Burundi launches instant payment system as digital transactions expand across lottery and betting sectors
The Central Bank of Burundi says BurundiPay marks “a decisive step” in financial sector digitisation, while the platform could strengthen payment flows across banking, mobile money and regulated gaming channels.
Burundi.- Burundi has taken a major step in modernising its financial infrastructure with the official launch of BurundiPay, a national instant payment system designed to enable real-time transfers across bank accounts and mobile wallets. The rollout is expected to strengthen lottery and betting payments as operators increasingly shift towards faster, more transparent and traceable digital transactions across regulated sectors.
Launched on April 23 by Central Bank of Burundi (BRB) Governor Edouard Bigendako, the platform is aimed at creating faster, safer and more accessible digital transactions across the country’s financial ecosystem. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, BurundiPay is expected to improve transaction efficiency for individuals, businesses and regulated industries alike.
The BRB described BurundiPay as “a major step forward for the modernisation of payments in Burundi” and said the launch represents “a decisive step in the digital transformation of the financial sector,” according to its official announcement on the central bank’s website.
Authorities said the system will support financial inclusion by allowing transactions from both traditional bank accounts and mobile wallets, helping broaden access to formal financial services while reducing delays in fund transfers.
The project was launched with support from PAFEN Burundi, the national programme focused on strengthening the foundations of the digital economy, including payments infrastructure and digital public services.
Payment upgrade strengthens gaming oversight
For the gaming industry, the new platform could improve payment rails for licensed lottery and betting operators if the sector is integrated into the system. Instant deposits and withdrawals, stronger transaction traceability and improved anti-money laundering monitoring will help support safer and more transparent gaming operations, particularly in markets where mobile payments play a major role in regulated gaming transactions.
The payments upgrade also comes as Burundi’s National Lottery (LONA) continues its transition into the country’s main gambling regulator, with plans to complete the shift by mid-2026. As part of the reform, LONA is rolling out a new Gambling Management System (GMS) to strengthen licensing, compliance and oversight across the betting sector, while increasing monitoring of unauthorised gambling websites and informal betting houses to improve transparency and bring operators under formal licensing standards.
BurundiPay also follows another major milestone for the country’s financial system. In February, the BRB completed the migration of its Automated Transfer System (ATS) to the ISO 20022 international financial messaging standard, a move aimed at improving interoperability, transaction data quality and regional financial integration.
Access to instant payments across bank accounts and mobile wallets will also help expand regulated gaming channels, particularly in markets where mobile money remains central to everyday transactions. The expansion of instant digital payments is set to strengthen Burundi’s regulated gaming market by making payments faster, more secure and easier to monitor across licensed operators.
