Mauritius Eliminates Hotel Casinos, Expands Digital Games in 2026 Budget

Mauritius Transforms Gambling Sector: Hotel Casinos Eliminated, Digital Platforms Prioritised

Mauritius has announced transformative changes to its gambling regulatory framework through its 2026 national budget, including abolition of hotel casino licensing categories, expansion of the digital games regulatory regime, and integration of all casino operations into centralised Mauritius Revenue Authority tax monitoring.

Context

Historically, Mauritius maintained separate regulatory pathways for hotel casinos — casino operations integrated with resort hospitality properties — and other gaming establishments. This licensing structure reflected mid-20th century tourism development strategies emphasising casino resorts as destination attractions.

However, global gambling market evolution has accelerated online platform adoption and reduced physical casino importance. Mauritius's budget reflects recognition of this secular trend, eliminating the hotel casino licensing category entirely. Simultaneously, the government is expanding regulatory frameworks specifically designed for digital games operations, signalling policy support for online platforms.

What This Means

For international casino operators with existing Mauritian hotel casino properties, the licensing category elimination creates immediate uncertainty. Operators must engage with regulatory authorities to understand transition pathways and whether existing operations can continue under alternative licensing structures.

For digital gaming operators, the regulatory expansion creates new market access opportunities. As Mauritius develops its digital games framework, early engagement with the licensing process could secure competitive advantages in an emerging market with favourable tax treatment, established financial services infrastructure, and access to African and Indian Ocean regional markets. The integration of all casinos into centralised revenue authority monitoring also signals enhanced tax transparency expectations for the sector going forward.