Growing Online Edge of the Mauritius Gambling Sector

Many gaming jurisdictions exist today. Mauritius offers a compact, controlled gambling market. Operators can benefit from entering jurisdictions like Mauritius, which may match investors' requirements better than traditional markets.

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Market Overview

Tourism shapes a large part of the local entertainment economy, so brick-and-mortar venues keep a solid position. The racing community also plays a central role, especially around Champ de Mars and peak event days. National lottery products form a third pillar with wide retail access.

Digital adoption adds a newer angle. With a population of about 1.3 million and smartphone penetration above 70%, app-led betting has room to expand, even if local interactive licensing remains limited for domestic operators.

A useful way to read the sector is to compare 3 lenses:

• where activity sits;
• what players prefer;
• how money moves.

The supplied shares point to lotteries at about 42.9% of activity, horse racing near 33.3%, casinos and gaming halls at around 16.2%, and digital or offshore play close to 8%.

Player choices align with that split. Indicative preferences put lotteries plus horse racing at 60%, while mobile bookmaking and slots with live formats sit at 20% each.

Payment habits show the same mix of old and new. Cash and traditional types lead at 35%, MCB Juice wallets follow at 30%, cards and bank transactions take 25%, and the Digital Rupee sits at 10% as a post-2025 channel.

Market distribution by genre:

1. Lotteries. National products run through Lottotech and stay highly visible via a large point-of-sale footprint. Regular play and jackpot appeal maintain broad adult participation, with proceeds supporting government development initiatives.
2. Horse betting. Wagering around the Champ de Mars sits at the heart of the racing culture, with on- and off-course options. Big-shot days act as demand spikes, and the 2025 shift tied to the Digital Rupee supports a more modern flow for this vertical.
3. Brick-and-mortar casinos. 4 licensed venues operate across the country, with strong reliance on tourist footfall and hotel integration. Slots and table games draw different profiles. Visitors often favour quick amusement formats, while some local players look for higher-spend table sessions.
4. Private gaming spots. More than 20 venues operate with slot machines and limited table options. These places often serve local entertainment needs, especially in urban areas, and they extend access beyond the resort-style setting.
5. Virtual and offshore bookmaking. Foreign platforms deliver sports and casino access to Mauritian residents, even though local interactive rules are not active for domestic firms. Mobile penetration and solid appeal in sports support growth. App use is particularly common among younger adults.

Hard revenue totals are not available, so the clearest picture comes from proxies and operational signals. The country has 4 licensed casinos, a long racing calendar, a lottery monopoly with hundreds of retail touchpoints, and more than 60 official developers listed for 2025 across verticals.

Cost structures also hint at scale. Gaming equipment categories are projected at around US$1.85 million in 2025 as a proxy, while hardware and related segments are expected to show a stable upward trend through the 2031 horizon.

The main growth levers:

• mobile access that supports short, frequent sessions among younger adults;
• digital reforms that strengthen settlement speed and transparency in racing bets;
• tourism demand that sustains casino and resort-linked activity;
• equipment and technology investment that signals modernisation in venue operations.

Participation indicators add another layer. While exact player counts are not provided, the rising popularity of lottery play and casino footfall suggests that roughly 20–30% of the population participates occasionally. The activity is mainly concentrated in urban environments.

The product line-up combines mass formats with tourist-oriented casino favourites, plus a growing online layer through offshore access routes. Lottery draws remain the most prevalent activity, while racing holds a cultural position that keeps demand steady across the season.

Casino offerings focus on slots and classic tables. The mix includes roulette, blackjack, poker variants such as Oasis, baccarat, and SIC BO. Operations are mainly present at locations such as Le Grand Casino and Le Caudan Waterfront.

Digital play expands mainly through sportsbook apps, fantasy sports, and bingo-style products. Social gaming patterns also support interest among younger users, which can lift curiosity towards online poker and casino games.

Player Demographics and Behaviour

The main audience is younger urban males, aged 18–35, with a core segment at 25–40. Male participation sits near 80%, while female uptake rises more clearly through social and mobile formats.

Income trends point towards mid-to-high earners who treat gambling as leisure spending. Short sessions and low-to-medium stakes appear common, which fits a cautious style shaped by conservative cultural context and responsible play norms.

Tourists often behave differently. Visitors from South Africa and Europe tend to favour slots and table games in resort-linked venues, with higher-spend peaks around holiday periods and event activity.

The most common player patterns:

• urban mobile bettors who prefer sports and quick sessions;
• habit lottery and racing participants who value familiarity and community;
• tourist casino visitors who focus on slots and classic tables.

