DRC gambling operators face final days to regularise licences
Authorities push operators to obtain official permits as the government moves to formalise a fast-growing betting market generating more than $1.6bn annually.
DRC.- Gambling operators in the Democratic Republic of Congo have just days remaining to regularise their licences before the March 31 deadline set by the Ministry of Finance, as authorities move to bring the country’s fast-growing betting sector under tighter regulatory control.
The directive requires companies operating across sports betting, casinos, lotteries and prediction games to obtain official operating permits from the relevant financial authorities. Operators that fail to comply with the licensing requirement by this deadline could face enforcement action, including fines, tax adjustments, suspension of activities or forced closure.
The move forms part of broader efforts by Congolese authorities to improve tax collection from the gambling sector and bring more operators into the formal licensing system. Government officials estimate the sector generates more than $1.6bn in annual betting activity, highlighting its growing economic significance.
Despite the scale of the market, authorities have previously indicated that tax returns from the sector remain relatively low. Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba acknowledged the gap, stating that “the sector’s contribution to the public treasury remains relatively low”.
Authorities have also pointed to the presence of a significant informal market. Officials previously identified 139 illegal gambling operators active in 2022, according to figures presented during a cabinet meeting by former Finance Minister Nicolas Kazadi.
The March 31 deadline is expected to mark a key step in the government’s efforts to strengthen oversight of the sector and ensure operators comply with licensing and tax obligations.
