Gambling and online casinos in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands is an independent nation in the Southwest Pacific, known for its natural resources, tourism and conservative economy.

Despite the traditional way and small scale, the country has become one of the few in Oceania where gambling is allowed and regulated at the legislative level.

Licensed casinos, state lotteries and sweepstakes operate here, but online gambling has not yet been included in the regulatory sphere, which creates a vacuum between the legal offline industry and the rapidly growing digital sector.

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Historical context

Gambling in the Solomon Islands began to develop after independence in 1978.

The first gaming houses appeared in the late 1990s, and in 2001 the Gaming and Lotteries Act was adopted, which became the legal basis for licensing and taxing gambling.

Initially, the laws focused on terrestrial establishments and lotteries, but with the growth of the Internet and cryptocurrencies in the region, the authorities began to consider the possibility of regulating online gambling, following the example of Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands.

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Legislation and regulation

The main regulation is the Gaming and Lotteries Act 2001, which regulates casinos, lotteries, bookmakers and slot machines.

The regulator is Ministry of Home Affairs, which issues licenses and monitors compliance with business conditions.

Key points:

• casino and lottery licenses are required;
• the minimum age of a player is 18 years;
• taxation of casinos - up to 10% of gross income;
• gambling advertising is restricted but not prohibited;
• online gambling is not regulated (there are no laws prohibiting or allowing activities).

In 2023, the Ministry of Finance proposed the introduction of a separate Online Gaming Regulation Act, which will create a legal framework for eGaming companies, but the project is still under consideration by parliament.

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Ground gambling business

Despite the small size of the country, several licensed casinos operate in the capital Honiara, aimed primarily at tourists and foreign investors.

Main facilities:

• Honiara Hotel Casino is the largest casino with a slot machine room and poker;
• Pacific Casino Hotel - a tourist complex with casinos and sports betting;
• Solomon Islands National Lottery is a state lottery with weekly draws.

These institutions operate under state control and are required to comply with the standards of responsible play and financial reporting.

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Online gambling

Online gambling is not prohibited in the Solomon Islands, but has no official regulation.

This means that local residents can legally use the services of foreign online casinos and betting sites without violating local laws.

Popular destinations:

• slots and live games;
• football and cricket betting;
• crypto gambling and Bitcoin games;
• international lotteries.

Popular platforms:

• Stake. com
• 1xBet
• 22Bet
• BC. Game
• Fairspin. io
• BetWinner

Payment methods:

• bank cards (Visa, MasterCard);
• electronic wallets (Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay);
• cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, USDT, Tron, Ethereum.

Pacific Gambling Monitor 2024 estimates that about 15% of the population of the Solomon Islands has participated in online betting at least once, and the total informal market is estimated at $10-12 million per year.

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Economic context

The gambling industry provides the country with stable incomes.

According to official figures, in 2024, licensed casinos contributed about $4.5 million in taxes to the budget, and the sector provides up to 500 jobs.

The government sees online gambling as a promising area for the digital economy.

Plans include the creation of the Solomon Islands Gaming Authority, which would issue international eGaming licenses similar to those of Vanuatu and Curaçao.

Development potential:

• licensing of foreign operators;
• the use of cryptocurrencies for regulated transactions;
• participation in the Pacific eGaming Alliance regional initiative;
• budget revenue - up to $10 million per year when the program was launched.

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Social and cultural context

Solomon Islands is a country with strong Christian traditions, so the attitude towards gambling is ambiguous.

Most residents support the existence of lotteries and tourist casinos, but oppose free gambling advertising.

The state conducts responsible play campaigns, including cooperation with NGOs and churches.

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Cryptocurrencies and digital perspective

In 2022, the government launched the initiative

"Solomon Islands Digital Economy Vision 2030," which includes fintech, blockchain and digital license development.

One of the directions of the strategy is the creation of an online regulator eGaming and the integration of cryptocurrency payments into the legal economy.

Experts expect that with the legalization of online gambling, the country could become the new digital center of Oceania, aimed at international operators and crypto companies.

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Prospects

By 2030, Solomon Islands can move from an offline model to full eGaming regulation.

Potential steps:

• adoption of the Online Gaming Act;
• the creation of the Solomon Islands eGaming Authority;
• issuance of international licenses;
• introduction of taxes for offshore operators (3-5%);
• development of infrastructure for responsible gambling.

Forecast:

• when launching online gambling licensing, market turnover may exceed $50 million per year, and the country will become one of the key iGaming zones in the South Pacific.

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Solomon Islands is a hybrid jurisdiction where offline casinos are legal and online gambling exists outside of regulation.

The government is moving towards digitalization and international licensing, which paves the way for the creation of a new regional eGaming center.