Online casinos accepting players from Reunion

Previously known as Île Bourbon, Réunion is an island in the Indian Ocean located approximately 679 km east of the island of Madagascar and 175 km southwest of the island of Mauritius. It is an overseas department and region of France.

Although online casinos are officially illegal in Réunion, and there are no locally licensed betting sites, locals still gamble on the Internet. Just like in other territories where the iGaming industry is unregulated, players interested in playing online casino games visit offshore gambling sites licensed by renowned regulators Europe-wide.

Worth noting is that the internet speed in Réunion is the country’s second-fastest and is almost as quick as in the capital Paris. This is certainly an important precondition for a smooth online casino experience.

Laws and Regulations

Being an integral part of France, Réunion is represented in the National Assembly and the Senate. This means that the territory doesn’t pass its own gambling legislation- it is applied automatically but is not enforced.

France legalized online gambling in 2009 but did not encompass online casino gambling. So, technically, online gambling is not legal in Réunion either, but people who gamble on the Internet are not prosecuted.

As for the land-based sector, the island has a couple of brick-and-mortar casinos packed with all sorts of gaming machines. Casino de Saint-Gilles is equipped with 150 slots, and a solid collection of table games such as English Roulette, Electronic Roulette, Blackjack, Ultimate Progressive Poker, and so on. Villa Delisle, which is both hotel and a casino, features slot machines, card, and table games as well as poker tournaments.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures

France itself is doing a lot in keeping the industry safe and protecting its players from gambling on unlicensed betting sites. In March 2023, France’s gambling regulator, l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) issued blocking and delisting orders against gambling platforms.

Available on the government’s official announcement page, the public blacklist encompasses over 500 companies found to be targeting locals. Upon spotting such a website, the regulator consults with internet service providers (ISPs) to have it blocked within 30-60 days. As far as noted, the list is updated monthly.

On the other hand, such measures are not applied in Réunion, despite the fact that this territory is part of France. Locals have a much wider spectrum of options than consumers residing on the mainland, yet that doesn’t mean they should have no concerns about player protection and the importance of utilizing responsible gambling tools.

Casinos licensed by stringent iGaming regulators usually host a range of useful tools for time and money management such as:

• Deposit, loss, and wager limits
• Reality checks and activity notifications
• Cool-off and self-exclusion

On top of that, some of them feature questionnaires through which consumers can evaluate whether their gambling habits are problematic. What’s even more, sometimes they include links to institutions trained to provide assistance to players experiencing gambling-related harms.

Payment Methods and Banking

Being a French territory, Réunion uses Euro as its official currency. As the number of online casinos accepting EUR is more than solid, players can easily find a site that fits their demands. Cryptocurrencies are not officially regulated and accepted, so it’s up to consumers to decide whether they will opt for this payment method or not.

With regards to methods that can be used to fund the account or withdraw, players can choose between cards, such as VISA or MasterCard, or e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal. In addition to this, pay by phone and bank transfer are alternative options.

When choosing a specific banking option, consumers should always explore whether:

• A certain method can be used for both types of transactions, meaning is it available for both deposits and cashouts
• The minimum and maximum amounts on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
• Some fees are applied; in most cases, no charges are imposed when replenishing the account but there may be some extra costs when withdrawing
• ID verification is needed; this step is sometimes completed during registration, upon making the initial deposit, or when requesting a withdrawal

By checking all these details in advance, a player can avoid lots of misunderstanding but what’s even more important- unnecessary waiting will be eliminated. Make sure to prepare all the required documents so as to complete the KYC as smoothly as possible.

Of course, bear in mind that some online casinos have a pending period of up to a couple of days, so sometimes waiting cannot be skipped. But, as we said, it can most certainly be minimized.

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

When it comes to choosing an online casino, you have two types of players. Some simply access the first platform a search engine suggests, and simply deposit and play, without bothering to take a closer look at the entire offering.

Other players like to investigate a bit before opening the account, so to get at least a rough picture of what to expect from an operator. Our warm advice is to follow this second scenario, for many reasons.

First of all, by reading the Terms and Conditions, you will familiarize yourself with all the important rules related to payments, and ID verifications. But before this, look for a license and if you don’t see it- simply run away and look for an alternative. there’s no point in risking your precious time and money by visiting sites of questionable reputation.

Secondly, take a look at the selection of games and providers. If you are a fan of slots, look for casinos with a highly diversified collection of digital one-armed bandits. On the other hand, if you prefer table games, then choose sites that offer versatile variants of Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat.

Do the same with bonuses and promos. Although all these campaigns look attractive on the surface, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have player-friendly cashout limits and wagering requirements.

Finally, when you finish investigating all these details, see which customer support options are available. Should any issues emerge, it’s nice to know there’s a dedicated team of assistants ready to help you resolve those.

Gamble responsibly!

FAQ

Is it legal to gamble online in Réunion?

Online gambling is technically not legal in Réunion, however, local players gamble on foreign gambling websites.

Is demo play available in Réunion-friendly online casinos?

Réunionese players can explore casino games in fun mode/ demo mode before switching to real money mode. Depending on the operators, some may require registration, the others don’t.

What kind of online casino bonuses can Réunionese players claim?

The most popular bonuses among players from Réunion include welcome offers, cashback bonuses, and no deposit bonuses.

Can players from Réunion gamble on mobile devices?

Mobile gambling is very popular among Réunionese players. While out and about, they can check their favorite casino games or take a look at bonuses and promotions the operator offers.

What are the most popular online casino games in Réunion?

Slot games and table games are favorite genres among Réunionese players, but they also like to explore other categories such as live games, instant wins, scratch cards, bingo, and so on.