Rwanda’s foreign operators face final days to remove 1,000 slot machines ahead of December deadline
Authorities ramp up enforcement as December deadline approaches, targeting 1,000 slot machines operated by foreign companies in Rwanda’s nationwide crackdown on unlicensed and non-compliant machines.
Rwanda.- Rwanda’s foreign-owned operators have just days left to remove 1,000 slot machines as the country moves toward its December 1 deadline in a major nationwide gambling crackdown.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) issued the directive in September, giving operators three months to repatriate machines that no longer comply with Rwanda’s 2024 gambling framework.
Some of the affected machines were previously licensed but had been installed outside approved venues or exceeded licensing limits. Under the revised regulations, slot machines are now restricted to fully licensed casinos, ensuring they are used responsibly and minimising social harm.
Jacques Habyarimana, Head of Gaming Activities at RDB, said: “These companies have been given a three-month deadline to withdraw their machines and repatriate them to countries where they are permitted. By December, none of these machines should remain in Rwanda.”
Nationwide crackdown continues
The directive is part of a broader campaign targeting more than 7,000 unlicensed or non-compliant slot machines across the country. In partnership with Enviroserve Rwanda, authorities are dismantling and recycling machines to reduce gambling-related harm and safely dispose of hazardous electronic components.
At Enviroserve’s Bugesera facility, metals such as steel, copper and aluminium are recovered, while plastics are exported for recycling and circuit boards are processed for metals abroad. The initiative also provides skills training for local youth, creating jobs in safe dismantling and recycling.
Olivier Mber, Country General Manager of Enviroserve Rwanda, said: “So far, we have collected more than 3,500 machines from Kigali and the Eastern Province, with collection expanding nationwide.”
The crackdown aligns with Rwanda’s national gambling policy, emphasising responsible gambling, minimising social harm and stronger regulatory oversight. The policy restricts slot machines to fully licensed casinos and targets unlicensed or non-compliant machines operating in bars, arcades and other venues.
With the December deadline approaching, authorities are watching closely to ensure full compliance, marking a key step in consolidating Rwanda’s gaming sector under regulated operations while addressing social and environmental concerns.