Governance and Player Protection

Oversight sits under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007, which sets the framework for casinos, racing, lottery, and restricted online activity. The official body operates as an independent agency under the Ministry of Finance, with responsibility for approvals, supervision, and enforcement.

Player safeguards are a visible part of the structure. Participation is limited to adults aged 18 and above, self-exclusion is available, and a national helpline supports responsible gambling. Unlicensed activities are prohibited, and enforcement includes penalties for breaches.

The framework is built on three principles:

• fairness and integrity;
• preservation of public order;
• the Authority’s power to issue directives, guidelines, and sanctions.

Technical rules for machines and server environments also matter, with updates in 2024 focused on stronger security and randomness standards.

Anti-money laundering control is built into the system. The regulator acts as the sectoral authority for AML and CFT compliance under the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2002 and reports to the Financial Intelligence Unit as part of the operator duties.

Approvals come through the Gambling Regulatory Authority, and application forms are tied to the operator’s activity type. Fit and proper checks matter, financial capability must be demonstrated, and facilities are subject to inspection.

Permissions carry conditions such as credential display, adherence to operational rules, and annual renewal. One-time events can also be authorised, with an advance process that requires submission 15 days before the activity.

Online gambling has specific rules. Local interactive rules are not active for domestic companies, while international firms can provide services offshore to legal residents, subject to the framework’s wider requirements that apply to players and general compliance expectations.

The licence structure:

1. Casino and hotel play floor permissions are tied to venue operations and game schedules.
2. Horse racing and totalisator licences are linked to track-based activity.
3. Lottery operator and retailer registration are built around exclusive structures.
4. Bookmaker and gaming house permissions are aligned with gross-based requirements.

Fees and Levies

Financial obligations vary widely by vertical, so operators must budget by activity type rather than assume a flat burden. Effective levy rates shown in the supplied figures sit around 17% for casino tables, 37% for slots, 32% for gaming houses, 16% for horse racing, and about 47% for the lottery operator contribution.

Those values align with the activity-based structure that combines base rates and a responsible gaming levy. Table activities in casinos carry a 15% charge on gross takings plus a 2% responsible gambling deduction, while slot machines sit at 35% plus the same tax. Gaming houses carry 30% plus the 2% levy, and horse racing bookmakers pay 14% on gross stakes plus 2%.

Lottery funding works differently. The operator contribution sits at 47.16% to a government fund, which reflects how this vertical supports public projects through net proceeds allocation.

Operational duties add extra layers. Taxes are administered by the Mauritius Revenue Authority, and filings go through an electronic Value-Added Network. Failure to comply triggers financial penalties.

Winnings also have a withholding component. Operators must deduct 10% from prizes above $2,000 and remit these amounts monthly. Record keeping is required for payments above $400, which supports auditability and accounting expectations.

The 2025 Finance Act amendment (August 8, 2025) introduced a key change. The update recognises the Digital Rupee as a form of “cash” for horse race betting. The adoption makes it possible to support faster and more transparent settlement for wagers in this segment.

The amendment also introduced structural oversight upgrades. A Horse Racing Integrity Division was established, alongside an Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Division. Both departments were designed to tighten supervision around a betting space that can attract cash-movement risks.

The overall intent is modernisation without opening the door to uncontrolled expansion. At the time of the provided material, no further announcements exist on wider iGaming legislative expansion beyond these initiatives.

The reform package brings direct implications:

• Digital Rupee use for racing wagers with quicker, clearer settlement mechanics;
• integrity oversight that strengthens monitoring around race-linked activity;
• AML and CFT focus that targets risks tied to cash-heavy betting patterns.

Competitive Landscape

The current environment mixes state-linked pillars with offshore access points. Local activity is anchored by regulated operators that run lotteries, racing, casinos, and gaming houses, while online access for residents often comes through platforms licensed outside the country.

Pure-play local iGaming brands do not define the scene. Instead, the structure leans on traditional formats, with the regulator listing 63 licensed providers for 2025 across verticals such as casinos, gaming houses, lotteries, and bookmakers.

Lottotech acts as the exclusive national operator and runs three products, including Loto, Football Pools, and Loto Vert. The retail network sits at nearly 770 points, and proceeds contribute to public funding.

The Mauritius Turf Club controls events at Champ de Mars and runs an event calendar from March to December under sanction. Racing also shows signs of modernisation through technology relaunch work, and settlement improvements tied to the Digital Rupee framework.

