DRC moves to enforce digital betting accounts and 10 per cent tax on winnings
Government plans new regulations requiring digital accounts for bettors and proper withholding of taxes, aiming to modernise the gambling sector and increase transparency.
DRC.- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is preparing to introduce new regulations requiring licensed sports bettors to maintain digital accounts with betting operators. Under the new regulations, operators will be required to withhold a 10 per cent tax from winnings before paying bettors, ensuring the government receives the revenue automatically.
A Numerico.cd report states: “Every bettor on Winner and Pari Foot must now have a digital account. This measure allows the State to monitor every bet in real time and ensure transparency.” The report added that the rule also applies to other licensed betting platforms beyond Winner and Pari Foot.
Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba said: “The State must be informed and monitor every bet. When a gain is won, a portion of this money goes back to the Public Treasury.”
These measures are part of the Finance Law 2025, which governs licensed operators in the DRC. The reforms aim to simplify tax collection, prevent evasion and ensure that the rapidly growing betting sector contributes fairly to public revenue. While the government has announced these requirements, the formal date for full implementation is still being planned.
Betting goes digital
In mid-2025, the government partnered with Burundi’s East African General Trade Company (EAGT) to implement a centralised digital monitoring system linking operators to government servers. This system is being developed to support the digital account requirement and allow authorities to monitor bets in real time.
The initiative signals a shift toward digitalisation and accountability in the DRC’s gambling market. Once operational, operators will be responsible for withholding the 10 per cent tax from winnings, helping ensure compliance and increase transparency.
Under the 2024 tax measures, gambling operators – including sports betting, lotteries, and casinos – are required to pay taxes on their licences and remit a separate tax on players’ winnings monthly. The new digital monitoring system and enforcement infrastructure, introduced in 2025, are currently in a pilot phase, with nationwide rollout expected in the future.
