Is poker legal in Mauritius in 2026?

Yes. Live poker is fully legal in licensed casinos. Online poker is regulated, but most players use internationally licensed platforms which are accessible and legal for Mauritian residents.

What currency is used at the tables?

The Mauritian Rupee (MUR) is the primary currency. However, major casinos in Grand Baie and Port Louis offer foreign exchange services on-site for USD and EUR.

Do I have to pay tax on my winnings?

A 10% withholding tax applies to wins above Rs 100,000 . For smaller amounts, winnings are usually paid in full, though they must be declared if they exceed Rs 20,000.

What is the most popular poker variant in Mauritius?

Texas Hold’em is the standard for tournaments, but Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) has a strong following in the cash games at Ti Vegas Grand Baie.

Can I play in English or French?

Both! Mauritius is bilingual. Dealers and staff in all major casinos are fluent in both English and French.

Discover Mauritius: The Rising Hub for Poker Enthusiasts

Derick ElominaAuthor

Derick Elomina discovered poker at 14, playing home games with his high school friends. What began as a pastime quickly grew into a passion that shaped his career. By 21, he entered the poker industry as a field reporter — just old enough to step foot inside the casino. Starting as a hand reporter, he steadily honed his craft, blending sharp observation with growing writing skills. Known for his dedication, he constantly roams the floor to capture the action, conduct interviews, and deliver live updates. With a strong commitment to the game and a passion for telling poker’s stories, Derick continues to build his path in the industry.

Updated: 2026.03.04

Mauritius has refined its status as the Indian Ocean’s premier gaming hub in 2026. Under the stewardship of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), the island balances a sophisticated colonial-style land-based casino culture with a transparent regulatory framework. While horse racing remains the national passion, the poker scene has flourished in the tourist districts, offering a professional yet tropical “grinders’ paradise.”

Mauritius: The 2026 Regulatory Landscape

The Regulatory Pillar: The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2007 (v. 2026) remains the governing law. In early 2026, the GRA introduced stricter AML/CFT guidelines (FIAML Regulations 2025), requiring casinos to implement real-time digital verification for all high-stakes transactions to ensure international compliance.
Online Gambling Status: Online gambling is legal and licensed under Mauritian law. While the GRA issues domestic online licenses, many residents and tourists also access major international offshore platforms (like PokerStars and GGPoker ), which operate in a legal “gray zone” as the government continues to modernize local digital oversight.
Taxation on Winnings: Under the Income Tax Act, a 10% withholding tax is applied to any gambling win exceeding Rs 100,000. For lower amounts, players typically receive their full payout, though casinos are required to report all wins over Rs 20,000 to the Mauritius Revenue Authority.

🇲🇺
PRIMARY HUB
Grand Baie / Port Louis

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KEY ARENA
Ti Vegas Grand Baie

🛡️
STATUS
Regulated IR Hub

Mauritius’s Elite Venue Network

The infrastructure for poker is heavily concentrated in the northern nightlife capital, Grand Baie, and the capital city, Port Louis:

Casino Ti Vegas (Grand Baie): The island’s undisputed poker flagship. In 2026, it continues to host the Ti Vegas Poker Tour, attracting international players with professional dealers and dedicated Texas Hold’em and PLO cash game tables. It is located at Grand Baie Coeur de Ville (Super U) and is known for its high-energy atmosphere.

Le Caudan Waterfront Casino (Port Louis): Located in the heart of the capital, this is the largest casino in Mauritius. While its primary focus is on slots and house-banked games, it offers a luxurious environment and high-limit table games for the “high-roller” tourist crowd.

Le Grand Casino du Domaine (Port Louis): Set in a colonial-style estate, this venue offers a majestic and exclusive gaming experience. It is often preferred by VIP players seeking privacy and high-stakes action away from the main tourist strips.

2026 Key Dates & Events

Ti Vegas Poker Festival (January 8 – 18, 2026): A landmark 10-day series that kicked off the year, featuring a €500 NLH Main Event and the Didier Chabaud Cup.

GRA Horse Racing Integrity Review (Ongoing 2026): Following reports of “structural dysfunctions” in early 2026, the GRA is undergoing a rigorous internal audit of its horse racing and betting integrity divisions to restore bettor confidence.

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (March 2026): While a golf event, this major tournament brings a surge of high-net-worth visitors to Heritage Bel Ombre, often resulting in high-stakes “pop-up” poker action in nearby luxury resorts.

Online Poker in Mauritius

Online Poker Legislation in Mauritius

In Mauritius, online poker, like other forms of online gambling, falls under a strict regulatory framework. The government oversees all forms of gambling through the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA). However, online poker is not explicitly legal or widely available in Mauritius, as the country’s regulations primarily focus on land-based gambling activities.

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Live Poker in Mauritius

Live Poker Legislation in Mauritius

Gambling first became legal in the island nation of Mauritius in 1973. The legislation pertaining to gambling that is in effect today is the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act of 2007.

This new law gave the responsibility to licence and regulate gaming establishments in the country to a newly formed government body, the Gambling Regulatory Authority. According to their own website, they have the authority to “issue, renew, suspend or revoke any licence; and issue directives to licensees and impose terms and conditions on licensees; and issue guidelines to licensees; and approve rules of gambling, lottery games, sweepstakes and lotteries; and impose any financial penalty for non-compliance with the conditions of a licence, rules, directions or guidelines; approve any event or contingency on which betting is to be conducted; and register lottery retailers.”

Live Poker Venues in Mauritius

At Casino Ti Vegas in Grand Baie, you can find a poker room running year-round with both cash games and tournaments. Alas, no information is available about the stakes and game types in their cash room, but their website does confirm that they host poker cash games.

As for tournaments, they regularly host African Series of Poker tournaments. It’s a tourney series that has events on their schedule with buy-ins ranging from MUR10,000 ($227) up to MUR50,000 ($1,135).

We have a very similar situation with the venue Monte Games – Casino Mauritius in the town of Vacoas-Phoenix. The website claims they have a poker room, with no additional info on the games. From 3rd party sites, we know that they have hosted poker festivals in the past such as the Little Big Revolution and the Million Revolution. The same goes for the Port Louis Casino Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis – they have a poker room according to their website, but nothing more is known about their game selection.

At the Pallagames Poker Circle in the town of Trianon, you can play No Limit Hold’em cash on MUR25/50 ($0.57/$1.14) stakes. They also host monthly 2-day events with MUR7,700 or MUR9,900 buy-ins. However, their social media has been silent since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020 – they’re possibly closed for good, but there is no public announcement of their closure either. In the past, they have hosted tournament series such as The Pallagames Mini Festival and the Mascareignes Poker Series.