Laws and regulation

In Malawi, regulation is centralized at the national body level, which licenses casinos, bookmaking (retail and online), lotteries, slot machines and promo draws.

Basic conditions - 18 +, "fit & proper" for beneficiaries and management, local legal entity/representation, confirmed financial stability, certification of equipment/software and responsible play policy.

Online operators additionally require eKYC, age verification measures, storage and provision of data for audit, the use of approved payment channels and self-exclusion/limit tools.

Advertising is limited in content and targeting: a ban on audiences under 18, requirements for disclaimers and the inadmissibility of misleading messages.

Fiscal burden includes license fees and taxes/levy on GGR and/or turnover, deductions from large winnings are possible; reporting is submitted regularly, with the right of the regulator to conduct inspections.

For violations, fines, suspension/revocation of licenses and coordination with payment/telecom providers against illegal sites are applied.

The current vector is digitalization of reporting, tightening AML and expanding player protection tools.