Mauritius Scraps Hotel Casino Licences in 2026 Budget

Mauritius has abolished the "hotel casino" licence category in its 2026 to 2027 budget and will require every casino and gaming house server on the island to connect to the Mauritius Revenue Authority's Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS). The changes, confirmed in Cabinet on July 3, 2026 following Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam's budget speech on June 19, 2026, bring hotel run casinos under the same licensing regime as standalone casinos and put casino floor activity under real time state oversight for the first time.

Key facts

• The definitions of "hotel casino," "hotel casino games," "hotel casino gaming machine" and "hotel casino operator" have been deleted from Mauritian law, as these will no longer be authorised activities, per iGaming Business.
• All casino and Gaming House servers must now connect to the Mauritius Revenue Authority's Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS).
• Bookmakers may now operate up to five betting terminals, up from three previously.
• The budget was presented on June 19, 2026, with Cabinet confirming the finalisation of the legislation on July 3, 2026.

What changed for hotel casinos in Mauritius?

Mauritius has scrapped the separate "hotel casino" licence category entirely. Under the previous framework, hotels could run casino operations under a distinct set of definitions and rules from standalone casinos. The 2026/27 budget deletes those definitions outright, meaning any hotel that wants to keep offering casino gaming must now apply for an ordinary casino licence and meet the same requirements as any other operator on the island.

Why is Mauritius abolishing the hotel casino category?

The change folds a smaller, separately regulated segment into the main casino licensing framework, closing a distinction that had allowed hotel operated casinos to be treated differently from standalone gaming halls. Bringing every casino under one set of rules simplifies enforcement for the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) and removes a category regulators would otherwise need to police separately.

What is the Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS)?

CEMS is the Mauritius Revenue Authority's real time monitoring infrastructure, already used elsewhere in the country's tax system to track transactions as they happen. Extending it to every casino and Gaming House server means the tax authority will now receive a live feed of gaming activity rather than relying solely on periodic operator reporting, a significant expansion of fiscal oversight over the casino floor.

When do the Mauritius casino reforms take effect?

Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam presented the measures as part of the national budget on June 19, 2026. Cabinet confirmed on July 3, 2026 that the relevant economic committee would finalise the implementing legislation, putting the reforms on track to take effect within the 2026/27 fiscal year.

What other gambling changes are in Mauritius' 2026/27 budget?

Beyond hotel casinos and CEMS, the budget expands the digital games regime to bring limited payout machine operators within its scope, and requires every digital gaming platform to hold certification from an accredited independent gaming laboratory before it can operate. Bookmakers also gain more room to trade, with the cap on betting terminals per licence raised from three to five.

Area	Before 2026/27 budget	After 2026/27 budget
Hotel casinos	Separate "hotel casino" licence and definitions	Category abolished, hotels need an ordinary casino licence
Casino server monitoring	Standard operator reporting	Mandatory connection to CEMS real time monitoring
Bookmaker betting terminals	Up to three per licence	Up to five per licence
Digital gaming platforms	No mandatory independent lab certification	Certification from an accredited independent gaming laboratory required

How does this fit Mauritius' wider gambling regulation push?

The 2026/27 reforms build on a gambling framework overhaul Mauritius' parliament last debated in depth on July 4, 2025. Ramgoolam has repeatedly framed the direction of travel as restoring "public confidence in the Gambling Regulatory Authority, particularly regarding horse racing oversight," and ensuring the GRA operates as a trustworthy regulator of the gaming and betting industry, a mandate the CEMS rollout and hotel casino consolidation both serve.

What does CEMS mean for casino operators in Mauritius?

Operators face a direct compliance cost: connecting servers to a government monitoring system is an infrastructure project, not a paperwork change, and it removes any gap between when gaming revenue is generated and when the tax authority can see it. For operators already running compliant, well documented floors, the shift mostly changes reporting cadence. For any operator that had relied on manual reporting to smooth over discrepancies, CEMS closes that room significantly.

Does this affect Mauritius' online or digital gambling operators?

Yes, separately from the casino floor changes. The budget's expansion of the digital games regime to include limited payout machine operators, combined with the new independent lab certification requirement for digital platforms, extends the same tightening logic online: every digital gaming product must now prove, through third party certification, that it meets technical standards before going live.

How does Mauritius compare to other African gambling markets tightening rules in 2026?

Mauritius is not the only jurisdiction on the continent overhauling its licensing approach in 2026. Angola opened a 30 day gambling licensing window earlier this year to formalise operators under a single national framework, a similar consolidation instinct to what Mauritius is doing by folding hotel casinos into its standard casino licence. Both moves point the same way: African regulators are choosing to simplify who holds a licence and how they are monitored, rather than layering on entirely new categories.

What happens next for Mauritius casino licensing?

With Cabinet having confirmed the legislative path on July 3, 2026, the next step is formal enactment of the implementing rules, expected within the 2026/27 fiscal year that the budget covers. Hotels currently operating under the old hotel casino category will need to apply for standard casino licences to continue offering gaming, and casino operators across the board should expect CEMS connection requirements and the new lab certification rule to move from budget commitment to enforced requirement over the coming months.

FAQ

Has Mauritius banned hotel casinos?

No. Mauritius has not banned hotel casinos from operating. It has abolished the separate "hotel casino" licence category, so hotels that want to run casino gaming must now hold an ordinary casino licence instead of a hotel specific one.

What is CEMS in the Mauritius gambling context?

CEMS, the Central Electronic Monitoring System, is the Mauritius Revenue Authority's real time tracking platform. Under the 2026/27 budget, every casino and Gaming House server must connect to it, giving tax authorities live visibility into gaming activity.

When did Mauritius announce these gambling changes?

Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam presented the changes as part of the national budget on June 19, 2026. Cabinet confirmed the legislative process on July 3, 2026.

How many betting terminals can Mauritius bookmakers now operate?

Bookmakers can now operate up to five betting terminals per licence, up from a previous cap of three.

Do digital gambling platforms in Mauritius need certification now?

Yes. The 2026/27 budget requires every digital gaming platform to be certified by an accredited independent gaming laboratory.

Updated July 2026.