Sao Tome and Principe are actually two separate islands which were uninhabited by people until the end of the 1400s. Portuguese voyagers were the first to discover the island, followed by a century of slave bartering and sugar plantations being created. Although the country is now independent of Portugal, Portuguese is still the official language which is understood by all.

Online Casinos Sao Tome and Principe
For today’s online casino guide, we’re going to be directing your attention toward the online casino scene in Sao Tome and Principe. We’ll also be telling you a bit about the laws regarding gambling in the island nation.
Popular Sao Tome and Principe Casino Sites in 2023
Rank | Casinos | Rating | Bonus | Safe Link |
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History of Gambling in Sao Tome and Principe
There isn't much information about the detailed history of gambling in Sao Tome and Principe. As we've mentioned, Sao Tome and Principe was a Portuguese colony from the late 1400s until its independence in 1975.
While the country and people have a lot of influences from the Portuguese, including the language, there isn't much to be said about whether the colony or the colonizers participated in gambling activities. The gambling act was legalized in the early 2000s, and it is widely believed that before that, gambling was prohibited.
Sao Tome and Principe Gambling Laws
Land-based gambling in Sao Tome and Principe was legalized in 2004. However, the laws didn't come into effect fully before some time in 2005. Most sources suggest that before this, the activity was considered to be prohibited.
The Gambling Act of 2004 created a legal framework to oversee all gambling activities in the island nation, including regulating gambling establishments, taxes and maintaining order in the nation's gambling industry.
Online gambling in Sao Tome and Principe is not exactly licensed or regulated. The act only states that operators cannot provide online gambling services with the same license they have for their land-based casinos. This does not indicate that online casinos are illegal. Therefore patrons are not discouraged from visiting international casino sites.
Land-Based Casinos
Sao Tome and Principle legalized gambling and most gambling activities in 2004. And although it has been many years since the legalization, there haven't been too many casinos built in the nation.
When we write this article, the two islands appear to share one singular casino, which is part of the Pestana Sao Tome Hotel and Casino. The casino currently doesn't offer many table games, but it provides some of the best slots to play.
The Future of Online Gambling in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe isn't exactly a hotspot for gamblers all over the nation. Many African countries have used the attraction of online and land-based casinos as a means of boosting tourism and the economy. But Sao Tome and Principe don't appear to have many land-based casinos, and the online casino presence is even more scarce.
Unless there is a huge change in the gambling sector or internet usage among the people in Sao Tome and Principe, we can't exactly say that the future of online gambling in the nation is very bright.
Local Banking Methods
Local payment methods are an absolute must when it comes to online casinos. In a country where there hasn't been an immense amount of technological advancement, there aren't a lot of options for international payments. So, for local punters, casinos should offer some form of localized banking. Among some of the international casinos, you might even find casinos that accept Bitcoin.
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Sao Tome and Principe Casinos by Category
With many Sao Tome and Principe casinos, we have ranked 10 of the best online casinos according to their best features. The full list below:
🎰 Best for online slots | Spinaway Casino |
🎲 Best for table games | Jackpot Village Casino |
💎 Best live casino | GGBet Casino |
⚡ Best for payout speed | Raptor Casino |
💳 Best for banking method | Dream Vegas Casino |
🤵 Best for support | 20Bet Casino |
📋 Best for security | Casimba Casino |
🏆 Best mobile casino | LeoVegas Casino |
✔️ Best for beginners | Boo Casino |
🚀 Best for our team | Megarush Casino |
Conclusion
We can't explicitly say that we recommend the Sao Tome and Principe online casinos since none are specific to the region. However, we can talk about the international casinos in Sao Tome and Principe, and we can safely say that those are great.
The casinos on our Sao Tome and Principe list have been verified and are secure, so you won't have to worry about creating an account with them. However, for any other casinos that might be established in the future, you should verify before opening an account.
FAQs
Now that you have all the relevant information about casinos in Sao Tome and Principe, you probably want to go ahead and create an account right now. But before that, we'll let you look at the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the subject.
Are online casinos legal in Sao Tome and Principe?
Yes, online casinos are technically legal in Sao Tome and Principe. The act of gambling was legalized in 2004 and it states that online casinos are allowed to operate with a license separate from land-based ones.
Which is the best online casino in Sao Tome and Principe?
We’ve already prepared a list of the best casinos in the jurisdiction for you. But in case you want to focus on a single casino with the best features, we’d suggest Playluck casino. It has the best website along with some great features.
Which Sao Tome and Principe online casinos have the best payouts?
We didn’t exactly focus on any Sao Tome and Principe casinos online specifically with the thought of payouts in mind. But if we compare all the casinos on our list, the one with the best payouts is probably Mansion casino.
Do all Sao Tome and Principe casino sites take debit cards?
No, not all Sao Tome and Principe casinos take debit cards. It is the most common form of payment but not all casinos might offer it. But most of the casinos on our list do take debit cards as a form of payment.
Do all Sao Tome and Principe online casinos offer secure deposits and withdrawals?
All the Sao Tome and Principe online casinos on our list have been thoroughly vetted. And you can rest assured that they offer secure deposits and withdrawals. In the case of casinos that are not on our list, you would have to verify them yourself.
Are there any withdrawal fees for Sao Tome and Principe casino players?
Most Sao Tome and Principe casinos don’t require a withdrawal fee. However, depending on the currency you are using and the payment method, you might incur some transaction fees or some withdrawal charges.
Can I play with Dobra at Sao Tome and Principe casinos?
Yes, you can play with Dobra at any Sao Tome and Principe casino. However, we haven’t found many offshore casinos that accept Dobra as a form of payment.