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Is online gambling legal in Samoa?
Status of online casinos, the regulator, the minimum age and where to get help, with our sources and the date we checked them.
Short answer
Online casino play is lawful only with an operator holding a Samoan interactive gaming licence, and no such licensed operator serving residents was found. The minimum age to gamble is 21.
Legal overview
Gambling in Samoa is governed by two statutes. The Casino and Gambling Control Act 2010, in force since March 2013, created the Gambling Control Authority and regulates casinos; a later amendment added an interactive gaming licence in section 88A, and offering interactive gaming without that licence is an offence carrying a fine of up to 500 penalty units. The Gaming Control Act 2017 then lists the forms of gambling that are allowed, among them casino gambling authorised under the 2010 Act and interactive gaming, including online sports betting, for which a licence has been issued, and declares that all other forms of gambling are prohibited and illegal. Nobody under 21 may gamble.
Casinos are not open to the local population. Section 24(3) of the 2010 Act limits casino entry and play to holders of a foreign passport who are staying at the casino hotel complex or another hotel, together with officers on duty, so Samoan citizens without a foreign passport cannot play.
No interactive gaming licence could be confirmed as issued, and trade reporting from 2025 states that there is no working process for licensing online operators and no licensed online casino serving Samoans. Offshore sites are nevertheless reachable and are used by residents, without any legal protection if a dispute arises. Because casinos are reserved for foreigners and online gambling is lawful only with a Samoan licence that no operator holds, the site classifies Samoa as blocked. The offences in the 2017 Act are aimed mainly at those who run gambling; no prosecution of an individual online player was found.
| Status | Restricted market |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Gambling Control Authority (Samoa) |
| Main law | Casino and Gambling Control Act 2010 (No. 10 of 2010), as amended; Gaming Control Act 2017 (No. 23 of 2017) |
| Licensing model | The Gambling Control Authority licenses casinos, which are restricted to foreign passport holders staying in hotels, and may issue interactive gaming licences under section 88A, although none could be confirmed as issued. |
| Online casinos | Online casino play is lawful only with an operator holding a Samoan interactive gaming licence, and no such licensed operator serving residents was found. |
| Advertising rules | The Gaming Control Act 2017 has no general advertising rules, but section 53 requires telecommunications providers to offer an opt-out from text messages that promote gambling. |
| Minimum age | 21 years |
| Currency | WST |
| Self-exclusion scheme | Not disclosed |
| Last checked | October 25, 2026 |
FAQ
Can Samoans play in Samoa's casinos?
No. Section 24(3) of the Casino and Gambling Control Act 2010 limits casino play to foreign passport holders staying in hotels, plus officers on duty.
Is online gambling legal in Samoa?
Only with a Samoan interactive gaming licence under section 88A of the 2010 Act; no licensed online operator was found, and other forms of gambling are declared illegal by the Gaming Control Act 2017.
What is the gambling age in Samoa?
21. Section 8 of the Gaming Control Act 2017 prohibits anyone under 21 from gambling.
Sources
This overview is editorial information, not legal advice. Laws change; the regulator's own publications are binding.