Online bingo is technically illegal for residents of Mauritius to access, despite operators being able to obtain licenses to offer services within the jurisdiction (1). This creates a unique paradox where the Gambling Regulatory Authority issues licenses for online gambling operations, including interactive gambling platforms like online bingo, yet residents are prohibited from accessing these domestically licensed games (2). The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 9 of 2007 explicitly authorizes interactive gambling as a regulated activity while simultaneously restricting player access to licensed operators.
The Mauritius government blocks transactions related to online gambling through financial institutions and internet service providers, preventing residents from accessing licensed online bingo platforms (1). However, Mauritius has licensed online gambling operators since 1996, making it one of the earliest jurisdictions to offer licenses for internet gaming operations, even before commercial online gambling became widespread (1). Licensed operators face stringent anti-money laundering requirements from the Financial Intelligence Unit and must comply with ongoing regulatory obligations, including customer transaction monitoring and suspicious activity reporting.
"The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is the AML/CFT regulator for the gambling sector, which comprises operators licensed to operate casinos, hotels, horse racing, lotteries, limited payout machines, sweepstakes, gaming houses, gaming machines, totalisators, bookmakers and interactive gambling under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act."
Players attempting to access international online bingo platforms face blocked transactions from local financial institutions, though the government does not actively prosecute individual players (2). This unusual regulatory structure means online bingo remains unavailable to Mauritius residents despite being technically licensed within the country's borders, creating a market focused entirely on servicing external players rather than domestic ones (1). Until Mauritius amends its legislation to explicitly authorize player access to licensed online bingo operators, residents remain prohibited from participating in regulated platforms while maintaining theoretical access to unblocked international sites.
Source:
https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-africa/mauritius
https://www.fiumauritius.org/fiu/?page_id=2247
Last updated: 01-11-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
