Gambling and online casinos in the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands is a Pacific state that became one of the first digital offshore companies in the region where gambling was legally recognized and regulated by the government.

Thanks to the favorable tax regime, flexible licensing and support for blockchain projects, the country has become a promising center for online gambling and fintech startups.

Today, the Marshall Islands actively attracts international operators, providing licenses for online casinos, poker, betting and crypto gambling, as well as developing a legal framework for protecting players and monitoring transactions.

---

Historical context

Gambling in the Marshall Islands has long had no official status.

Until the 1990s, the country did not consider this sector as a source of income.

The situation changed with the development of offshore financial services, when the government decided to use the status of a free economy to attract foreign companies and investments.

In 2002, a law was passed allowing online gambling to be licensed.

It was from this moment that the Marshall Islands became one of the few Pacific countries providing a legal basis for eGaming companies.

Unlike neighboring states, the country relied not on tourism and physical casinos, but on digital licensing and offshore control.

---

Legislation and regulation

Main regulations:

• Gaming and Betting Act (2002) - regulates the licensing of online gambling and betting;
• Interactive Gaming Regulations (2004) - sets requirements for Internet operators;
• Money Laundering Prevention Act (2018) - controls financial flows in the digital sector;
• Digital Economic Zone Act (2020) - opens up opportunities for blockchain companies, including crypto casinos.

Regulator:

• Marshall Islands Gaming Commission (MIGC) - responsible for the issuance and control of licenses, as well as compliance with fair play standards and AML/KYC checks.

Licensing Philosophy:

• licenses are issued to local and foreign companies;
• online casino activities are completely legal with a license;
• cryptocurrencies may be used in calculations;
• the minimum age of a player is 18 years;
• taxation: up to 3% of the operator's gross income.

The state encourages the development of gambling as part of the digital economy and actively cooperates with international audit companies to ensure transparency.

---

Online gambling

Online gambling is the main gambling business in the country.

There are no physical casinos, but internet gambling licenses are issued to companies focused on international markets -

primarily Asia, Europe and South America.

Popular destinations:

• online slots and live casinos;
• sports and esports betting;
• poker, bingo and lotteries;
• crypto-gambling.

Benefits of a Marshall Islands license:

• Quick company registration (up to 10 days)
• remote license registration;
• permission to work with cryptocurrencies;
• absence of VAT and income taxes outside the country;
• high international reputation.

Marshall Islands licensed companies are active in Asian and European markets, offering secure and certified platforms.

---

Economic context

Gambling has become an important part of the digital sector of the economy.

Along with court registration and financial services, licensing online gambling brings a stable income to the budget.

Master Data (2024):

• active eGaming licenses - more than 60;
• tax revenues from the sector - about $15 million per year;
• contribution to GDP - 2.8%;
• about 500 local specialists are employed in supporting structures (IT, jurisprudence, audit).

The government focuses on transparency and cybersecurity, implementing international AML standards and ISO certification for eGaming companies.

---

Social and cultural context

There are no casinos and public gaming halls in the country.

The population of Pere is focused on tourism, fishing and civil service, so gambling does not have a significant cultural impact.

Religious organizations do not object to licensing, since the activities of operators are focused exclusively on foreign markets.

---

Digital technologies and cryptocurrencies

Marshall Islands are actively developing blockchain infrastructure.

In the 2020s, the country launched the SOV project, a state-owned digital currency that can be used for online payments and licensing of eGaming companies.

Key initiatives:

• Digital Economic Zone (DEZ) - offshore zone for IT and gambling;
• collaboration with Ripple and Chainalysis to track crypto transactions;
• simplified e-Residency system for foreign companies.

This makes the Marshall Islands one of the most technologically advanced jurisdictions in Oceania, where crypto gambling develops under state control.

---

Prospects

By 2030, the government plans to strengthen the country's position as the leading digital licensing center in the Pacific.

The main steps of development:

• expansion of the Digital Economic Zone;
• implementation of smart contracts for operator licensing;
• integration of AI monitoring to detect fraud;
• cooperation with other jurisdictions (Malta, Curaçao, Vanuatu).

Forecast: by 2030, the turnover of the gambling sector could reach $150-200 million per year, mainly due to international licenses and crypto games.

---

The Marshall Islands is one of the most advanced jurisdictions in Oceania for online gambling and crypto casinos.

A transparent and flexible legal framework has been created here, allowing operators to work at the global level, and the state to receive stable income without harming society.