Gambling and online casinos in Eritrea

Eritrea is one of the most closed and highly regulated states in Africa, where gambling in the classical sense is prohibited.

However, there are limited forms of sweepstakes and lotteries in the country, which are held under the control of the government.

Online gambling has no legal status, but access to international platforms is possible through VPNs and cryptocurrencies.

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Historical context

After gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea chose the path of a rigid centralized governance model.

Authorities have concentrated control of the economy, media and financial flows, including any gambling-related activity.

In the 1990s, there were private gaming clubs in Asmara and Massawa aimed at foreign professionals and tourists.

However, in 2002, the government closed all such establishments, stating that gambling activities were contrary to national morality and economic priorities.

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Legislation and regulation

To date, gambling in Eritrea is regulated through

Civil and Criminal Codes in which gambling is expressly prohibited.

There is no specific law on gambling licensing.

Control over the implementation of the ban is carried out by:

• Ministry of Justice of Eritrea - oversight of violations;
• Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs - blocking Internet sites;
• National Bank of Eritrea - control over transfers and foreign exchange transactions.

Main provisions of the legislation:

• all forms of casino, betting, online gambling and betting are prohibited;
• the organization of games for money entails criminal liability (fines and imprisonment);
• advertising and promoting gambling is punishable by law;
• only state lotteries are allowed to raise funds for social needs.

Thus, Eritrea adheres to a model of total prohibition with elements of controlled raffles for charitable purposes.

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Legal forms of gambling

Despite the blanket ban, the country has a state lottery run by

National Lottery of Eritrea, which organizes raffles for national holidays and government projects.

Social or charitable games are also allowed, where participation does not imply monetary profit, and funds are directed to education, sports or health care.

Any private form of betting - including poker, sports predictions or casinos -

are officially considered illegal.

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Online gambling

Online gambling in Eritrea is not regulated and formally prohibited, but the Internet gives citizens the opportunity to bypass restrictions.

Although access to international sites is often blocked, some users use VPNs and cryptocurrencies to play on foreign platforms.

Popular destinations:

• 1xBet, Stake. com, BC. Game, BetWinner, SportyBet - via VPN;
• crypto-casino with payment in Bitcoin and USDT;
• Telegram bots and anonymous platforms with P2P payments.

However, participation in such games is fraught with risks:

• lack of legal protection for players;
• probability of account blocking or prize confiscation;
• punishment for violation of currency control.

Horn of Africa Digital Trends 2024 estimates that there are no more than 50,000 active online players in Eritrea, most of whom use offshore sites through cryptocurrency wallets.

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Economic and social context

Due to state control over the economy, gambling in Eritrea does not contribute to GDP.

The government is focused on developing agriculture, mining and infrastructure rather than entertainment.

However, there is a shadow gambling market -

private homes and cafes host unofficial card games and bets.

They do not bring significant income to the state, but form an underground segment of entertainment among the urban population.

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Cultural and religious context

Eritrea is a multi-ethnic and multi-denominational country:

• about 50% of the population are Christians, 48% are Muslims.
• Both religious groups have traditionally condemned gambling.

The prevailing opinion in society is that gambling is contrary to cultural values, promotes a thirst for easy money and distracts from work.

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Prospects

The prospects for legalizing gambling in Eritrea are extremely limited.

The government retains strict control over the economy and shows no interest in liberalizing the entertainment sector.

However, experts note that with the development of digital technologies and cryptoeconomics, it is possible to switch to partial regulation of online gambling for foreigners or in special economic zones -

for example, in Massawa or Assab, where ports and hotels are being developed.

The market potential is estimated modestly - about $10-12 million per year, in the event of partial legalization.

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Eritrea remains one of the most closed and conservative countries in Africa in matters of gambling.

Casinos, betting shops and online gambling are banned here, and government policy is aimed at completely eliminating private influence on the sector.