DRC to centralise gambling oversight with new digital monitoring platform
The platform will provide the Gambling Monitoring Unit with the technical capacity to track operators and transactions nationwide.
DR Congo.- The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to centralise gambling oversight with a new digital monitoring platform announced by the ministry of finance in Kinshasa on May 30. Officials said the system is intended to strengthen regulation of gaming operators as the sector expands across the country.
Despite estimates that online gaming operators generate nearly $1.7bn (€1.56bn) in annual revenue since legislation was introduced, the state has reportedly collected only around $1m (€0.92m) in taxes, highlighting a wide gap between reported activity and fiscal returns.
The platform will integrate national gambling data, giving the Gambling Monitoring Unit the technical capacity to track operators and transactions across the country. It will also replace self-declaration practices traditionally used by much of the industry.
Authorities pointed to risks associated with the sector’s rapid growth, including rising personal debt, gambling addiction, money laundering and underage participation, which have driven the push for tighter supervision.
The reform also comes amid international pressure as the DRC seeks to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, a process that requires stronger anti-money laundering measures and a unified regulatory framework for gambling.
Authorities are now working on a broader revision of gambling legislation to unify licensing rules, strengthen enforcement powers and establish a single national regulator. The Ministry of Finance has indicated that the monitoring platform will be rolled out in phases, with an initial focus on licensed operators before expanding coverage to unregistered and cross-border digital betting services.
Officials expect the system to improve tax reconciliation, reduce reliance on self-reported figures and support investigations into illicit financial flows linked to gambling. Regulators also plan closer collaboration with banks and payment service providers to trace gambling transactions more effectively.
The government has not provided a final timeline for full deployment but has described the project as part of a wider fiscal reform agenda designed to improve revenue capture from high-growth digital sectors.
Finance minister Dieudonné Ntumba urged cooperation from operators, while industry players such as PixLab RDC have welcomed the reforms as a step towards clearer regulation and transparency in the market.
