Senegal’s 0.5 % mobile money tax becomes official, hits online gamblers
With collection starting December 17, digital bettors face added costs alongside the 20 per cent tax on gambling winnings.
Senegal.- Senegal has officially implemented a new tax on mobile money transfers, and users of digital finance services, particularly online gamblers, are bracing for the impact. The 0.5 per cent Tax on Money Transfers (TTA) marks a significant shift in the country’s digital payments landscape.
The tax is part of Senegal’s broader Economic and Social Recovery Plan (PRES), aimed at modernising revenue collection and consolidating fiscal resources. The 0.5 per cent TTA adds a new cost to every deposit and withdrawal used for gambling, reducing net returns and making frequent, low-value play more expensive for online bettors.
Orange Finances Mobiles Sénégal (OFMS) is the first operator to confirm the 0.5 per cent TTA, promulgated on October 2 and set for collection from December 17. “The Tax on Money Transfers (TTA) will come into effect on Wednesday, December 17, in accordance with Law n°2025‑17 of September 27 2025, amending the General Tax Code,” said OFMS, according to Senego.com.
The tax applies to transfers, payments and withdrawals made via mobile money. It is capped at FCFA2 000 (€3.05) per transaction, with exemptions for withdrawals of up to FCFA20 000 (€30.50) per 24-hour period, cash deposits, salary payments and scholarship disbursements. Transactions above these thresholds are taxed, but no transaction will incur more than FCFA2 000 (€3.05).
Gamblers face double tax burden
For online gamblers, the timing is challenging. A 20 per cent tax on gambling winnings was applied across physical channels since November 1 and on digital platforms since November 15, automatically deducted at pay-out by the Senegalese National Lottery. Together, these levies mean bettors are now taxed on the money they deposit or withdraw and on the winnings they collect, reducing net returns and increasing the cost of regulated play.
Experts warn the combined effect could push some users toward unregulated or offshore platforms. Industry groups, including the National Association of Payment Institutions, previously warned that the levy could reduce mobile money usage and proposed alternative taxes on operators’ revenues instead.
Orange Money is the first provider to publicly confirm the December 17 rollout. Other major mobile money operators are expected to implement the levy under the same law.
As Senegal moves forward with this new digital finance tax, bettors and everyday users alike will need to adjust, recalculating the true cost of moving money in a country that is rapidly embracing digital payments.
