Gambling and online casinos in Burundi

Burundi is a small state in East Africa, located between Rwanda, Tanzania and DR Congo.

Despite limited economic resources, the country officially allowed gambling in an effort to attract investment and support tourism development.

Today, Burundi has licensed casinos, a national lottery and betting shops, and online gambling is in its infancy, attracting the attention of international operators.

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Historical context

Gambling in Burundi appeared in the 1980s, during the period of economic liberalization.

The first casino licenses were issued in the capital Bujumbura, where hotel and tourist infrastructure was actively developing.

In 1993, the activities of gambling establishments were suspended due to the civil war, but after restoring stability, the government decided to revive the gambling industry, including it in the service sector development strategy.

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Legislation and regulation

Gambling is regulated by the law "Loi sur les Jeux de Hasard et de Loteries" (2014), and is controlled by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of Burundi.

The main provisions of the law:

• casinos, bookmakers and lotteries are allowed;
• the minimum age of players is 18 years;
• licenses are issued for 3-5 years;
• gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax - 15-20%;
• online gambling is allowed only if there is a local partner;
• gambling advertising is limited and requires regulatory approval.

Control over payments and financial flows is carried out by

The Office Burdais des Recettes (OBR) is the national tax office.

Despite the small scale of the market, Burundi demonstrates a high level of legal transparency regarding legal operators.

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Legal forms of gambling

The following forms of gambling are allowed in the country:

• casinos and gaming clubs (mainly in Bujumbura);
• national and private lotteries;
• bookmakers and sports betting;
• online gambling (in test mode);
• entertainment machines and bingo halls.

The main operators are:

• Casino du Lac Tanganyika is the capital's gaming flagship, offering roulette, blackjack, slots and poker;
• Burundi National Lottery (BNL) - state lottery, existing since 2010;
• Premier Bet Burundi, 1xBet Burundi are international online platforms operating through local partnerships.

According to East Africa Gaming Insight 2024, there are about 10 licensed operators in the country, and the total annual turnover of the sector exceeds $20 million.

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Online gambling

Online gambling in Burundi is officially allowed since 2020, but is at an early stage of development.

The law allows the participation of foreign companies if the servers are located in the country or with an official partner.

Popular destinations:

• online sports betting;
• virtual casinos and live games;
• lotteries and instant draws;
• crypto gambling (not regulated, but popular among young people).

Payment methods:

• Lumicash, EcoCash Burdi - mobile translations;
• Bancobu and Interbank Burdi bank cards;
• cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tether) through P2P platforms.

According to Gaming Africa Report 2024, there are about 80,000 active online players in the country, and the digital segment is estimated at $5-7 million per year.

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Economic importance

Gambling in Burundi has become a source of additional tax revenue and jobs.

Key indicators:

• contribution to GDP - about 0.4%;
• tax revenues - $3 million per year;
• employment - up to 1,000 people in the services and IT sector.

Part of the profit goes to the Sports and Culture Fund, which finances youth projects and national teams.

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Social and cultural context

Burundi is a Christian country with a strong tradition of moderation.

While gambling is not part of popular culture, authorities perceive it as an element of entertainment economics rather than a moral threat.

Religious organizations demand restrictions on youth, and the government supports the campaign

"Jeux Responsables" ("Responsible Games"), urging citizens to play consciously.

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Prospects

Burundi is gradually becoming a new direction for legal gambling in East Africa.

Thanks to a stable policy and support for digitalization, the country is ready to attract foreign investors.

The plans for 2025-2030 include:

• the establishment of the National Online Gambling Licensing Center;
• expanding gambling zones in tourist areas near Lake Tanganyika;
• integration of mobile and crypto payments;
• attracting international operators for local brands.

The market potential with full digitalization is estimated at $50 million per year, which makes Burundi a promising platform for small and medium-sized operators.

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Burundi is a small but ambitious player in the African gambling market.

Legal casinos operate here, online platforms develop, and the state creates transparent conditions for operators.