This is a guide to brick and mortar as well as online casinos in French Polynesia. Find out what the best casinos and online casino sites are in French Polynesia, or learn more about the legal status of casino gambling in the country.
Online casinos in French Polynesia
Legal status: illegal, players are not prosecuted
Online casino gambling is most likely considered illegal in French Polynesia, even though it is not explicitly mentioned by the country’s gambling laws. French Polynesia is an archipelago consisting of 118 islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is divided to six groups of islands. The capital, Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands.
French Polynesia had been a French protectorate from 1840 until 1946, at which point the country’s status was changed to overseas territory; changed once again to overseas country in 2003. As the only French overseas country at the moment, French Polynesia has significant independence concerning its internal matters, with the right to veto French laws if they are in conflict with internal regulations.
This means that the online casino gambling laws of France do not apply automatically in French Polynesia, which makes the legal status of online casinos quite interesting. While casino gambling is legal in France, online casinos are considered more addictive, and as a result are explicitly banned. In French Polynesia, on the other had, casinos in general are also illegal. The French Polynesian gambling laws do not specifically ban online casino gambling, however.
As a result, it is currently not possible for online casinos to obtain a gambling licence in French Polynesia. Accordingly, there are no online casinos based in French Polynesia. However, even though online casinos are not allowed to operate in French Polynesia, there is nothing in the laws against individual players participating in online casino gambling. Most international online casinos welcome players from French Polynesia, and many of them are also available in French. Certain online casino sites may be blocked by ISPs from French Polynesia, but the gamblers themselves face no repercussions for playing.
Online casinos accepting players from French Polynesia
The following online gambling websites accept players from French Polynesia:
RichPrize Casino
- 100% match bonus, up to $400 + 25 free spins, no code needed
- Confirm email or phone, apply code: LADYDAY, make deposit from 21 to 400 EUR/USD and receive 88% + 88 free spins, limited time only, if it is no longer valid, please drop a comment and let me know
- Confirm email or phone, apply code: WEST100 make deposit pf at least 21 EUR/USD and receive 100 free spins, limited time only, if it is no longer valid, please drop a comment and let me know
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: Bonus wagering x40 applied.
- Free spins wagering x40 applied.
Wagering limitation:
- 7 days to wager bonus.
- Slots wagering allowed.
- Slots wagering participation 100%.
- Min bet 0.01 EUR - Max bet 3 EUR.
- Betting Games wagering not allowed.
- Providers allowed for wagering: Limited to enabled games only.
- Player can cancel bonus at any time. Please note: Upon cancellation of the bonus the balance will be adjusted to the balance before bonus activation.
Land-based casinos in French Polynesia
While casino gambling is legal in France, it is not allowed by the gambling laws of French Polynesia. At one point, casinos had been legal in the country – or at least in the capital. There had been multiple casinos in operation on the island of Tahiti: the Hotel Kon Tiki Pacific & Casino, the Hotel Prince Hinoi & Casino and the Hotel Royal Papeete & Casino. Today, however, they have all been forced to shut down.
The main reason for the prohibition of casinos in French Polynesia is a worry about the social effects of problem gambling on French Polynesian players. Multiple religious groups also strongly oppose the introduction of casinos to French Polynesia, just like Oscar temaru, the former president of the country.
Since casino gambling is currently prohibited in French Polynesia, there are no licensed casinos in the country – however, that does not mean that casino gambling is completely absent. Underground gambling is definitely present on the islands; to the point where lawmakers are considering legalising casino to be the least harmful of choices. Still, due to the aforementioned opposition, no proposals for legalising casinos have passed. There is, however, a single legal option for casino gambling in French Polynesia: cruise ships visiting the islands are allowed to offer casino games, but only to the passengers.
Other forms of online gambling in French Polynesia
Similarly to online casinos, most other forms of online gambling are also banned in French Polynesia. This is also a difference from the French laws, as the latter allow both online sports betting and online lotteries – these are considered less addictive than online casinos.
The Pacifique des Jeux offers sports betting, lottery and keno in the Pacific region, operating in cooperation with the French Francaise des Jeux. While the French version offers its games online as well, in accordance with the French Polynesian gambling law they are only available at physical retailers on the islands.
Operating online gambling ventures is not allowed in French Polynesia, but it is not completely clear whether the locals may play on the website of the affiliated Francaise des jeux or not. On the other hand, since online gambling is not explicitly banned on the level of individual players, locals are actually free to choose from international online gambling sites. Most of these online lottery, online sports betting and online poker sites welcome players from French Polynesia.
The following online gambling websites accept players from French Polynesia:
RichPrize Casino
- 100% match bonus, up to $400 + 25 free spins, no code needed
- Confirm email or phone, apply code: LADYDAY, make deposit from 21 to 400 EUR/USD and receive 88% + 88 free spins, limited time only, if it is no longer valid, please drop a comment and let me know
- Confirm email or phone, apply code: WEST100 make deposit pf at least 21 EUR/USD and receive 100 free spins, limited time only, if it is no longer valid, please drop a comment and let me know
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: Bonus wagering x40 applied.
- Free spins wagering x40 applied.
Wagering limitation:
- 7 days to wager bonus.
- Slots wagering allowed.
- Slots wagering participation 100%.
- Min bet 0.01 EUR - Max bet 3 EUR.
- Betting Games wagering not allowed.
- Providers allowed for wagering: Limited to enabled games only.
- Player can cancel bonus at any time. Please note: Upon cancellation of the bonus the balance will be adjusted to the balance before bonus activation.
This article supplements the general guide to the legal status of gambling in French Polynesia.
Simon’s Guide to Land-based and Online Casinos in French Polynesia is part of Simon’s Online Casino Guide.
Last updated: 2021-01-16
Gamble responsibly,
SimonTheSorcerer
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