Malawi operators face final days to apply for sports betting licences
Applications close on July 10 as MAGLA warns late submissions will not be accepted and applicants face strict due diligence checks.
Malawi.- Malawi’s sports betting licence application process has entered its final days, with operators facing a July 10 deadline to submit bids under a licensing framework that requires applicants to undergo financial integrity, beneficial ownership and regulatory due diligence assessments.
The Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) has warned in a public notice that late submissions will not be accepted, leaving prospective local and foreign operators with limited time to complete their applications. In its public notice, the regulator stated: “Applications must be received not later than 10th July 2026.”
MAGLA opened applications on June 8, inviting local and foreign operators to apply for both sports betting and land-based casino licences under separate competitive application processes established by the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 2022. While the deadline for sports betting applications falls on July 10, applications for land-based casino licences remain open until July 15.
The sports betting licensing process is being conducted under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 2022, and the Gaming and Lotteries (Sports Betting) Regulations, 2025. MAGLA said applicants will undergo assessments before licences are awarded.
The authority added: “Applicants shall be subject to fit and proper, financial integrity, beneficial ownership and regulatory due diligence assessments in accordance with the Gaming and Lotteries Act, applicable Regulations and the RFP.”
According to the notice, applications will be evaluated in line with the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 2022, the Gaming and Lotteries (Sports Betting) Regulations, 2025, and the published Request for Proposals (RFP) criteria. The licensing process is open to both local and international investors, with local applicants required to pay a non-refundable Request for Proposals (RFP) fee of K2m (US$1,153), while foreign applicants must pay approximately K2.6m (US$1,500) to obtain the bidding documents.
Once the application window closes on July 10, MAGLA will evaluate submissions in accordance with the Gaming and Lotteries Act, the applicable regulations and the published Request for Proposals criteria to determine which applicants will be awarded sports betting licences.
