Solomon Islands iGaming Market Research Report

The Solomon Islands is a Pacific island nation with a relatively small population, just over 700,000. It has an interesting presence in the iGaming industry through its land-based casino and gambling operations, centered in the capital, Honiara. With its history rooted in gambling laws from as far back as 1961 under British governance, the country has come a long way in establishing gambling laws as they pertain to tourism and the economy, especially with land-based casinos. Even though physical casinos operate as the dominant gambling venue, the online aspect of iGaming is in a legal gray area, with a low penetration rate of online access through the Internet—only about 12 percent of the population has dependable access to the Internet. 

Limited access to online platforms means limited growth opportunities online; however, authorities are starting to recognize the need to not only regulate the online gaming sector but also develop it. In the case of Solomon Islands, regulations are in place for land-based gaming, overseen by the National Gambling Control Board—things like licensing and compliance. With the anticipated growth of digital infrastructure and willingness for technological adaptation, Solomon Islands has emerging opportunities in the iGaming space that may give it some future market growth.

Market Overview

Market Size and Growth

The gambling market in the Solomon Islands is relatively small, but it has growth potential in both land-based and online gambling. Land-based gambling is the primary factor now, where there are currently 4 casinos (in Honiara, the capital), which contribute to the local economy with tourism and are relatively well supported. Revenue figures pertaining solely to gaming in the Solomon Islands are not readily available to the public, but we can anticipate trends from the global gambling market. 

Market research estimates indicate that the global gambling market was expected to grow from around $572.55 billion in 2024 to $618.69 billion in 2025, at an approximate CAGR of 8.1, with online gambling being the largest growing segment at over 10%. The Solomon Islands may follow the same growth pattern over a longer period, which the wider Asia Pacific region may benefit from once better-developed digital infrastructure becomes part of the broader strategy.

Table 1: Solomon Islands iGaming Market Size and Growth Projections

Major types of games available

The various forms of gaming that are popular in the Solomon Islands are typical and similar to many regions around the world, including traditional casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, and slot machines. Poker occupies a specific niche, as there is live poker in at least one major casino, the Pacific Casino Hotel in Honiara, and there are video poker machines around the rest of the country. 

Sports betting is less entrenched locally, but is available through online foreign players due to a limited number of local online sites. Slots are still very popular with gamblers, with a huge number available to suit all player types, including adventure and fantasy-themed games that are mostly popular with Solomon Islands players. While the online market had not materially emerged in the domestic market, online players did access international poker and sports betting sites.

Table 2: Popular Game Types in Solomon Islands

Demographics of Players

In terms of demographics, the majority of players are likely to be adults aged 18 and older, as online gambling is popular among the 18-39 age group globally, and it is likely that the player demographics in Solomon Islands reflect a younger population profile. Male players massively dominate the online gambling landscape, comprising more than 80% participation on average, whereas females represent a minority. While males tend to prefer competitive games such as poker and sports betting, slots and casual games tend to attract people from all demographics, including females. 

As with traditional forms of gambling, socioeconomic measures have a bearing on gambling behavior. In general, having higher income levels is associated with having more favorable attitudes to their gambling behaviors, as higher income is linked to higher gambling rates, but with a lower risk of having gambling problems, as seen in similar markets.

Table 3: Player Demographics

Regulatory Landscape

Overview of Existing Gambling Regulations

The regulatory framework for gambling in the Solomon Islands is ultimately based predominantly on the Gaming and Lotteries Act, which was first enacted in 1961 while under British rule and has gone on to be amended several times, including a current amendment process. The Gaming and Lotteries Board is the primary regulatory authority that is responsible for licensing, approving, regulating, and enforcing compliance across all gambling activities, including casinos, lotteries, and somewhat limited, online or electronic gambling. 

The minimum age to legally gamble using any gambling option is 18 years. All gambling operators, either land-based or online, must have a license to operate; however, online gambling in the Solomon Islands is not currently regulated under a comprehensive legislative framework, meaning that the sector resides predominantly in legal gray areas, largely due to internet limitations and agenda-based legislative specificities.

