Vanuatu Casinos
Online casinos in Vanuatu operate within one of the world’s longer-established offshore licensing regimes. Vanuatu was among the first countries to license online gambling, under the Interactive Gaming Act (Cap 261), with licences issued by the Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA) under the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue. After the regime lay largely dormant for around a decade, Vanuatu relaunched a modernised Interactive Gaming Licence in July 2024. The framework is export-oriented: it lets operators serve international and pre-regulated markets under a single, multi-vertical licence, rather than building a domestic consumer market.
This page explains the legal status of online casinos in Vanuatu, how the VGA licenses operators, and what the offshore model means. It is an informational overview rather than a recommendation to play.
Are online casinos legal in Vanuatu?
Vanuatu operates a licensed offshore online gambling regime under the Interactive Gaming Act, administered by the Vanuatu Gaming Authority. A modernised licence relaunched in July 2024 lets operators serve international markets under one multi-vertical authorisation. The model is export-oriented rather than aimed at a domestic market.
How online casinos in Vanuatu are regulated
Vanuatu holds a notable place in iGaming history as one of the first jurisdictions to license online gambling, under the Interactive Gaming Act (Cap 261). Licences are issued by the Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA), which operates under the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue and is a member of the International Association of Gaming Regulators. The licensing framework sets requirements including local company incorporation, a designated local representative, anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing compliance, and responsible-gambling measures.
The relaunched interactive gaming licence
After the regime lay largely dormant for about a decade, Vanuatu relaunched a modernised Interactive Gaming Licence in July 2024. A single licence covers online casino, sports betting, poker, lottery-style games and cryptocurrency gambling, with a low tax on gross gaming revenue and relatively fast processing. The framework is a B2C model aimed at operators targeting grey or pre-regulated markets, so its focus is serving players abroad rather than building a domestic consumer market in Vanuatu.
Playing responsibly
Wherever a site is licensed, players should confirm its licensing and protections before playing. For information and support on safer gambling, resources such as BeGambleAware are available, and you can read more country guides in our countries section.
Who regulates online casinos in Vanuatu?
The Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA), operating under the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue, licenses and oversees online gambling under the Interactive Gaming Act. It is a member of the International Association of Gaming Regulators and relaunched a modernised licence in July 2024.
What does a Vanuatu gaming licence cover?
A single Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Licence covers online casino, sports betting, poker, lottery-style games and cryptocurrency gambling under one authorisation. It is an export-oriented B2C licence aimed at operators serving international and pre-regulated markets.
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