Gambling laws in Africa vary from state to state. The differences in gambling policies are mainly due to the culture, morals, and religion of each state and the reactions of their individual governments towards gambling.
Most Muslim-dominated countries on the continent do not support gambling or have very high restrictions concerning the activity, including Egypt, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, and the Sudanese regions.
However, a growing number of African states are warming up to the idea of gambling because of its high revenue.
As such, gambling laws are being relaxed, and more favorable online and land-based gambling policies are being introduced.
Let’s take a look at the gambling rules and regulations in the continent’s biggest iGaming markets.
South Africa
Recording an annual revenue of more than 2 billion dollars, South Africa remains the biggest gambling state on the continent. You can find land-based casinos in almost every region of the country.
The National Gambling Board of South Africa strictly frowns against online gambling but makes provisions for online betting and limited payout machines. The Remote Gambling Bill of 2014 set some guidelines for safe betting in South Africa. They are;
- A licence must be issued to individuals who have a special interest in online gaming by the National Gambling Board. Individuals would also have to seek approval from their provincial authorities before they get such licenses.
- The total revenue gotten from gaming activities in South Africa would be shared amongst the provinces. 70 percent would go to provinces, and the remaining 30 would be for the central.
- Credit is not allowed when it comes to gambling in South Africa. Gaming operators are instructed to receive immediate cash from their players.
- These are the laws set in 2014 to guide gambling acts. The National Gambling Board of South Africa also stated the consequences of engaging in online gambling. They are;
- For those who go against the rules and gamble online, their winnings (money made through gaming or onsite gambling) would be seized by the bank before it gets to such an individual’s account.
- Online gambling by individuals would be duly investigated; if found guilty, such individuals would face criminal charges.
Nigeria
Like most gambling countries in Africa, Nigeria’s gambling laws are not well regulated.
Apart from laws approving certain gambling games in the country, there are no “established” laws that guide all forms of gambling, especially online.
There are also only two legal land-based casinos in Nigeria, but this does not stop certain individuals from establishing several illegal casinos around the country.
Gambling in Nigeria is regulated by the National Lottery Act 2005, and the law splits casino gaming/gambling into two categories.
The legal games allowed in the country are; Land-based Casinos (the only two legal ones available in Nigeria), lottery, and sports betting. The country bans games like dice, roulette, and non-skilled card games.
The Nigerian gambling law regulates slot machines, but only under licensed operators. Unlike South Africa, online gambling is not prohibited in Nigeria as long as the brand is licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.
Most of the popular gambling sites in Nigeria are online sportsbooks including, Nairabet, 1960bet, and Bet9ja.
The law does not restrict Nigerians from playing games at foreign or offshore gambling sites.
Uganda
Uganda lacks a comprehensive or well-documented set of laws on gambling acts. Gambling in Uganda is recognized under the National lotteries and Gaming Act 2016, and section 4 of the Act has regulated lotteries, gaming, betting, and casinos.
The National Gaming Board of Uganda awards gaming licenses in the country. They also ensure the taxation of different sports betting centers, lotteries, and casinos. Online casinos are not prohibited in the state, and members are free to play at offshore gambling platforms.
Kenya
Gambling is highly regulated in Kenya. The 2010 constitution of Kenya collaborates with the National and County governments on the laws of betting and casino.
Kenyan gaming laws cover:
- Regulation of the gaming industry
- Vetting, development of standards and norms, security checks, enforcement, and compliance, statutory reporting,
- Authorization of online games and many more.
The 1986 Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act regulates the betting and gaming environment in Kenya, imposition of gaming tax, and the approval of relevant gaming products.
Some popular Kenyan betting restrictions include;
- The prohibition of lottery tickets to persons under the age of 16,
- The prohibition of gaming entertainments for private gains and restrictions in the use of amusement machines unless it’s in a private setting or the presence of a guardian.
Ghana
Gambling is legal in Ghana and is regulated by the Ghana Gaming Commission (GCC). However, the National Lottery Authority controls the lottery in the state.
The major gambling games Ghanaians enjoy in the country are; Lotteries, Sportsbetting, land-based Casinos (only four brick-and-mortar casinos in Ghana), and online gambling.
Although lottery is not restricted in Ghana, only lottery draws authorized by the National Lottery Authority are allowed in the country.
Conclusion
The diverse culture and beliefs of each African state mainly affect how gambling is regulated in Africa. While some countries ban gambling in its entirety, other African countries accept all forms. However, as the benefits of gambling are becoming clearer, more countries are ‘seeing the light’ and establishing new iGaming markets in their jurisdictions. These new or expanded markets come with tolerable and more generous policies to attract local and foreign investors.
1 Comment
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