Licensing Requirements and Regulatory Bodies

Licensing requirements consist of a submitted detailed application to the Gaming and Lotteries Board outlining the business entity, proposed operations, financial disclosures, and other information. Licenses are granted only after sufficiently completing due diligence and the prescribed regulations that monitor gaming activity, ethical behavior, anti-money laundering activity, and player protection programs. Unlicensed activity is penalized with various sanctions, ranging from financial penalties, custodial sentences and ceasing the operation of a business. While land-based casinos are clearly regulated, there remains limited regulation for online gambling. No licensing regime specifically applies to domestic iGaming operators. However, gambling online is not prohibited for residents, and many international online gambling platforms are accessed legally by residents.

Table 4: Regulatory Authorities and Licensing Requirements

Details on Taxation and Compliance

The Gaming and Lotteries Act contains provisions for tax compliance for gambling revenue; operators are required to pay tax on their gaming income. The most up-to-date tax rates that relate to Solomon Islands are not available to the public; however, as in all jurisdictions, operators continue to have compliance obligations, which include financial reporting, and compliance is managed through audits. 

Compliance also extends to the intrastate industry’s responsibility for responsible gambling policies and cybersecurity controls that guarantee fairness in gameplay and consumer data protection.

Table 5: Gambling Taxation and Compliance

Upcoming Changes in Legislation

Legislative changes are expected to accommodate the increasing online component of gambling, to reflect the government’s intention to modernize regulations to encompass digital gambling options, strengthen consumer protections, and minimize risks associated with unregulated remote gaming. The changes may bring a more defined licensing regime, tax regime, and more robust enforcement regime to provide the Solomon Islands with an opportunity to meet international best practice for iGaming and unlock the potential of the iGaming sector.

Competitive Landscape

Key Market Players

The competitive landscape of the gambling market in the Solomon Islands includes mainly a small number of local land-based casino operators and an increasing presence of international online gambling brands legally accessible to residents. In the local market segment, there are very few land-based casinos. For instance, the two major land-based casinos providing a traditional casino gambling experience for residents in the capital city of Honiara are the Pacific Casino Hotel and Coral Sea Resort & Casino. These casinos have a dominant position in the physical gambling market for gambling forms such as poker, roulette, slots, and blackjack, among others. There are limited competitors for the local gambling experience, and relatively few operators with high geographic concentration of operator footprints locally, with these few land-based properties catering to both residents and tourists visiting the islands. 

Market Share Distribution

In the online segment, the Solomon Islands does not yet have any established local iGaming operators, but is able to access many international online casinos that have great exposure in the jurisdiction. The international brands would generally, even if not exclusively, license from jurisdictions like the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority, and these included numerous larger operators, including 1xBet and many others. International brands provide online players a wide range of games, including slots, live dealer games, poker, and sports betting. While the distribution of the market share is not presented publicly by International gaming Operators, these larger offshore operators have many markets of influence through their Internet and offshore platforms.

Table 6: Key Market Players and Market Share Distribution

Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

The partnerships and strategic alliances are currently limited within the market in Solomon Islands, as the gambling market is just getting underway with digital gambling infrastructure and regulation. However, there are possibilities for partnerships with local casino operators and international technology providers or payment solution companies. Such partnerships would move quickly to build out regulated online gambling opportunities as regulatory digital and payment accessibility improves, including expanding reach within Solomon Islands and the Pacific.

Table 7: Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

Consumer Trends

Player Behavior and Preferences

Player behavior in the gambling market in the Solomon Islands continues to favor traditional land-based casino games, as there is a limited online gambling infrastructure available to players. However, with improvements in internet access and mobile device usage, there is an evident migration pathway towards online gaming platforms. Players are more interested in engaging in Poker, Slot machines, and other table game options like blackjack and roulette. As online live dealer games reach maturity in overseas markets, they could potentially alter the live game preferences of players when players are more confident in using technology. 

