Mauritius: Gambling laws, betting and lotteries

Legal overview

Legal overview

Mauritius regulates casinos, bookmakers, pools and lotteries through the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007 and the GRA. Certain remote betting channels are licensed, but the statutory Part XVIII for interactive gambling is not in operation.

Regulatory developments

Interactive gambling remains non-operational under Part XVIII; remote bookmaker permissions must be read narrowly by licence category.

Responsible gambling

Responsible gambling

Gambling participation is adults-only. The GRA operates problem-gambling helpline 8909 and email [email protected].

Regulated

Casino

Current position

Mauritius has a mature premises-based casino licensing system, but its online boundary is unusually important. The GRA lists casino and hotel-casino licences while stating that Part XVIII of the Act, which concerns interactive gambling, is not in operation. A Mauritius guide must therefore keep licensed physical casinos separate from internet casino sites. Remote betting permissions in other categories do not create a general exception for online roulette, slots or card games.

Licensing

Physical casinos and hotel casinos require specific GRA licences.

Online availability

Part XVIII on interactive gambling is not in operation, so a casino licence does not authorise public online casino play.

Advertising and commercial links

Only the activity and venue covered by the GRA permission should be promoted.

Responsible gambling

Casino pages should be 18+, provide the GRA helpline 8909 and avoid suggesting that a locally licensed hotel casino validates an unrelated website.

Regulated

Sports betting

Current position

Mauritius does not use one broad sportsbook licence. The GRA separates football bookmakers, local horse-race bookmakers, totalisators, pools and limited remote-communication permissions. Its website notes that remote local-race betting has been licensed through SMS, while football betting has its own category. A comparison page should name the exact permission and must not translate a narrow SMS or race approval into unrestricted internet betting or casino access.

Licensing

The GRA licenses football bookmakers, race bookmakers, totalisators and pool promoters by category.

Online availability

Some local-race bets may be accepted through specifically approved remote communication such as SMS.

Advertising and commercial links

Promotions must match the authorised sport, channel and premises.

Responsible gambling

Betting content should be adults-only, show the licensed channel and promote fixed limits and the GRA problem-gambling helpline instead of loss recovery.

Restricted

Predictions

Current position

Mauritian law expressly describes pool betting as paying a stake to forecast an event or contingency, with stakes aggregated and dividends paid to winners. That is different from a free editorial prediction. The distinction should remain visible on every page: analysis can discuss likely outcomes, while a paid pool or bookmaker action belongs to a licensed category. Disclosure is essential because the label prediction cannot be used to bypass the narrow limits placed on remote betting.

Licensing

Free analysis is separate from gambling, but paid forecasts are expressly contemplated within pool betting.

Online availability

Remote communication may be used only within an approved betting or lottery category.

Advertising and commercial links

Commercial predictions must not imply a broader licence than the underlying bookmaker holds.

Responsible gambling

Forecasts should never claim certainty. Any linked wagering must be 18+, confined to the authorised channel and accompanied by GRA support information.

Regulated

Lotteries

Current position

Mauritius distinguishes its National Lottery from promotional lotteries, sweepstakes and other licensed draws. The Act's lottery definition also reaches competitions using remote communication and promotional activity on internet, social-media or messaging platforms. Some limited charitable or broadcaster competitions follow a police-approval route instead of a GRA licence. A country guide should identify the precise category, organiser and approval rather than describing every prize campaign as National Lottery activity.

Licensing

The GRA licenses the Mauritius National Lottery, other lotteries, sweepstakes and promotional lotteries.

Online availability

Online or social-media promotional lottery activity falls within the amended statutory definition and requires the appropriate route.

Advertising and commercial links

The organiser should obtain a GRA licence or the specified police approval before promotion.

Responsible gambling

Lottery pages should be adults-only, state ticket and claim rules clearly and direct people concerned about harmful play to helpline 8909 or [email protected].

Regulators and contacts

Regulators and contacts

Primary sources

Primary sources

• Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007 — Gambling Regulatory Authority
• Bookmaker licensing — Gambling Regulatory Authority
• Contact us — Gambling Regulatory Authority
• Problem Gambling Helpline — Gambling Regulatory Authority
• Licence categories and licensees — Gambling Regulatory Authority