Online casinos accepting players from Mauritius

The Republic of Mauritius or simply Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers (1,100 nautical miles) off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. Its capital city, and the largest one at the same time, is Port Louis.

Land-based and online gambling is legal and regulated in the country, but there are still no locally licensed interactive operators. Mauritians interested in playing casino games on the internet can do so on foreign betting platforms.

As far as data on internet penetration rate from January 2022 reveal, Mauritius is among the top 10 African countries. The coverage amounts to 64.9%, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the iGaming sector has been up and running for quite some time.

Laws and Regulations

Gambling in Mauritius was made legal in 1973 when the then Gaming Act established a legal framework for the operation of gaming houses, pool betting, lotteries, and sweepstakes.

Following the enactment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill the Gambling Regulatory Authority was set up more than 30 years later, in 2007. Until the 2007 Act, the country had a couple of more legislations in charge of governing the entertainment sector, but they were all repealed- the Prize Competitions Act 1975, the Horse Racing Board Act 2003, and the Mauritius National Lotteries Act 2004.

In 2013, some amendments were made to Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007, restricting the maximum payout from gambling machines, and the type of machine which can be offered. As per amendments, the following types were permitted: fruities, simulated races, and video poker.

Despite the fact that the country is relatively small (the population was a bit over 1,265,000 in 2019), the local land-based industry is very active. Horse racing betting and the lottery generate the most interest The country has multiple brick-and-mortar casinos, with quite a solid assortment of games. Le Caudan Waterfront Casino, Casino de Maurice, and Costa Cruises – Fortuna have quite a wealthy offering of slot machines and table games.

On the other hand, even though the country recognizes Internet-based gambling as legal, no licenses have been granted for casinos, poker, betting, and bingo. Mauritians who want to play slots, table games, live games, and other types of games online usually visit offshore betting platforms.

When it comes to taxes, casinos, gaming houses, and gaming machines are charged 50% of gross turnover, whereas pool betting is taxed 10% of gross turnover. Football and horserace betting have slightly lower taxes, of 8% of gross turnover, however, bookmakers are also charged 2%.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures

In July 2016, The Minister for Finance announced a package of gambling amendments to be included in the 2016-17 Budget. The main purpose of these proposals was to tackle problem gambling by establishing a legal framework to support responsible gambling programs. One of the suggestions was to prohibit interactive gambling for local citizens.

On the other hand, responsible gambling is a topic widely discussed not only in Mauritius but other parts of the globe. More and more online casinos equip their platforms with handy tools to help players organize their money and time.

For example, it is possible to set limits on deposits and wager amounts per day, week, or month. Also, they can adjust reminders which would warn them on how much time they are spending on gambling. Those are called reality checks. Also, there’s a cool-off and self-exclusion, in case they want to take a break from gambling for a specific period.

Some casinos have questionnaires or quizzes on their official pages, where people can evaluate their gambling habits by answering a couple of simple questions. 

Payment Methods and Banking

The official currency of Mauritius is called the Mauritian rupee (MUR). It is subdivided into 100 cents. Worth clarifying is that India, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka also have the rupee, but those aren’t the same.

Cryptocurrencies are regulated as Digital Assets under the Financial Services Act 2007. Technically, people can use them to make deposits and withdraw from online casinos.

When selecting the right method to fund the account, and later cash out, players should pay attention to the following details:

• Maximum and minimum amounts per transaction
• Accompanying fees (if any)
• Pending and processing time

When it comes to processing time, it’s of huge importance to check whether the operator requires players to verify their identity. Some don’t require it at all, while most of them impose it as a mandatory step before the withdrawal.

Depending on how complicated the process is, and which documents are needed, a player can have his/her identity verified either instantly, within a single day, or within a couple of days. If this step is completed during registration, or upon making the first deposit, it will significantly speed up the withdrawal process.

What Should Players from Mauritius Pay Attention to When Selecting a Casino?

As the number of new casinos joining the thriving iGaming industry is growing day by day, determining which place is worth your time (and money, after all) can often be challenging. Players are often seduced and deceived by promising surfaces, which advertise free spins, free cash, and tons of rewards, but things sometimes turn otherwise.

For that reason, a player needs to know how to tell the difference between a good and a bad casino. First of all, mind the license. No matter how decent a platform may seem at the first sight, stay away from it if you don’t see a license.

Another thing to inspect is the payments sector, which we already explained thoroughly. Other than this, take a look at the selection of games and providers, plus see if demo mode is available as well. Check how versatile are bonuses and promos, and how reasonable are wagering requirements and other conditions.

Finally, look for a responsible gambling page and see how efficient the customer support department is. If live chat is offered, then reach out to see how efficient and helpful they are.

Once you complete this brief investigation, get down to exploring your favorite casinos. Don’t forget to read the Terms and Conditions- gamble responsibly!

FAQ

Is it legal to gamble online in Mauritius?

Online gambling is legal and regulated in Mauritius, but the country has no locally licensed interactive betting platforms. Mauritians interested in gambling online usually visit foreign betting platforms.

Is demo play available in Mauritius -friendly online casinos?

Almost all casino operators offer demo play/ fun play, but some of them require registration.

What kind of online casino bonuses can Mauritian players claim?

The most commonly claimed bonuses in Mauritius include a welcome bonus, cashback bonus, free spins, and no-deposit bonus.

Can players from Mauritius gamble on mobile devices?

Mauritians like to gamble on their smartphones and tablets. Mobile gambling is not prohibited.

What are the most popular online casino games in Mauritius?

When gambling on the internet, players from Mauritius usually choose slots, tables, and live games, but are willing to explore other genres as well.