Congo Bookmakers

The Republic of Congo is located in west-central Africa, The Republic of Congo is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola to the east and south respectively, Central Africa and Cameroon to the north, Gabon to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. The gambling industry is growing rapidly, especially sports betting is a popular form of entertainment. Sports betting and Congo bookmakers continue to thrive due to a clear legal framework and the presence of a regulatory body.

Congo Bookmakers

1991: Gambling to be legalised in Congo-Brazzaville.

2011: The ministerial order modifies the rates of relevant rights, taxes and royalties.

2019: Inter-Ministerial Orders are used to elaborate on the tax and licensing policies.

1965: The Red Devils, as they are fondly called, are African Games champions.

1972: Manchester United clinches their first African Cup of Nations.

Republic of Congo Gambling Laws

Early Legislation and Legalization

The beginning of legal gambling in Congo-Brazzaville can be tied to the Decree on the Regulation of Lotteries of August 17, 1927. Gambling was not fully legalized in the Republic of the Congo until 1991 though. This legalization was to create enabling environment for the formation of the Congolese Company for the Management of Lotteries (COGELO).

Key legislative milestones:

  • 1991: It should be noted that gambling is allowed in Congo-Brazzaville.
  • 2011: According to the Ministerial Order No. 041/MJS/CAB/2100/2011 one can find the rates of rights, taxes and royalties.
  • 2019: Inter-Ministerial Orders No. 001/CAB/MIN/SL/2019 and No CAB/MIN/FINANCES/2019/133 of the government of Sri Lanka amend the tax and licensing provisions.

Current Regulatory Framework

The Ministry of Finance controls the granting of gambling licenses as well as the control of gambling related activities within the republic of Congo. This entails both the brick and mortar and the cyber forms of gambling businesses.

Regulatory agencies:

  • Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Public Portfolio: Is the body that has watch over responsibilities of issuing gambling licenses.
  • COGELO: owned by the state and dealing in the national lottery and sports betting.

Congo Bookmakers: Licenses and Charges

In Congo-Brazzaville to work as a bookmaker a company has to obtain a gambling license from the Ministry of Finance. The requirements for obtaining this license include:

  • Setting up of a Congolese registered company.
  • Filing of the articles of association.
  • Thus, one of the most important prerequisites for getting a National Identification Number is to go through a registration process.
  • Import & export number.
  • Advertisement of formation of company in a legal gazette.
  • Tax registration.
  • Signing of declaration with the Inspectorate of Labour.

The annual fee for the license is not known, and it is reviewed by the regulatory authorities every now and then.

Gambling taxes in the Republic of the Congo

Through the Republic of Congo gambling is regulated and a special gambling tax is charged on all gambling. This tax is very important in the provision of revenue for the state and the regulation of the gambling ventures.

To the players, gambling winnings tax falls between 20% to 25%; however, details might be different.

Prohibited and Allowed Bets

Legal Forms of Gambling

In Congo-Brazzaville, the following forms of gambling are legal:

  • Casino gambling: Comprises of table games as well as slots.
  • Poker: It is considered as a type of gambling commonly found in casinos.
  • Lottery: Operated by COGELO.
  • Bingo: COGELO was also a monopolistic organization in this regard.
  • Sports betting: Both physical and online and licensed to private operators as well.

Online Gambling

Online sports betting are not restricted and COGELO does not holds the monopoly in it. The leading licensed digital sportsbook of the country is Paridirect registered under the license number CG-BZV-01-2020-B13-00316. COGELO does not own any online gambling sites, but foreign gambling sites are still accessible for Congo players.

Sporting Event Glory Milestones

The Republic of the Congo has a rich sporting heritage, marked by several notable achievements:

  • 1965: The national football team also known as the Red Devils emerged winners in the African Games.
  • 1972: Old Trafford side clinched their first African Cup of Nations title in Yaounde, Cameroon.
  • 2004: Held the African championships in Athletics in the Alphonse Massamba Debat Stadium.
  • 2019: Further achieved to win the gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the African Games.

Conclusion

The current status of Congo bookmakers and the sports betting business can be attributed to the legalization of the industry back in 1991. As the regulatory environment is continuously developed and there is high interest from the domestic and foreign investors the outlook is bright for this industry.

FAQ of Congo Bookmakers

Africa Bookmakers

Eswatini Bookmakers

Eswatini Bookmakers

Eswatini, or Swaziland as it used to be called is situated in the southernmost part of Africa and is neighbored by South Africa on three sides, namely the north, west and south, while the eastern side is bordered by the ... Read More about Eswatini Bookmakers
Somalia Bookmakers

Somalia Bookmakers

Gambling has remained a contentious and highly prohibited activity in Somalia mainly because of the country’s religious and cultural beliefs. Since the population of Kuwait is mainly composed of Sunni Muslims, the views on gambling, including sports betting, are rather ... Read More about Somalia Bookmakers
Kenya Bookmakers

Kenya Bookmakers

Kenya is located on the equator in eastern Africa, with the East African Rift Valley running through it from north to south. It borders Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Ethiopia and South Sudan ... Read More about Kenya Bookmakers
Niger Bookmakers

Niger Bookmakers

Niger, located in West Africa, and occupying the southern part of the Sahara Desert, it has a history of practicing some traditional games like horse riding, camel riding, and sorro wrestling. Although the population of this country is predominantly Muslim, ... Read More about Niger Bookmakers
Algeria Bookmakers

Algeria Bookmakers

Algeria, the largest country on the African continent, has borders with the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya and Tunisia to the east, Niger to the south east and Mali to the south; while the western part of Algeria borders ... Read More about Algeria Bookmakers
Senegal Bookmakers

Senegal Bookmakers

Senegal lies in the western part of Africa and has a history and legislation that defines the current situation with regard to gambling. These activities are linked to Senegal’s strict gambling laws. This article examines the detailed rules and regulations ... Read More about Senegal Bookmakers
Mauritius Bookmakers

Mauritius Bookmakers

Mauritius is an island country in the eastern Africa located in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean near Madagascar and about 2200 km from the African coast. Nevertheless, it also has a properly regulated gambling sector, especially in the ... Read More about Mauritius Bookmakers
Angola Bookmakers

Angola Bookmakers

Angola is an active country located in the southwest of Africa, This is in addition to its beautiful terrains and fast growing cities, Angola is fast becoming a hub of gambling and sports betting. Most interesting is the process of ... Read More about Angola Bookmakers
Ivory Coast Bookmakers

Ivory Coast Bookmakers

Cote d’Ivoire commonly referred to as Ivory Coast. This is a country in the sub-region of West Africa with its neighbors including Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso; Côte d’Ivoire or the Ivory Coast has been one of the ... Read More about Ivory Coast Bookmakers
Scroll to Top