Is online gambling legal in the Marshall Islands?

There is no government body or dispute service for players, and you have no legal recourse against operators. The only exception is event permits for fundraising by registered non-profit organizations, such as bingo or raffles.

Online gambling is not legal here. Playing on offshore sites can get you into legal trouble.

Online sports betting is banned in Marshall Islands. Online casino is banned in Marshall Islands. Online poker is banned in Marshall Islands. The lottery is banned in Marshall Islands.

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Marshall Islands: Legal.

Gambling with crypto: Banned.

We have no record of a minimum gambling age in Marshall Islands. As all commercial gambling is illegal, there is no legal age for participation.

Population ~42,000; no regulated gambling.

No operator holds an active online licence in Marshall Islands as of 2 Jun 2026.

No national licence for online gambling exists here, so a site taking deposits from players in Marshall Islands is not licensed locally, whatever licence it shows from elsewhere.

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  Assume all gambling sites are illegal.

  There are zero legally licensed gambling operators in the Marshall Islands. Any website claiming to be licensed for or by the Marshall Islands is fraudulent.

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  Understand there is no player protection.

  Because the market is prohibited, there are no mandated rules for responsible gambling, player fund segregation, or game fairness. Players have no legal recourse against operators.

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  Do not confuse non-profit permits with commercial licences.

  Permits for charity bingo or raffles are event-specific, for non-profits only, and do not authorize any form of commercial or online gambling.

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  Be aware of active enforcement and penalties.

  The government actively enforces its ban. Engaging in illegal gambling is a criminal offense under the 1998 Act, with penalties including fines and imprisonment.

What the rules mean for bonus offers you see in Marshall Islands. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.

We have no record of a national self-exclusion scheme or problem-gambling helpline in Marshall Islands. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.

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   1. No Official Recourse

   As all commercial gambling is illegal under the Gaming and Recreation Prohibition Act 1998, there is no government body, regulator, or official dispute resolution service for players. Any funds wagered with illegal operators are at risk and cannot be recovered through legal channels in the Marshall Islands.

• Myth

  It's legal for me to gamble on offshore websites.
  Reality

  This is false. The Gaming and Recreation Prohibition Act 1998 prohibits all forms of gambling for residents. The government has proven it will take action against offshore sites, as seen with the shutdown of CasinoChan's services in 2026.

• Myth

  Crypto gambling is allowed because the country has a digital currency.
  Reality

  Incorrect. The national ban on gambling applies to wagers made with any 'thing of value,' which includes all cryptocurrencies. The country's digital currency project (SOV) is separate and does not legalize crypto gambling.

• Myth

  Since I see charity bingo games, gambling must be tolerated.
  Reality

  No. There is a very narrow, specific exception for fundraising activities (like bingo or raffles) by registered non-profit organizations. These require a specific permit from the local government for each event and do not signal any tolerance for commercial gambling.