Can Tunisian citizens play poker in casinos?

No. Under the current law, land-based casinos are reserved exclusively for foreigners. Tunisians are not permitted to enter or play.

Is online poker legal in Tunisia in 2026?

Technically no, except through state-monopolized sports betting. A new 2026 bill specifically targets “electronic gambling” with harsh criminal penalties, making the use of offshore sites significantly riskier.

What currency is used at the poker tables?

While the Tunisian Dinar (TND) is the local currency, many casinos in tourist zones operate their higher-stakes tables in Euros (€) or US Dollars ($) to accommodate international patrons.

Are poker winnings taxed in Tunisia?

For foreign tourists, winnings at land-based casinos are typically paid out in full. However, the government is currently reviewing its taxation framework as part of the 2026 Finance Bill to increase revenue from the sector.

Where can I find the most consistent Texas Hold'em action?

Casino Veneziano in Sousse remains the most active poker room in the country, maintaining a regular weekly tournament schedule and active cash games during the tourist season.

Tunisia Poker Guide 2026: Tourist Casinos and Online Cracks

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: 2026.03.05

Tunisia offers a unique, dual-layered poker environment in 2026. While it is a Muslim-majority country with strict internal prohibitions, the government has long maintained a “Foreigners Only” exemption to bolster the tourism economy. However, 2026 marks a period of intense legislative friction, as the country moves to modernize its 1974 gaming laws while simultaneously introducing aggressive bills to criminalize the surging digital gambling market.

Tunisia: The 2026 Legislative Friction

The Foreigner Exemption: Live casino gambling remains legal strictly for foreign passport holders. Tunisian citizens are barred from entering gaming floors or participating in any form of live poker. You must present an original foreign passport to gain entry to any regulated room.
The 2026 Criminalization Bill: In January 2026, a high-profile legislative initiative was submitted to the Assembly of the Representatives of the People. The bill aims to criminalize electronic gambling, proposing prison sentences of 1 to 5 years and massive fines (up to 500,000 TND) for those managing or participating in unlicensed digital platforms.
The “Promosport” Monopoly: Currently, the only authorized domestic digital wagering is through Promosport, the state-run sports betting monopoly. All other online poker and betting platforms occupy a high-risk “grey zone” that the government is actively working to shut down through ISP blocks and payment restrictions.

🇹🇳
PRIMARY HUB
Sousse / Djerba

🃏
KEY ARENA
Casino Veneziano

🛡️
STATUS
Passport Required

Tunisia’s Coastal Venue Network

The infrastructure for poker is concentrated in tourist resorts along the Mediterranean coast, particularly in Sousse:

Casino Veneziano (Sousse): The most reliable spot for poker enthusiasts. In 2026, it continues to run its popular tournament schedule on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Buy-ins are typically accessible, ranging from 100 TND (~$32) to 200 TND (~$65), attracting an international crowd of expats and vacationers.

Grand Casino Kantaoui (Sousse): Located in Port El Kantaoui, this venue offers a sophisticated gaming environment. While it focuses heavily on table games like Blackjack and Roulette, it maintains a dedicated poker space offering Stud variants and occasional No Limit Hold’em action.

Le Grand Casino de Djerba: Serving the southern island resort area, this casino caters to a high-end European tourist demographic. It is known for its elegant décor and offers a range of gaming options including occasional seasonal poker festivals.

2026 Key Dates & Events

Assembly Review of the Electronic Gambling Bill (Ongoing 2026): A critical period where lawmakers will determine the final penalties and enforcement mechanisms for digital poker and betting.

Global Game Jam 2026 – Tunisia Sites (January 2026): While not a gambling event, this massive tech gathering in Tunisia highlights the country’s growing digital influence, which the government is now attempting to decouple from the “digital gambling plague.”

Summer Tourism Peak (June – August 2026): The high season for Tunisian casinos. During this window, cash game traffic in Sousse is at its peak, and higher-stakes private games often materialize to accommodate VIP guests.

Online Poker in Tunisia

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Live Poker in Tunisia

Live Poker Legislation in Tunisia

The 1974 Tunisian Gaming and Lottery Act bans any form of gambling in the country. However, the Tunisian government had granted certain exemptions even decades before that, in 1957, a year after their independence was declared in 1956. Thus the new exemption for land casinos that can only serve foreign patrons, which was enacted in 2004, wasn’t without a legal precedent.

Despite what some other sites claim, there is no licencing and regulating body in Tunisia. However, the interpretation and enforcement of the current gambling laws are under the purview of the Ministry of Finance. You can find “commentaries” about gambling laws on the Ministry’s websites in French and Arabic. Here’s an example of a French version which talks about how certain new finance laws apply to the tax revenue collected from legal gambling companies.

The laws themselves are passed by their legislative branch, called the “the Assembly of the Representatives of the People”.

Live Poker Venues in Tunisia

The first and only Tunisia Poker Open in 2009 was held at the Grand Casino Yasmine in the city of Hammeret. They had NLHE events only on their schedule, with buy-ins ranging from €100 up to €1,000. That venue is now called Medina Yasmine Hammamet. However, unfortunately, they have closed their casino facilities.

The coastal city of Sousse is the unofficial gambling center of Tunisia. 2 out of the 4 licenced casinos of the country are located there, and the third one only recently closed.

Casino Veneziano in Sousse has a running poker room. They host 3 No Limit Hold’em tournaments a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The buy-ins are TND100 ($36.50), TND170 ($62), and TND200 ($73), respectively.

Du Cedre Grande Casino, also in Sousse, has a poker room as well. However, it’s very hard to find any information about this casino, let alone their poker room per se – multiple 3rd party sources claim they have a poker room, while they don’t even have a website or a Facebook page.