Top Online Casinos for Papua New Guinea
Officially known as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, this county is the world’s third-largest island country. It is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia, which is a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia.
When it comes to online gambling and gambling in general, these activities are permitted, but there’s still lots to be done to organize both sectors well. Internet-based activities are legal since 2007, but only in venues approved by the local regulator.
Interestingly, no such establishments exist (at least we couldn’t find any), so people from Papua New Guinea look for alternative ways to explore this form of entertainment. Simply put, they visit foreign websites to deposit and play casino games.
Overview of Land-Based Gambling Sector
One of the turning points for the land-based industry of the country was May 2021, when the country announced plans to build its very first land-based casino in the country’s capital Port Moresby. The deal was signed between the National Gaming Control Board and Paga Hill Development Corporation, a privately-held real estate company.
As far as some critics see it, by entering a strategic deal with this corporation, NGCB undermined its independence. It is inappropriate for a gambling regulator to be an investor in gaming ventures - its duty is to ensure compliance and provide requirements for interested companies to follow them.
One of the main concerns is that this casino could increase money laundering and lead to social problems, among which is gambling addiction. The country has no legal infrastructure (penalties, laws, education…) to cope with the potential problems.
On the other hand, officials from the Corporation claim that this project would create numerous job opportunities, and boost tourism in the country. Gambling venues are usually accompanied by a hotel, shopping mall, spa, pool, and other facilities which may attract tourists.
In addition to this, the Board announced their plans to establish rigorous policies which would prevent addictions and money laundering. They will put all the effort to ensure the highest possible socio-economic benefits while avoiding adverse impacts on people.
At the time being, there are a couple of land-based sports betting shops around the country, such as 6-Mile Bookmakers in the capital, Port Moresby.
Regulatory Institution and Laws
The institution in charge of organizing the gambling industry is The National Gaming Control Board (NGCB). This body is governed by the Gaming Control Act of 2007.
Aside from establishing the regulatory framework, NGCB is in charge of granting licenses and supervising the industry. Their goal is to contribute to the long-term economic and social development of the country.
Speaking of 2007, the same bill, Gaming Control Bill, established legal gambling, including sports betting, lotteries, online gambling, casinos, and poker. It became legal for residents of PNG to gamble in both brick-and-mortar and web-based establishments.
Worth noting is that right a South Korean group was granted a license to build a casino complex BEFORE the enactment of the Bill. There were assumptions that the bill would result in more corruption, as it was crafted to benefit the companies with political ties. However, the project was canceled four years later, in 2011, due to some financial issues.
Is it Legal to Gamble Online in Papua New Guinea?
As already mentioned, the same Bill which approved various forms of gambling, greenlighted online activities as well. Residents of PNG are permitted to play casino games online and take part in overseas-based lottery draws.
The Bill also says that both local companies targeting overseas markets and international operators seeking to offer their services in this country are eligible for a license from the NGCB. However, there are no venues certified by the local regulator, which is why PNG players visit foreign websites.
There’s a clause in the Bill that makes it possible for authorities to prosecute punters involved in unlawful, unlicensed gambling. However, it mainly refers to illegal land-based gambling facilities and operators, so locals have no consequences when visiting offshore betting platforms.
In 2012, the company called PNG Lotto received the license from the Board to offer lottery products via mobile phones. The plans were already presented two years earlier, in 2010, but were never implemented due to negative public reaction.
Finally, Bitcoin gambling is growing in popularity in many countries. PNG hasn’t regulated this field yet, but residents use BTC and other cryptocurrencies to deposit and withdraw on overseas betting sites. None of the players has been penalized for using crypto assets to gamble so far.
Player Protection and Responsible Gambling
Even though the planned casino project raises numerous concerns, among which many refer to AML, the country is no longer on the FATF list of countries that have strategic deficiencies in this sector. The country has made a significant improvement.
Having that in mind, it may be assumed that regulations in the gambling industry will be taken seriously as well. As the country is making some progress in eliminating corruption, and increasing transparency, it is expected that the same approach is in organizing and managing the entertainment sector.
Unfortunately, the clauses from the Bill are still just a dead letter on the paper, as they are not practically implemented. For that reason, players should act responsibly and do what’s in their power to stay on the safe side.
When selecting an online casino that accepts players from Papua New Guinea, players should check whether it’s a licensed one in the first place. Avoid registering and depositing in establishments that have no certificate issued by a gaming regulator. Plus, check if PNG is among restricted countries.
Also, check payment options, limits on transactions and banking policies, as well as requirements for ID verification. Explore the selection of games, and providers, to see if the parlor has your favorite studios and genres. Visit the section with bonuses and promos, and read the accompanying rules related to wagering requirements, duration, and so on.
Always read Terms and Conditions, gamble responsibly!
Further Reading
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