If you want to open a casino or betting agency in Mauritius, the first step after registering a legal entity is to obtain the gaming/gambling license. Our Mauritius company formation agents have the necessary experience to guide you through the setup and licensing procedure, so we invite you to discover how we can help you in the article below.
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Business registration – the first step to obtaining a gambling license in Mauritius
Setting up a company in Mauritius is mandatory if you want to apply for a gambling business permit. The recommended business forms are the offshore company or the private limited liability company, depending on whether you want to provide your services here or to clients abroad.
The procedure implies:
- reserving a suggestive trading name;
- drafting the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which must stipulate gaming or gambling as a main object of activity;
- filing them with the Trade Register alongside other relevant documents;
- registering for taxation.
Our lawyers in Mauritius can help you prepare the documents for business incorporation.
The types of gaming licenses you can obtain in Mauritius
Mauritius has a relatively simple gambling legislation, which provides for the following licenses obtained by those interested:
- casino;
- gaming machine;
- hotel casino, hotel operator, and hotel casino gaming machine;
- gaming house;
- totaliser operator;
- bookmaker;
- horse racing organizer;
- lottery;
- sweepstake organizer;
- local pool promoter;
- dart game;
- limited payout machine;
- amusement machine and amusement machine operator;
- ad hoc.
Each license has a 1-year validity period and is renewable. Gaming/gambling licenses in Mauritius are all issued by the Gambling Regulatory Authority.
Documents required to obtain a gaming license in Mauritius
Here are the papers to submit to the Gambling Regulatory Authority if you want to obtain a Mauritius gambling license:
- proof of registration of the company (Certificate of Incorporation);
- a description of the activities to undertake;
- proof of payment of the licensing fee;
- details of the person who will act as a manager;
- Anti-Money Laundering Regulations.
Please note that for the manager, it is necessary to file for a Personal Management License, which must comprise:
- the name and residential address of the applicant;
- the place where the activity of the manager will be carried out (this is usually the gaming/gambling facility);
- the type of license of the facility and its validity.
The person appointed must have experience in the gaming sector and must not have committed any criminal offence.
Our company registration agents in Mauritius can assist with the drafting of the necessary documents for the desired type of license.
Can foreign gaming/gambling companies operate in Mauritius?
Yes, foreign operators can offer their services in Mauritius after obtaining an agent of a foreign pool promoter license. The requirements to obtain this type of business permit are similar to those applicable to local companies. Foreign businesses can operate by setting up subsidiaries in Mauritius.
Regulations to comply with by gaming/gambling companies in Mauritius
After obtaining their Mauritius gaming or gambling licenses, businesses must display them on the premises they operate. Furthermore, they are also bound to:
- not allow entrance to people under the age of 18 on the premises or advertise gambling to them;
- pay the renewal licensing fee no later than 15 days after the expiry date in order to avoid penalties;
- appoint an auditor for a period not exceeding 5 years (exceptions apply to dart game collectors);
- file an annual report containing the audited annual financial statements and financial information on their activities with the Authorities, no later than 6 months after closing the reporting period.
For details about obtaining a gaming or gambling license in Mauritius and the taxation of such activities, please contact us.
