New instant payments system set to speed up betting transactions in West Africa
Banks, microfinance institutions and payment providers face a June 30 deadline to connect to the PI-SPI platform introduced by the Central Bank of West African States.
Côte d’Ivoire.- The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) has set a June 30 2026 deadline for financial institutions and payment operators to integrate into its regional instant payment platform, a move that’s set to affect payment flows used by online betting operators across West Africa.
Banks, electronic money institutions, microfinance institutions and payment service providers have to adhere to this deadline to connect to the Interoperable Instant Payment System Platform (PI-SPI) introduced by the Central Bank of West African States, according to a report by Togo First.
The system enables real-time transfers between banks, microfinance institutions and electronic money providers across the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and was officially launched in September 2025 as part of efforts to modernise digital payment infrastructure and improve financial interoperability across the region.
The platform enables 24/7 real-time transfers between bank accounts and mobile wallets, allowing participating institutions to send and receive funds in real time. The system operates across the WAEMU bloc, which includes Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea-Bissau.
Betting payments impact
While the BCEAO directive is focused on the broader financial sector and does not specifically reference gambling, the development could have definite implications for betting operators operating in WAEMU markets. Online betting platforms across the region typically rely on mobile money services, fintech payment gateways and bank transfers to process player deposits and withdrawals.
Countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin and Togo could see faster deposits and withdrawals for online gambling platforms as payment providers integrate into the BCEAO’s instant payment infrastructure.
The rollout forms part of BCEAO’s broader strategy to strengthen digital financial infrastructure and improve payment interoperability across the monetary union. For the region’s growing online betting sector, faster digital payment rails could help improve transaction speed and reliability, particularly in mobile-driven markets where digital wallets are widely used to fund betting accounts.
