Gambling and online casinos in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the largest and most populated countries in Africa where gambling is legalized and actively developed.

Despite the political and economic complexities of the past, Congo has seen strong growth in the entertainment sector in recent years, including casinos, sports betting and online gambling.

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Historical context

Gambling in the Congo appeared during the Belgian colonization.

In the 1970s and 1980s, under the Mobutu Sese Seko regime, casinos and lotteries existed mainly in large cities -

Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, Kisangani.

After the reforms of 2002, when the government began liberalizing the economy, the first laws on private licensing were passed, and since the 2010s the country has opened up to African and European gambling operators.

Today, DR Congo is one of the most active gambling markets in the region, and the capital Kinshasa is considered "Africa's Las Vegas on Congo."

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Legislation and regulation

Gambling is regulated by law Loi n ° 05/002 du 31 mars 2005 relative aux jeux de hasard, as well as by-laws of the Ministry of Finance and Tourism.

Chief Regulatory Officer -

Autorité de Régulation des Jeux et de Paris (ARJP), created in 2014.

Main provisions of the legislation:

• gambling is permitted for persons over the age of 18;
• licenses are issued for a period of 5 years;
• the gambling tax is 15-25% of gross income;
• online gambling is allowed when registering a legal entity in the DRC;
• control over payments and protection of players is mandatory for all operators.

The government is actively fighting illegal operators, while supporting the development of officially licensed platforms.

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Legal forms of gambling

All major forms of gambling activity are permitted in DR Congo:

• casinos and gaming clubs;
• lotteries and instant draws;
• bookmakers and sports betting;
• online casinos and virtual games;
• poker, roulette, blackjack, slot machines.

Loterie Nationale du Congo (LONACO) remains the national operator, and licenses to private companies are issued by the Ministry of Finance.

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Casino and offline gambling

Casinos in DR Congo are concentrated in major cities -

primarily in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma.

Gaming venues attract tourists, diplomats and businessmen, as well as local middle-class players.

The largest casinos in the country:

• Grand Casino Kinshasa - the flagship of the industry, offers roulette, blackjack, poker and more than 200 machines;
• Casino du Pullman Hotel (ex-Grand Hôtel Kinshasa) —
• elite establishment at an international hotel;
• Diamond Casino Lubumbashi is one of the most visited casinos in the southern part of the country;
• Casino Goma Lake View is a modern casino overlooking Lake Kivu.

According to the Central Africa Gaming Report 2024, the annual revenue of offline casinos in the DRC exceeds $60 million, and tax revenues to the budget are about $10 million.

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Online gambling

Online gambling in Congo is developing at a rapid pace.

Thanks to the massive use of smartphones and mobile money, residents of the country are actively betting on sports and playing online casinos.

Although there is no separate law on online gambling yet, the ARJP regulator allows digital activities under a valid offline license.

Popular platforms:

• 1xBet DRC, BetWinner Congo, Premier Bet CD;
• Betika Africa, SportyBet Congo, Bet9ja Africa;
• BC. Game, Stake. com, TrustDice - crypto casino.

Payment methods:

• Airtel Money, Vodacom M-Pesa, Orange Money - main payment methods;
• BGFI Bank, Rawbank, Ecobank - bank transfers;
• cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, TRX) are popular among young players.

According to Africa iGaming Insights 2024, the number of online players in the country exceeds 1.2 million, and the market is estimated at $100 million in annual turnover.

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Economic importance

Gambling has become one of the new sources of economic growth in Congo.

The sector brings stable revenues to the state and contributes to the development of technology.

Key indicators (2024):

• market volume - $160 million;
• tax revenues - $15 million;
• contribution to GDP - about 1.4%;
• employment - more than 3,000 people.

Income from gambling activities is partially directed to

Sports and Education Development Fund, as well as infrastructure projects in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.

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Cultural and religious context

DR Congo is a country with a predominance of Christianity (about 90% of the population), and attitudes towards gambling are moderately tolerant here.

Gambling is perceived as entertainment, but the church and social organizations call for moderation and responsibility.

In the north of the country, where Islamic traditions are strong, gambling is less common, but the law does not introduce regional restrictions.

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Prospects

DR Congo has huge potential for the development of the gambling industry.

By 2030, the government plans to:

• adopt a separate law on online gambling;
• establish a regional licensing centre in Kinshasa;
• implement a digital platform for monitoring operators;
• encourage the use of blockchain payments and cryptocurrencies.

Gaming Africa Index 2030 predicts that the gambling market in DR Congo could reach $300 million, of which 70% will be in the online sector.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo -

one of the most dynamic and promising gambling markets in Africa.

Legal regulation, the explosion of online gaming and technological innovation make the country attractive to investors and players.