Payment Methods and Technological Trends

Payment methods are changing quickly, with cash payments being the preference of land-based casinos, while mobile payments, digital wallets, and even cryptocurrencies are appearing more often in online gaming channels. The emergence of cryptocurrency allows players to transact faster and with greater privacy, appealing to tech-oriented players; however, adoption is still very limited on a broad scale at this point. Operators are also using artificial intelligence and analyzing data to enhance players’ individual experiences and promote responsible gambling, as public concerns about gambling addiction and underage gambling increase. Being proactive helps operators to foster trust and develop credibility for continued player interactions.

Social and Cultural Influences on iGaming

iGaming behavior is influenced by social and cultural factors in the Solomon Islands in fundamentally different ways. Gamble is culturally accepted as entertainment in local attitudes and behavior, and is socially reinforced by tourists. However, there is recognition of the social risks of gambling and calls for a more structured discussion on responsible gambling and education. Given the oligarchic nature of island society, regulatory responses and community efforts to limit the drama from gambling have broader social opportunity costs, creating a lasting social contract for operators to act with transparency and fairness.

Table 8: Consumer Payment Methods and Technological Trends

Opportunities & Challenges

Opportunities:

• Significant growth for new players due to expected improvements in regulation.
• Growing legal and regulated online gambling sector in Solomon Islands.
• The opportunity to introduce modern mobile and blockchain-based gaming products.
• The use of tourism-based land-based casinos to cross-promote digital offerings.
• Investments in digital infrastructure are improving connectivity and access.
• New developments in AI personalization are providing enhanced experiences for players.
• Growing interest in mobile-friendly live dealer games.
• Increasing acceptance of crypto-based payment platforms to facilitate faster, secure payment transactions.

Challenges:

• Low penetration of the internet (around 12%) is limiting the growth of the online market.
• Existing regulatory gaps in some areas, such as licensing and oversight of online gambling.
• Navigating the unique challenges associated with being based across multiple islands.
• Inefficiencies in the public sector are slowing efforts made towards regulation modernisation and overall support.
• Existing social issues surrounding gambling – e.g., gambling addiction, underage gambling -require responsible gambling processes.
• An improved system of payment needs to take place to facilitate all transactions.
• The established offshore operators with significant market shares act as competition, presenting challenges to new entrants.
• Continuing to ensure issues of cybersecurity and data privacy surrounding new digital gambling offerings remain top of mind.

Conclusion & Recommendations

The iGaming sector in the Solomon Islands is at an early stage, with strong foundations in terrestrial casinos but still considerable development in the online space. Stakeholders need to monitor regulation developments closely and should be prepared to engage with changing compliance obligations. Key recommendations for entry include working with partners in digital ecosystems to build infrastructure, engaging with regulators on licensing, and investing in secure and mobile payments adapted to emerging economies. 

Future Outlook for the iGaming Sector in Zambia

The outlook for the iGaming industry in Solomon Islands is positive, fueled by the growing appetite for online and digital options and technological developments, assuming there is regulatory clarity and improvement of the infrastructure over the next few years.

Data and Sources:

1. PacLII.org: The official Gaming and Lotteries Act of Solomon Islands, including amendments.
2. Solomon Islands Government Portal: Information on obtaining gaming and lotteries licenses.
3. Solomon Islands Trade Portal (PDF): Gaming and Lotteries legislation overview.
4. Lawzana.com: Profiles and regulation overview of gaming lawyers in Solomon Islands, with insights on compliance and enforcement.
5. CasinoLandia.com: Overview of local and online casinos accessible to Solomon Islands players.
6. SoMuchPoker.com: Details on poker, events, and gambling laws in Solomon Islands, including casino operators.
7. SlotsUp.com: Information about online casinos playing a role in the Solomon Islands market.
8. GGRAsia.com: Insights about popular international operators accessible by Solomon Islands players.

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