Gambling and online casinos in Fiji

Fiji is a Pacific tourist gem known for its beaches and resorts, yet the country has a strict and conservative gambling policy.

Although lotteries and sports betting are legal, casinos and online gambling are officially prohibited by law.

However, with the growth of the Internet and cryptocurrencies, a shadow market for online entertainment is forming in the country, where players participate on international platforms without directly violating local bans.

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Historical context

Fiji has inherited a strict gambling stance since the British colonial period.

After independence in 1970, the government retained a restrictive model, considering gambling potentially harmful to society.

In the 1990s, the national lottery was legalized, and betting on horse racing and sporting events were allowed, which are regulated under the control of Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS).

Attempts to open a casino have been made repeatedly -

in the 2010s, the government considered the tourist Grand Casino Fiji project, but it was never implemented due to political and social differences.

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Legislation and regulation

Main regulations:

• Gaming Decree 1990 - the basic law governing gambling;
• Lotteries Act 1978 - lottery procedure;
• Customs & Excise Act 2010 - financial aspects and tax control.

Regulator:

• Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS) - control over gambling and lotteries.

Main provisions:

• a license is required only for lotteries and sports betting;
• casinos and online gambling are prohibited;
• gambling advertising is limited;
• age limit - 18 years;
• foreign sites are not blocked unless they violate local law.

The Fijian government adheres to the principle of "restricted admission," allowing only socially and economically safe forms of gambling.

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Legal forms of gambling

Fiji allows:

• lotteries and charity raffles;
• sports and horse racing betting (via licensed FRCS points);
• sweepstakes and bingo (in non-commercial form).

Examples:

• Fiji National Lottery is the main state lottery;
• Fiji Sports Betting Association - an organization that controls legal betting;
• private bingo halls in Suva and Nadi hosting games under charitable licenses.

No casinos in the country -

their construction is forbidden by law and morally disapproved of by the local population, where Christian and traditional values are strong.

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Online gambling

Online gambling is officially banned in Fiji, but the law does not punish players, so many residents use foreign platforms.

Popular destinations:

• online sports betting through Bet365, Betway, 1xBet;
• slots and live casinos on Stake sites. com, BC. Game, LeoVegas;
• crypto gambling using anonymous currencies.

Payment systems:

• international Visa/MasterCard cards;
• PayPal, Skrill, Neteller;
• cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether (USDT).

According to the Pacific Gaming Report 2024, about 60,000 Fijians regularly play on foreign sites, and the informal online market is estimated at $25-30 million per year.

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Economic context

Fiji does not see gambling as an economic priority.

Income from legal forms (lotteries, sports betting)

bring about $5 million a year, which is less than 0.2% of GDP.

The government is focused on tourism, agriculture and crafts, so the gambling industry is developing slowly and mainly in digital format -

through foreign operators and mobile applications.

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Social and cultural context

Fiji is a Christian country with strong traditional norms, so gambling is perceived ambiguously.

On the one hand, they are considered entertainment, on the other - a source of moral risks.

Nevertheless, the younger generation, especially in Suva and Nadi, is increasingly involved in online gambling, using VPNs and cryptocurrencies to bypass restrictions.

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Prospects

Fiji is gradually revising attitudes towards gambling as tourism and digital services become key drivers of the economy.

Possible steps until 2030:

• the creation of a regional gambling zone at large resorts;
• implementation of pilot licenses for online operators;
• collaboration with Australia and New Zealand through the Pacific Responsible Gaming Network initiative;
• development of fintech payments and blockchain monitoring.

Forecast: if the market is partially legalized, its potential is estimated at $80-100 million per year by 2030, mainly due to online gambling and the tourism segment.

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Fiji is a country with a cautious but gradually changing approach to gambling.

So far, only lotteries and sports betting are allowed, but digital technology and tourist interest are pushing the government to gradually revise the legislation.