Venues also form a visible layer. Four state-owned casinos operate in Mauritius, and private gaming establishments add scale on the ground. Offshore platforms provide sports betting, casino, live dealer, and eSports access to residents, often through licensing in jurisdictions such as Curacao, with launch activity noted from 2018 for one such platform.

Official information on the approximate share split has not been published, so distribution relies on reasonable proxies drawn from activity signals. On that basis, lotteries and horse racing likely hold 70–80% combined, supported by mass participation and deep cultural roots.

Casinos and gaming houses typically sit next, with a 15–20% range linked to tourism and venue-driven entertainment. Offshore online play remains smaller in total activity, with a 5–10% band that grows through mobile adoption in younger segments.

Partnerships and Alliances

Modernisation efforts depend on partnerships that support racing operations, tourism venues, and payment flexibility. The Mauritius Turf Club partnered with Racing and Sports in 2025 to support an end-to-end technology relaunch at Champ de Mars, which also increased global visibility.

Resort relationships matter for casinos. Hotel–hall integrations help tourism operators align with licensed venues, which supports steady footfall and on-site entertainment demand.

Lottery operations depend on a different type of partnership. Lottotech works with a large retailer base, often made up of family-run businesses, which helps keep products accessible across the country.

Fintech links add a newer track. Digital Rupee acceptance in racing bets points to future expansion routes for betting platforms that want faster settlement and lower cash risk.

The most visible partnership tracks:

• racing technology relaunch support tied to Champ de Mars operations;
• resort and casino tie-ins that link entertainment with tourism infrastructure;
• lottery retailer networks that scale access through hundreds of outlets;
• fintech opportunities connected to Digital Rupee settlement in racing wagers.

Consumer Trends

According to Statista, users are cautious but increasingly adopt digital convenience. Many locals prefer familiar formats like lotteries and race days, which also carry a community feel. Conservative values tend to keep frequency moderate, while responsible gambling tools reinforce safer patterns.

Offshore sports betting apps attract younger adults, especially for football and racing-linked wagering, and sessions often stay short with low-to-medium stakes.

Preferences from the supplied breakdown reflect that balance:

• 60% of volume in lotteries and horse racing;
• 20% in mobile sports betting;
• 20% in slots plus live formats.

Payment behaviour mirrors the same transition. Cash still leads at 35%, yet wallets already take 30%, and cards with bank transfers account for 25% in offshore contexts. The Digital Rupee sits at 10% as a post-2025 channel, with the key advantage of immediate, transparent settlement and reduced cash-movement exposure.

A notable detail lies in mobile wallet usage. MCB Juice records more than 7,000,000 monthly transactions, with a 20% year-on-year increase in 2023, which supports the case for wallet-led gambling payments as digital adoption grows.

Opportunities and Challenges

Growth opportunities exist where traditional regulation meets modern technology. Digital horse racing platforms stand out as a natural next step, especially with clearer settlement mechanics and integrity oversight that can build trust.

Tourism-focused casino concepts also hold potential, particularly when resort integration shapes a complete leisure package. Youth-compliant mobile channels are another route, provided operators build responsible gambling tools into the experience rather than treat them as optional extras.

Entry barriers remain real. Licensing expectations are strict, fit and proper scrutiny is standard, and AML reporting adds workload that can shape timelines. High effective rates in certain verticals also reduce margin room, especially for slots and gaming houses, where burdens sit around the mid-30% range once levies are included.

Offshore competition adds operational pressure. Residents already access sports and casino offers through external platforms, which can pull demand away from regulated offerings, even as oversight aims to keep the local environment controlled.

The Main Things about the Mauritius iGaming Market

Mauritius maintains tight gambling supervision, favouring regulated land-based formats connected to tourism and local culture. The strongest change driver now comes from virtual settlement reform, especially through the 2025 Digital Rupee step in racing wagers.

Key aspects to remember about Mauritius gambling:

• Lotteries and horse racing dominate overall activity, supported by retail reach and cultural habits.
• Casinos and gaming houses rely heavily on tourism, while local participation stays strongest in urban areas.
• Offshore platforms drive most online access for residents, and mobile sports betting leads that shift.
• Effective burdens vary sharply by vertical, with higher pressure on slots, gaming houses, and lottery contributions.
• The Digital Rupee update modernises horse race betting settlement and adds stronger integrity and AML oversight.

If you plan entry or expansion, focus on compliant partnerships, activity-specific budgeting, and payment flows that match the country’s move towards faster, more transparent settlement.