Gambling and online casinos in Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is a small West African state where gambling is in its early stages of development.

The country inherited from Portugal an element of European legal culture, but over the years of independence it has not created a clear system of regulation of the gambling business.

Today, there are no official casinos in Guinea-Bissau, and gambling in general is in the "gray zone":

• they are not prohibited, but nor are they regulated in detail.
• The main legal form remains lotteries and sports bets, which bring the state a small but stable income.

---

Historical context

After independence in 1973, gambling in Guinea-Bissau was absent for a long time.

The socialist model-oriented state did not view gambling as part of the economy.

Only in the 1990s, with the transition to market reforms, did the first private lotteries and betting points appear.

However, there is still no single law on the regulation of gambling, and all projects work on scattered permissions

Ministries of finance or municipal authorities.

---

Legislation and regulation

Gambling in Guinea-Bissau is governed by pinpoint administrative acts rather than a separate law.

Basic standards:

1. Decree of the Ministry of Finance (1995) - allows national lotteries.

2. Decree No. 07/2004 - allows licensing of bookmakers.

3. Financial Code (rev. 2016) - provides for the taxation of "entertainment activities," including gambling.

Regulation is performed by:

• Ministério das Finanças - licensing and revenue control;
• Direcção Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (DNJL) - supervision of lotteries;
• Banco da Guiné-Bissau - control of money transactions.

In practice, regulation is minimal, and most gambling activity occurs without licenses, but under the informal supervision of local authorities.

---

Legal forms of gambling

1. Lotteries

The main operator is Loteria Nacional da Guiné-Bissau (LONAGB), created with the support of Portuguese specialists.

It holds national draws and instant lotteries, and part of the profits goes to social programs and sports.

2. Sports betting

Bookmakers are actively developing in Bissau and other major cities.

The most famous brands:

• GuineBet, Premier Bet, 1xBet Africa, BetWinner.

Most companies operate on franchises of international operators, and bets are accepted both in cash and through mobile payments.

---

Casinos and gaming halls

There are no official casinos in Guinea-Bissau for 2025.

Attempts to attract foreign investors were made several times, but no project was implemented due to political instability.

In the capital, Bissau, there are only small gaming salons offering machines and roulette, but without an official license.

These establishments are focused mainly on tourists and wealthy locals.

---

Online gambling

Online gambling in Guinea-Bissau is not regulated by law, but Internet access to international sites is free.

Residents of the country actively play on offshore platforms:

• 1xBet, Stake, BC. Game, 22Bet, Betway, Bet365.

Ways to pay:

• mobile wallets (Orange Money, MTN Money);
• Visa/MasterCard bank cards;
• cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, Tron);
• e-wallets Skrill, Jeton, AstroPay.

According to Africa Gambling Report 2024, approximately 60-80 thousand residents of Guinea-Bissau annually use online casinos and bets, and the market volume is estimated at $15-20 million.

---

Economic and social dimension

Gambling brings Guinea-Bissau a limited but stable income.

The government is considering setting up a National Gambling Agency that could regulate online gambling and attract investors.

The potential of the industry is significant:

• development of tourist areas on the coast;
• job creation;
• attracting foreign exchange earnings;
• development of mobile payment systems.

However, the country faces challenges -

weak legal framework, low level of digitalization and frequent political crises interfere with the systemic work of the market.

---

Cultural and religious context

About 50% of the population professes Islam, 40% - Christianity, and about 10% adhere to traditional beliefs.

Such religious diversity makes society relatively tolerant of gambling.

Excitement is frowned upon by religious leaders, but is perceived as a personal matter.

For most residents, gambling -

more "entertainment" than lifestyle.

---

Prospects

Short-term: maintaining the current situation - lotteries and rates under state control.

Medium-term: possible creation of licenses for offshore online operators.

Long-term: development of gambling tourism and legal casinos on the coast.

Experts at West Africa Gaming Insight 2025 believe that with political stability and investment support, the gambling market in Guinea-Bissau could triple by 2030.

---

Guinea-Bissau is a country where gambling is still developing spontaneously, but with growing interest from the state and foreign companies.

Lotteries and betting are already turning a profit, and online gambling is gaining popularity among younger users.

With competent reform, the country could become a new destination for gambling tourism and digital casinos in West Africa.