The casino planned in French Polynesia will be closed to local residents.
The president Gaston Flosse says the casino that is to be part of the Mahana Beach Resort will only admit foreign guests of the resort.
Flosse has told Tahiti-infos that French Polynesians won't be allowed into the casino even if they book a room.
The casino is being described as integral to the three-billion US dollar resort project but strongly opposed by the pro-independence party and the churches.
Flosse also says it is hypocritical as planes flying to Auckland are full of players who spend their money there and cannot do so in Tahiti.
He says the hypocrisy is complete considering that lotto is legal.