interest - but does not publish guidance treating casual gambling wins as chargeable income. Because this is genuinely unclear, anyone with significant or regular winnings should confirm their position directly with the IRD rather than assume.

Safer gambling and help

The Solomon Islands does not appear to operate a dedicated national gambling helpline. If gambling is causing harm, speak to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services or local community health services, and consider international resources such as GamCare or Gambling Help Online. Set deposit and time limits, never chase losses, and treat gambling as entertainment, not income.

Sources

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive - please play responsibly. If it stops being fun, seek help.