Sports betting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been formally recognized and legalized under Ministerial Order No. 041/MJS/CAB/2100/2011 issued on December 28, 2011, by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Leisure (1). This order establishes that any operator wishing to offer sports wagering must obtain a specific exploitation decree and adhere to prescribed operational standards (1).
Subsequent regulatory refinements came with Interministerial Order No. 001/CAB/MIN/SL/2019, co-issued by the Ministries of Sports and Finance on November 13, 2019. This interministerial text sets the rates, royalties and compliance requirements for all games of chance—including sports betting—ensuring that licencees contribute to national revenues and protect player interests (2).
"Considérant le fait que le Ministère des Sports et Loisirs est le seul habilité à attribuer un Arrêté d'exploitation permanente à toutes entreprises installées sur l'étendue du territoire de la République Démocratique du Congo exploitant et commercialisant les jeux de hasard."
In practice, both land-based and online sportsbooks must secure a permanent licence from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure, subject to ongoing audits and mandatory reporting. Unauthorized operators face significant fines and potential criminal sanctions, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a transparent and state-supervised betting sector (2).
Source:
https://www.leganet.cd/Legislation/Droit%20administratif/Sportsetloisirs/AM.041.28.12.2011.htm
https://www.leganet.cd/Legislation/JO/2020/JO.15.08.2020.pdf
Last updated: 22-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
