Is online gambling legal in the Solomon Islands?

No specific tax on player winnings has been identified. Land-based casinos are legal, but they are for foreign visitors only.

Online gambling is not regulated here (online casino, sports betting and online poker grey/partial). Offshore sites are reachable, but if something goes wrong you may have no one to complain to.

Online sports betting is not regulated: no Solomon Islands licence exists for it, and sites offering it operate without one. Online casino is not regulated: no Solomon Islands licence exists for it, and sites offering it operate without one. Online poker is not regulated: no Solomon Islands licence exists for it, and sites offering it operate without one. The lottery is legal on sites licensed in Solomon Islands.

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

Gambling with crypto: Not regulated.

You must be 18 to gamble online in Solomon Islands, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike.

No specific tax on player winnings has been identified in the Solomon Islands' tax code. Winnings are not explicitly defined as taxable income, and the regulatory focus is on operators.

There are approximately 2 licensed operators in Solomon Islands as of 18 Jun 2026.

Always verify a casino holds a valid Gaming and Lotteries Board licence before depositing.

Gaming and Lotteries Board's website

Prominent operators in Solomon Islands

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

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  Use only reputable international sites

  Since there are no locally licensed online operators, players have no local legal protection. It is crucial to use well-known, established offshore brands that hold licences from reputable jurisdictions.

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  Be cautious with cryptocurrency

  The Central Bank of Solomon Islands does not recognize crypto as legal tender and warns of its risks. Any gambling transactions using crypto are unregulated and offer no recourse in case of fraud or disputes.

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  Verify land-based casino legitimacy

  There are only two licensed casinos: Coral Sea Resort & Casino and Pacific Casino Hotel. Be wary of any other establishment claiming to offer legal casino gaming. No public register of licensees is available for online verification.

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  Understand you cannot enter casinos as a local

  Remember that if you are a citizen of the Solomon Islands, you are legally prohibited from entering and gambling in the country's licensed casinos. These venues are for foreign tourists only.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Solomon 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 Solomon Islands. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.

1. 1

   1. Contact the operator directly

   For any issues with an offshore gambling site, the first and primary step is to contact their customer support. As there is no local regulation, there is no local body to mediate this process.

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   2. Escalate to the operator's licensing body

   If the operator is licensed by a foreign authority (e.g., MGA, Curaçao), you can file a complaint with that regulator. However, their willingness and ability to assist players from the Solomon Islands may vary.

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   3. No local recourse available

   The Solomon Islands' Gaming and Lotteries Board has no mandate over online gambling and no formal dispute resolution mechanism for players using offshore sites has been publicly identified.

• Myth

  All forms of gambling are illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  Reality

  This is false. Land-based gambling is legal and regulated under the Gaming and Lotteries Act. There are two licensed casinos in the capital, Honiara.

• Myth

  As a local resident, I can go play at the casino in Honiara.
  Reality

  This is incorrect. A 2004 legal amendment specifically restricts entry to the country's casinos to foreign visitors only. Solomon Islands citizens are not permitted to gamble in these establishments.

• Myth

  It's a crime to gamble on foreign websites.
  Reality

  There is no law that makes it illegal for a player in the Solomon Islands to use an offshore gambling site. The market is an unregulated grey area, meaning it is not explicitly legal or illegal, and authorities do not prosecute players.