Land-based poker is legal in Sao Tome and Principe under legislation adopted in 2004 and enacted in April 2005, which governs all forms of land-based gambling through licensed facilities (1). The law permits individuals above 18 years to participate in games of chance in licensed casinos, with gaming activities conducted only at casino locations with licenses awarded by the Minister of Tourism (2). The Pestana São Tomé Resort operates as the only casino in the country, offering poker and other gambling activities within a 5-star hotel complex.
Online poker exists in a grey area as internet gambling is not specifically mentioned in existing gambling laws, making it an unregulated territory (1). The government does not monitor or license web-based casinos or any type of internet gambling, nor has the dedicated agency within the Ministry of Finance addressed the issue of regulated distant gaming (2). However, the government does not ban offshore gambling sites, allowing residents and tourists to freely use services of overseas operators without legal consequences.
"The government does not monitor web-based casinos or any other type of internet gambling. What is good news for players is that it does not ban offshore gambling sites, therefore anyone in the islands can easily visit and gamble on international sites."
Despite internet infrastructure developing slowly with web access at approximately 33%, online gambling in Sao Tome and Principe is gradually becoming popular with potential for growth (1). No local online casinos are licensed by the state, leaving players to access foreign websites that accept residents of Sao Tome and Principe (2). The lack of regulation requires players to exercise caution when selecting online poker platforms, relying on registered offshore sites with proper licensing from other jurisdictions to ensure safety and fair play.
Source:
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-sao-tome-and-principe/
https://lcb.org/restrictions/sao-tome-and-principe
Last updated: 10-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
