Gabon operators face July deadline as GDJ shifts from licensing reform to enforcement
Legacy gambling licences enter expiry phase from April as operators race to comply with new state-controlled framework.
Gabon.- Gabon’s gambling reform has entered its enforcement phase as the Gabonese Gaming Authority (GDJ) warned that existing licences are moving toward invalidation unless operators regularise their status under the new framework.
Existing (legacy) gambling authorisations, licences and declarations entered their 2026 expiry phase from April 7, with operators facing full invalidation by July 7 unless they comply with the new GDJ framework.
The expiry reflects a full transition to a new legal framework under which all operators must be relicensed through GDJ, with previous approvals no longer recognised. With the application window now closed, the reform has shifted decisively into enforcement, leaving operators facing a hard compliance deadline.
The transition follows presidential ordinances adopted on December 30 2025, which overhauled Gabon’s legal framework for games of chance, sports betting and lottery operations. The objective was to modernise the market, strengthen state oversight and improve transparency across the sector.
Under the new model, GDJ acts as the state authority overseeing the concession system for public games of chance, while private operators may continue participating only through licences issued under its supervision. The regulator said: “All previous authorisations, licences and declarations will become invalid after a period of three months starting from April 7 2026.”
Operators face compliance deadline
For betting shops, lottery operators and gaming businesses still relying on legacy approvals, the deadline is no longer theoretical. Companies must now secure licences through GDJ’s framework to continue operating legally in Gabon. The regulator also stressed that licence awards would follow “a transparent, fair and rigorous selection process” aimed at strengthening oversight and eliminating irregular practices in the sector.
Responsible gambling obligations are central to the licensing requirements. These include stronger safeguards around the protection of minors, anti-money laundering compliance, counter-terrorism financing controls and transaction security. Applicants are also expected to demonstrate technical expertise, financial capacity and alignment with Gabon’s wider economic and social priorities.
The formal deadline for submitting applications under GDJ’s initial call for expressions of interest passed on March 2 2026, meaning April was no longer about market entry opportunities but about operational survival for companies yet to regularise their position.
Beyond compliance, the reform is also expected to improve public revenue collection by increasing traceability and tightening control over gambling operations, positioning GDJ as both a fiscal tool and a stronger market regulator.
