The islands of New Caledonia are a perfect holiday destination for beach lovers and adventure seekers, but the place can satisfy the needs of any kind of tourist, even gambling fans.
Given that the archipelago is basically French territory, the same laws as in the European country apply, so gambling is completely legal on the islands. This is valid for casino gambling, slot machines, poker, the lottery, as well as online gambling. The same bookmakers that offer sports betting in Canada can be found on the islands of New Caledonia. Casino owners have to obtain a licence in order to operate.
Gamblers who visit New Caledonia have limited options when it comes to brick-and-mortar casinos, considering that at the moment there are only two gaming establishments open to the public on the territory: Grand Casino de Noumea, which is part of the Méridien Hotel, and the Royal Casino & Surf, both located in the capital city.
The Grand Casino is adjacent to the luxurious five-star hotel Le Meridien on Pointe Magnin and offers more than 200 slot machines and 22 table and poker games, including Blackjack, baccarat, and Roulette. Those interested in spinning the reels on slot machines can visit the casino from Monday to Thursday from 11am until 1am, while on the weekends they are open from 11am until 3am. A similar schedule is in place for table games.
Casino Royal, located in Anse Vata, Noumea, is a smaller gambling venue, with 126 gaming machines and 11 table games, like blackjack, punto banco, roulette and baccarat. It is part of Le Surf Hotel and the premises also feature a restaurant, a bar, and more than 200 hotel rooms for tourists.
Besides these gambling locations, tourists can always enjoy some online gambling while on vacation. Gaming aficionados who prefer to spend lazy days in their hotel rooms or lounging on the beach while also placing some bets or chancing their luck at some table games will actually find this option more suited for them.
Online gambling is legal in New Caledonia since 2010 – the same as in France given that it is a French territory – but only three types of gambling are allowed online at the moment: sports betting (live betting, pool betting and fixed odds betting), poker (Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker 4), and betting on horse races.
Since 2010, online gambling is no longer the monopoly of Française des Jeux (FDJ), the French national gambling company, and private operators have slowly began to show interest in the gambling market. Nonetheless, online gambling is much less popular than land-based casinos, mainly due to the harsh taxes imposed on private operators (33%).
Online gambling in New Caledonia is regulated by the ARJEL, which oversees the French gambling industries all over the world. Based on their rules, unlicensed gambling sites from outside the country are blocked and not accessible to New Caledonians and visitors.
However, they are free to wager on licensed and legal gambling websites. Our heartfelt recommendation is to only play at licensed sites in order to keep your personal and card details safe from wrongdoers.
