Mauritius is set to eliminate an entire category of gambling licenses as part of its new budget, which aims to expand state oversight on casino operations. Under the 2026/27 budget, the licensing for hotel casinos will be completely repealed. Additionally, the digital games framework introduced in 2025 will be extended to include limited payout machine operators, while all casino and Gaming House servers must connect to the Mauritius Revenue Authority's Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS).
This move represents one of the most significant changes to the gambling landscape in Mauritius since the consolidation of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act in 2007. The reforms come on the heels of previous initiatives aimed at bolstering the credibility of the country’s gambling regulator.
During a parliamentary session held three weeks after the Finance Bill was presented, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced that all betting terminals must be registered with the Director General of the Mauritius Revenue Authority. The requirement for connection to the Central Electronic Monitoring System now extends to casinos and Gaming Houses as part of the 2026/27 measures. This aligns with prior governmental commitments to enhance public confidence in the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), especially regarding its oversight of the horse racing sector.
Reflecting on the government's past reforms, Ramgoolam stated during the last major legislative change on July 4, 2025, that efforts would be made to ensure that the GRA serves as a reliable regulator for the gaming and betting sectors.
The discussions surrounding the gambling reforms for 2026/27 will commence once the Finance Bill is introduced in the National Assembly. On July 3, 2026, the Cabinet confirmed that an economic committee led by the Prime Minister would finalize the relevant legislation, with their first meeting scheduled for July 8.
While Ramgoolam did not touch on gambling in his budget presentation on June 19, detailed provisions are outlined in Section 44 of the budget annex, which includes numerous amendments to the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act. This annex specifies that the definitions of terms associated with hotel casinos will be removed, as those activities will no longer be permitted. Consequently, the special licensing framework that allowed hotels to operate casinos will be rescinded, requiring them to obtain a standard casino license if they wish to offer such services in the future.
The budget also expands the digital gaming licensing regime, which had already made provisions for both casino operators and gaming house operators. Now, limited payout machine operators will be able to apply for licenses as well. The amendment introduces a clear statutory definition of “digital games” for the first time and mandates that every platform must be validated by an accredited independent gaming lab prior to launching.
One of the most crucial changes involves the extension of the Central Electronic Monitoring System, which is operated by the Mauritius Revenue Authority. The annex mandates that the servers and terminals utilized by betting operators connect to the GRA's server, while casino and Gaming House licensees are also required to link up directly with the MRA’s CEMS.
Alongside these changes, the annex will establish new divisions within the GRA: a Responsible Gambling and Communications Division and a Finance and Procurement Division. The new regulations will increase the number of authorized betting terminals for bookmakers from three to five, with one terminal designated exclusively for payouts. Additionally, the tax on horse race betting will now be assessed based on stakes net of payouts instead of gross stakes.
These measures build on anti-money laundering and financial regulations introduced earlier this year. During the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering, Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in April 2026, Financial Services Minister Jyoti Jeetun informed the chamber of amendments to require beneficial ownership disclosures during the licensing process, impose cash transaction limits, and enhance fiscal investigative powers with specific search and seizure protocols and safeguards.
Upon completion of the legislative process for the Finance Bill and the Economic and Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill for 2026, Mauritius will have significantly elevated its fiscal oversight and regulatory control over its gambling sector, advancing licensing reform, enhanced tax monitoring, and strengthened compliance measures. Earlier this year, there were reports alleging poor regulation in the horse racing sector by the newly established Horse Racing Integrity Division, though these claims were disputed by the regulator.
