Gambia Gambling and Online Casinos

The Gambia is one of the few Muslim countries in Africa where gambling is not banned, but officially allowed and regulated.

Despite the fact that about 90% of the population professes Islam, the country's authorities adhere to a secular and economically pragmatic policy:

• gambling business here is recognized as a legal source of income and tourist flow.

Gambling in The Gambia is represented by casinos, lotteries, bookmakers and a vibrant online sector that is becoming an important part of the country's economy and digital market.

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Historical context

The first legalization of gambling in the Gambia took place back in the 1970s, when the country began to develop tourism on the Atlantic coast.

Together with hotels for European tourists, the first gaming halls and casinos appeared in the capital - Banjul and Serekund.

Since then, gambling has become part of the tourist infrastructure, especially in the Kololi and Kotu districts, where the largest hotels and entertainment centers are concentrated.

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Legislation and regulation

Main regulations:

1. Casino Act (1974) - regulates the opening and operation of casinos.

2. Gaming Act (2001) - establishes a system for licensing and taxing operators.

3. Information and Communication Act (2009) - regulates online activities, including gambling.

4. Financial Intelligence Act (2012) - controls the fight against money laundering through the gambling sector.

Regulator:

• The Gambia Gaming Board (GGB) is an independent agency subordinate to the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for the licenses, audit and control of gambling companies.

Licensing Philosophy:

• licenses are issued for a period of 5 years;
• the company's mandatory legal presence in the Gambia;
• tax on gambling income - 10-15%;
• separate permission is required for online gambling.

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Casino and land sector

Despite the country's compact size, the Gambia has several well-known casinos aimed at tourists from Europe and West Africa.

The main establishments are:

• Casino Gambia (Kololi) - the largest casino in the country, located at the Senegambia Beach Hotel;
• Kairaba Casino (Serekunda) - popular with tourists and businessmen;
• Palm Beach Casino (Kotu) - part of the resort complex;
• Tafbel Casino (Banjul) is a small venue for local players.

The income of land-based casinos in the Gambia is about $20-30 million per year, and more than 60% of customers are foreign tourists.

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Online gambling

Online casinos in the Gambia are formally allowed, but poorly regulated - there is no specific law on online gambling yet.

However, licenses for online operators are issued by the Gambia Gaming Board, and foreign companies can operate under partnership agreements.

Popular brands in Gambia include:

• Premier Bet, 1xBet, BetWinner, Betway Africa, Betika.

Online players use:

• mobile money (QCell Money, Africell Money);
• Visa / MasterCard;
• cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT);
• Skrill, Jeton, AstroPay wallets.

According to the West Africa iGaming Report 2024, there are about 150,000 active online players in the Gambia, and the market size is estimated at $50-70 million annually.

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Economic and tourism aspects

Gambling plays a significant role in the Gambian economy.

The state receives taxes from casinos and bets, and also stimulates the tourist flow from Europe

(especially from the UK, Germany and Scandinavia).

Casino and online gambling:

• create jobs (about 2,000 employed);
• increase budget revenues;
• support the hospitality industry;
• contribute to the development of digital payment systems.

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Cultural and religious context

Despite the fact that 90% of the population are Muslims, the state is officially secular, and Islamic prohibitions on excitement are not included in national laws.

However, the attitude of society towards gambling is ambivalent:

• older generations and religious leaders decry gambling;
• young people and entrepreneurs perceive them as a form of business and entertainment.

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Control and safety

The Gambia Gaming Board collaborates with:

• Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) - anti-money laundering;
• Ministry of Tourism - control over casinos at hotels;
• Central Bank of The Gambia - regulation of payments.

Operators must:

• check the age of players (18 +);
• ensure responsible gambling;
• publish RTP (Return to Player Percentage) for all games.

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Prospects

Short-term: expanding the online sector and introducing a national license for operators.

Medium-term: the creation of the Gambia Digital Gaming Framework - the legal framework for Internet gambling.

Long-term: Making Gambia a regional hub for online gambling in West Africa, similar to Malta or Curaçao in its regions.

According to Africa Gaming Outlook 2030, Gambia's gambling market could exceed $200 million by 2030.

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Gambia is a small country with big gambling ambitions.

Here it was possible to combine the Islamic cultural basis with a pragmatic approach to economics and tourism.

Thanks to licensed casinos, open rules for online operators and the development of mobile payments, the Gambia is turning into a new African digital gambling hub, where tradition and modernity have found a balance.