Mauritania reviews draft law to ban gambling and digital betting

Officials are consulting on enforcement, oversight and youth protection, but have not set a parliamentary timetable or detailed how the proposed law would change existing rules.

Key takeaways:

• Mauritania is reviewing draft legislation to prohibit gambling and electronic betting, including activities conducted through digital platforms. The proposed law has not yet been enacted.
• Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay chaired a review meeting on October 1, followed by a second meeting on October 8 led by Youth Empowerment, Employment, Sports and Civil Service Minister Mohamed Abdallah Ould Louli.
• Protecting children and young people from risks associated with internet use and digital platforms is a stated objective of the proposed legislation.
• Officials are examining stronger oversight, monitoring and enforcement measures, including coordination between government departments and relevant authorities responsible for addressing gambling and betting activities.
• Mauritania’s Penal Code provides for imprisonment and fines for operating public gambling houses and running unauthorised lotteries. Article 381’s application to online betting remains unclear.
• The draft remains under consultation, with no timetable announced for submission to Parliament. Officials are reviewing its religious, legal and technical aspects and considering feedback before developing a more comprehensive version.

Mauritania.- Mauritania is reviewing draft legislation to prohibit gambling and electronic betting, with officials examining oversight of gambling and betting activities, including those conducted through digital platforms, enforcement measures and youth protection in line with the country’s Islamic values. Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay chaired a meeting to review the preliminary draft on October 1 in Nouakchott, followed by a second meeting on October 8 led by Youth Empowerment, Employment, Sports and Civil Service Minister Mohamed Abdallah Ould Louli.

The review follows a September 16 announcement by Ould Louli that the government was preparing legislation to prohibit gambling games and online betting. He linked the proposal to efforts to protect children and young people from risks associated with internet use and digital platforms, according to AMI.

The October 1 meeting examined the preliminary draft and considered measures to combat gambling and betting, strengthen oversight and improve coordination between the government sectors involved, according to the Prime Minister’s Office announcement.

Following the meeting, Ould Djay instructed the relevant sectors to deepen their review of the draft and complete its religious, legal and technical aspects before developing a more comprehensive text.

The October 8 meeting continued the consultation process. Representatives of participating government sectors received a presentation of the draft’s main provisions, submitted observations and proposals, and identified areas requiring further examination, according to Awkar.

Draft law targets gambling enforcement

Discussions covered gambling, games of chance and betting conducted through digital platforms and media, as well as monitoring mechanisms and legal measures to address these activities. Participants also considered implementation arrangements, including clarifying responsibilities and coordinating the roles of government departments and relevant authorities in prevention, monitoring and enforcement.

Ould Louli called for further consultation and examination of the draft in light of the feedback received, with the aim of producing an integrated version of the proposed law.

Mauritania’s Penal Code, under Article 381 of Ordinance No. 83-162 of July 9, 1983, provides for two months to two years’ imprisonment and fines of 5,000 to 300,000 UM for operating public gambling houses or running unauthorised lotteries. These penalties are set out in the available text of Article 381, published by WIPO Lex and listed by Mauritania’s Inspection Générale d’État. The provision’s application to online betting remains unclear.

The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen oversight of gambling and betting activities amid the spread of digital platforms, but authorities have not detailed how the new framework would change existing law or which additional activities and penalties it would cover. Officials have not disclosed a timetable for submitting the draft to Parliament. The legislation remains under review.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• What does Mauritania’s draft gambling law propose? The draft legislation proposes prohibiting gambling and electronic betting, including betting conducted through digital platforms and media. It also addresses oversight, monitoring, enforcement and coordination among government bodies.
• Who is leading the review of Mauritania’s gambling draft law? Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay chaired the initial review on October 1. Youth Empowerment, Employment, Sports and Civil Service Minister Mohamed Abdallah Ould Louli led a further consultation meeting on October 8.
• When could Mauritania’s gambling ban be submitted to Parliament? The article states that authorities have not disclosed a timetable for submitting the draft to Parliament. The legislation remains under review.
• How would the proposed law affect Mauritania’s existing gambling penalties? Authorities have not detailed how the new framework would change existing law or which additional activities and penalties it would cover. The article notes that the application of Article 381 of the Penal Code to online betting remains unclear.