Vanuatu, though not yet widely recognized as an online gaming licensing jurisdiction, is making a come back.

Aiming to become a top-tier licensing jurisdiction for online gaming, Vanuatu is offering a stable environment for gaming operators to conduct business. The combination of political stability, advanced infrastructure, and a low tax regime makes Vanuatu an attractive location for the online gaming industry.

Over time, Vanuatu has developed a secure financial infrastructure with a focus on a low tax regime, making it a five-star financial and commercial investment centre.

In 1999, the Vanuatu government legalized online gaming. The licensing process is overseen by the Finance Ministry and the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue. Anyone seeking a licence must undergo a rigorous approval process, including background checks on their gaming systems, financial security, and corporate competency.

At an event held in Port Vila, the nation’s capital, the Minister for Finance, John Salong, and the CEO of the Vanuatu Gaming Authority, Macyn White, (in photo above), officially announced the updated regulations under the Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Act. These amendments modernize the previous Vanuatu licences that originated in 1993.

Trusted iGaming jurisdiction

The new regulations, designed for operators targeting pre-regulated markets, will enable Vanuatu to implement a fully online application process.

The newly formed Vanuatu Gaming Authority will administer the online portal, aiming to reduce processing times while maintaining rigorous background checks on all applicants.

Updating its new online licensing framework from 1993, the new regulations, aimed at operators targeting pre-regulated markets, have a process in place that is administered by the newly established Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA). The licensing includes a €5,000 application fee, a €10,000 annual licence fee, a 15-year validity period, and a flat 1 percent tax on gross gaming revenue. The Vanuatu Department of Customs and Inland Revenue will act as the gambling regulator, with VGA processing applications in a public-private partnership. The new licence is primarily aimed at B2C operators, with provisions for additional URLs for a fee. The updated regulations aim to balance high compliance standards with operational freedom for licensees, with the goal of re-establishing Vanuatu as a trusted eGaming jurisdiction.

iGaming was established in 1999

During the event, several key details about the new licence were discussed in relation to the role of gambling regulator being fulfilled by the Vanuatu Department of Customs and Inland Revenue, with the VGA processing applications as the exclusive agent in a public-private partnership arrangement.

Over time, Vanuatu has developed a secure financial infrastructure with a focus on a low taxes, making it a five-star financial and commercial investment hub.

In 1999, the Vanuatu government first legalized online gaming.

The Interactive Gaming Act of 2000 established the regulatory framework for online gaming activities and allowed for the issuance of a Vanuatu interactive gaming licence for casino games, fixed odds wagering, and pari-mutuel games conducted within the country.

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