Gambia Gambling and Online Casinos

Gambia is one of the few Muslim countries in Africa,

where gambling is not prohibited but officially permitted and regulated.

Despite the fact that Islam is practiced by about 90% of the population,

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.

Gambia gambling represented by casinos, lotteries, bookmakers

and actively developing online sector,

which is becoming an important part of the country's economy and digital market.

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 tourism infrastructure,

especially in the Kololi and Kotu districts,

where the largest hotels and entertainment centers are concentrated.

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 licensing, auditing and controlling 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.

Casino and land sector

Despite the compact size of the country,

there are several famous casinos operating in the Gambia,

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 clients are foreign tourists.

Online gambling

Online casinos in the Gambia are formally permitted,

but poorly regulated - there is no special law on online gambling yet.

However, licenses for online operators

gives 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.

West Africa iGaming Report 2024,

Gambia has about 150,000 active online players,

and the market volume is estimated at $50-70 million annually.

Economic and tourism aspects

Gambling plays a significant role in the Gambian economy.

The state receives casino and wagering taxes,

and also stimulates 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.

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.

💡 "We pray, but we also build hotels.
Allah tells us to work - and tourism brings money"
(local entrepreneur, Serekunda)

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.

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 their regions.

Africa Gaming Outlook 2030,

Gambia's gambling market could exceed $200 million by 2030.

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.

💡 The state does not fight gambling - it regulates it.

Thanks to licensed casinos, open rules for online operators

and the development of mobile payments,
Gambia turns into new African digital gambling hub,

where tradition and modernity found a balance.