Morocco forecasts US$19.5m from betting, lottery and SOREC profits for 2027
Morocco’s draft budget projects receipts from betting deductions, lottery proceeds and SOREC profits, while proposing stricter enforcement of tax declaration requirements for gambling winnings.
Key takeaways:
- The draft projects a combined MAD195m (US$19.5m) across three specified budget items.
- Betting deductions and lottery proceeds account for MAD170m (US$17m) under special Treasury accounts.
- SOREC accounts for the remaining MAD25m (US$2.5m) in expected distributed profits.
- Proposed changes to Article 228 would strengthen enforcement of gambling-winnings declaration requirements.
- The figures do not represent total gambling-market revenue or all public revenue generated by gambling.
Morocco.- Morocco’s draft 2027 Finance Bill projects MAD195m (US$19.5m) across three budget items linked to betting, lotteries and horse racing. The draft also proposes changes to the enforcement of tax declaration requirements for gambling winnings. The combined figure covers selected budget items rather than the country’s entire gambling market.
The Draft Finance Bill for the 2027 Budget Year (Bill No. 60-26), published by Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance on October 23, projects MAD90m (US$9m) from mutual-betting deductions, MAD80m (US$8m) in lottery proceeds and MAD25m (US$2.5m) in expected distributed profits from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse (SOREC).
The betting deductions and lottery proceeds are listed under special Treasury accounts, totalling MAD170m (US$17m). The remaining MAD25m represents expected profits distributed by SOREC.
The draft also proposes amending Article 228 of Morocco’s General Tax Code, which governs automatic tax assessment procedures.
Under the proposed amendment, declarations relating to gambling winnings would be included among cases that could trigger the procedure if required declarations are not submitted within the legal deadline or are incomplete, subject to applicable legal conditions.
The amendment would take effect on January 1, 2027, for procedures initiated from that date if the bill is adopted in its proposed form, according to a Hespress report.
The proposal concerns enforcement of tax declaration requirements rather than the introduction of a new tax on gambling winnings.
The draft Finance Bill was approved by Morocco’s Government Council on October 20 and published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on October 23. It remains subject to parliamentary consideration and possible amendments.
Frequently asked questions FAQs
- How much does Morocco project from betting and lottery-related activities in 2027? Morocco’s draft Finance Bill projects MAD195m (US$19.5m) across three budget items linked to betting deductions, lottery proceeds and SOREC profits.
- How is Morocco’s projected MAD195m divided? The total comprises MAD90m (US$9m) from mutual-betting deductions, MAD80m (US$8m) in lottery proceeds and MAD25m (US$2.5m) in expected distributed profits from SOREC.
- What changes does Morocco propose for gambling-winnings declarations? The draft proposes amending Article 228 of the General Tax Code so that certain missing or incomplete gambling-winnings declarations could trigger automatic tax assessment procedures, subject to applicable legal conditions.
- Does Morocco’s 2027 Finance Bill introduce a new tax on gambling winnings? No. The proposed change concerns enforcement of tax declaration requirements rather than the introduction of a new gambling tax.
