Francophone Africa sees rising gaming participation on mobile and betting platforms
The trend is supported by widespread smartphone use, affordable data and the availability of licensed online betting sites.
Côte d’Ivoire.- Francophone Africa, led by Ivory Coast and Senegal, has seen increased gaming participation, driven largely by a rise in mobile casinos and sports betting registrations that offer easier access than traditional venues.
In 2025, Senegal’s national lottery operator, LONASE, reported earning FCFA27bn in the first nine months of the year, much of it attributed to rising activity on digital platforms. Likewise, LONACI, the national lottery of Côte d’Ivoire, posted turnover of FCFA561bn (€855m) in 2024, up 8.3 per cent from the previous year.
Industry reports project Ivory Coast’s overall igaming market, including mobile casinos, to reach US$820m (€760m) this year, with sports betting alone estimated at US$121m (€112m). The trend is supported by widespread smartphone use, affordable data and the availability of licensed online betting sites. In Côte d’Ivoire, more than half of the population uses smartphones, with mobile money services such as Orange Money accounting for between 70 and 80 per cent of deposits.
The sector’s growth is contributing to government tax receipts while supporting job creation in technology and operations. LONACI, for example, channelled FCFA6.75bn (€10.3m) into community projects last year. Earlier this year, LONASE announced a contribution of FCFA5bn (€7.6m) to national savings for 2025.
To combat the social risks that could arise from the rapid growth of online gambling, regulators are strengthening responsible gambling initiatives and deploying tools such as the new central platform introduced in Côte d’Ivoire to monitor transactions and curb unlicensed operators.
