Gambling and online casinos in Liberia

Liberia is a country with one of the oldest democratic systems in Africa and one of the most liberal jurisdictions regarding gambling.

Unlike neighboring countries, gambling has been legalized and regulated here for several decades.

Casinos, lotteries, bookmakers and even online operators operate under official licenses, and the state receives stable income from taxing the industry.

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Historical context

Gambling emerged in Liberia in the 1960s, during a period of economic growth and tourism boom.

The first casinos were Hotel Africa Casino and Monrovia Palace, aimed at foreign guests.

After the civil wars of the 1990s, the gambling industry was destroyed, but in 2005, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government began rebuilding the sector by creating a national regulator and adopting new licenses for private companies.

Since then, Liberia has become one of the few African countries where gambling is fully integrated into the economy.

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Legislation and regulation

Gambling is regulated by the Gaming and Betting Act 2016 and the industry is overseen by the Liberia National Lottery Authority (LNLA).

Main provisions:

• gambling is legal in all forms - casinos, lotteries, betting, online gaming;
• licenses are issued for 3 or 5 years;
• taxes range from 10% to 25% depending on the category of business;
• operators are obliged to comply with the standards of honesty and responsible play;
• The LNLA has the power to suspend activities for violations.

In Liberia, the participation of foreign investors is allowed, and licenses can be obtained by companies registered as Liberian Gaming Enterprises.

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Legal forms of gambling

1. Casinos are completely legal, slot machines, roulette, poker and blackjack are allowed.

2. Bookmakers - operate throughout the country, accept bets on sports, e-sports and virtual matches.

3. Lotteries and bingo - officially licensed and overseen by the LNLA.

4. Online gambling - regulated since 2019;

licensed operators with servers in the country or offshore are allowed.

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Casinos and gambling establishments

Liberia has several well-known casinos targeting both tourists and local gamblers.

Largest facilities:

• Royal Grand Casino (Monrovia) - an elite casino at the Royal Grand Hotel;
• Golden Beach Casino (Paynesville) is a popular location on the coast;
• Atlantic Casino & Lounge is a modern club with board games and slots.

Income from land casinos in 2024 exceeded $25 million, and about 30% of the profit goes to the country's budget.

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Online gambling

Online gambling is the fastest growing gambling business in Liberia.

Since legalization in 2019, the LNLA has issued several licenses for online activities, including local brands and international platforms.

Popular operators:

• BetLiberia, Winner Liberia, Premier Bet Liberia;
• 1xBet, BetWinner, Stake. com, BC. Game.

Players can bet, play slots, live games, roulette and poker.

Payment methods:

• Orange Money и Lonestar Cell MTN Money;
• bank cards (UBA, Ecobank, GTBank);
• cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, Tron) are actively used in offshore casinos.

More than 70% of users place bets through smartphones, and the share of online gambling in the market structure already exceeds 45%.

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Economic importance

Gambling has become a notable source of income for the state.

According to the Liberia Economic Review 2024, revenues from the gambling sector are about $40 million annually, of which $10 million goes to social funds, education and sports.

Positive effects:

• growth in employment in services and IT;
• development of the tourism sector;
• stimulating non-cash payments;
• attracting foreign investment.

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Cultural and religious context

About 85% of Liberia's population is Christian, and gambling attitudes are moderately positive here.

The church warns of the risks of addiction, but does not require a complete ban on gambling.

In society, gambling is perceived as a form of entertainment, and not as a threat to morality.

Sports betting is especially popular - football and basketball are of great interest among young people.

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Prospects

Liberia plans to become a regional hub for online gambling by 2030 by introducing electronic licenses and a transaction monitoring system.

Key areas of development:

• launch of a national online lottery platform;
• stimulating investment in gambling resorts;
• creation of a free licensing zone for foreign operators.

The projected market volume by 2030 is $120-150 million, with an average annual growth of 12-15%.

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Liberia is one of the most open and progressive gambling markets in Africa.

Licensed casinos and online operators are already operating here, and the state uses gambling as a tool for economic and tourism development.