Gambling and online casinos in Tonga

The Kingdom of Tonga is a small Polynesian state in the South Pacific, known for its deep religiosity and traditional foundations.

All forms of gambling are officially banned here, including casinos, betting shops and online gambling.

However, in recent years, digitalization and the growth of cryptocurrencies have generated a new wave of interest in online entertainment, and part of the population is finding ways to play through international platforms.

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Historical context

Gambling in Tonga has never been part of cultural or economic life.

Since independence in 1970, the government has taken a conservative stance, considering gambling contrary to Christian and social values.

All attempts to legalise casinos or lotteries faced strong opposition from religious communities and parliament.

Even tourism projects with casino infrastructure were blocked in the 1990s and 2010s.

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Legislation and regulation

Main legal acts:

• Crimes Act 1926 - prohibits participation in any form of gambling;
• Lotteries Act 1960 - provides for responsibility for organizing and participating in unauthorized lotteries;
• Tonga Communications Act 2015 - used to block illegal online platforms.

Regulator:

• Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Services, which monitors compliance with the ban and blocking sites.

Main provisions:

• gambling (including online) is completely prohibited;
• advertising and promotion of gambling - criminal violation;
• punishment - a fine or imprisonment of up to 2 years;
• gambling licenses are not issued.

Tongan authorities motivate the ban by combating addiction and financial risks, as well as protecting traditional family values.

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Actual situation

Despite the strict ban, interest in gambling in Tonga persists.

The spread of mobile Internet and access to VPN made it possible for citizens to participate in foreign online casinos.

Popular destinations:

• sports and esports betting;
• slots and live games on foreign sites;
• crypto casinos with anonymous transactions.

Popular international sites:

• Betway, Stake. com, BC. Game, 22Bet, Bet365.

Payment systems:

• international Visa/MasterCard cards;
• e-wallets Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money;
• cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Tether (USDT), Tron, Ethereum.

According to Pacific iGaming Insight 2024, about 15,000 Tongans (approximately 10% of the adult population)

regularly use offshore sites, and the annual volume of "shadow" online gambling is estimated at $8-10 million.

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Social and cultural context

Tonga is a deeply religious country, with more than 95% of the population professing Christianity.

The church plays a large role in public life, so gambling is perceived as a morally unacceptable activity.

At the same time, the younger generation, especially residents of the capital Nukualofa, is gradually mastering the online space, where interest in bets and slots is growing, despite cultural barriers.

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Economic context

The gambling industry in Tonga is absent as an economic sector, so the country receives no tax revenue from gambling.

The government prefers to develop tourism, agriculture and financial services.

However, international experts believe that with the partial legalization of online gambling,

Tonga could receive up to $5-7 million a year in tax revenues without disturbing the social balance - subject to strict control and age restrictions.

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Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies have become a "gray zone" for players from Tonga.

Since 2020, interest in Bitcoin and Tron has grown due to the ability to use them for anonymous deposits on offshore sites.

Some Samoan and Tongan IT entrepreneurs are creating VPN platforms and crypto guides to help bypass locks.

The government plans to regulate digital assets through Tonga Digital Assets Bill, but it is not yet clear whether online gambling will be included.

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Prospects

Despite the current ban, discussions of possible partial legalization periodically surface at the political level.

The government is considering creating limited licenses for tourist casinos and introducing a national tax on online gambling for foreign operators.

Potential steps to 2030:

• adoption of the Digital Gambling Regulation Act;
• implementation of a national eGaming platform under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance;
• development of crypto payments and licensing of providers;
• participation in the Pacific Responsible Gaming Initiative.

Forecast: with the legalization of online gambling, the market potential is estimated at $20-25 million per year, primarily due to foreign investment and the tourism segment.

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Tonga is one of the most closed countries in Oceania in the field of gambling, where religion and tradition still determine politics.

Nevertheless, the development of digital technologies and cryptoeconomics creates prerequisites for future liberalization.