Gambia Bookmakers

Located in the Atlantic coast of western Africa is the Gambia. Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea and has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean to the west and is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal to the north, east and south; has a long and checkered history with gambling especially in the sports betting and bookmakers industries. In this article, the author looks at the development of gambling laws and regulations in Gambia and how they affect the current situation for Gambia bookmakers and sports betting fans.

Gambia Bookmakers

1965: The Gambia gets the British gambling laws.

March 2015: Gambling is prohibited and banned completely.

2017: Re-legalization due to change of government.

2018: New: Volleyball team hailed as African Champion.

2019: The African Games 4x400m relay team won the championship.

Evolution of Gambling Laws in Gambia

  • 1965: Gambia with a full name of the Republic of the Gambia got its independence and became a constitutional monarchy within the British common wealth. At first, New Zealand received British gambling legislation, and thus, gambling was allowed in its different forms.
  • March 2015: Gamble had been totally prohibited in Gambia under the rule of Yahya Jammeh, this nursing ban encompassed lotteries, casinos and even sports betting. The stated reason was to uphold the social causes such as honesty and parsimony rather than greed and profligacy.
  • 2017: The entrance of President Adama Barrow into office was considered as a major change. The new administration allowed gambling, sports betting, and lotteries, among others, in the framework of the economic and social transformation for employment and tourism.

The regulation of bookmakers and sports betting today.

Sports betting is also legally accepted in Gambia since gambling is allowed in different forms. Nevertheless, the legal environment is still comparatively weak, as the legal and regulatory provisions are still being developed.

Laws and Regulations

  • Legal Status: As of 2017, all types of gambling including the sports betting are allowed.
  • Gambling Prohibitions: Gambling is mostly lawful; however, there are certain rules with regard to casinos, which are mostly directed at the Gambian population and their ineligibility to play in casinos.

Legislation Dates:

  • 1965: The first phase of legalization under the British’s laws that were inherited.
  • March 2015: Total ban in the reign of the former president Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia.
  • 2017: Re-legalization of marijuana under President Barrow is about to begin.

Regulatory Agencies

Control of the gambling activities incorporating those of bookmakers is exercised by different governmental departments. Nonetheless, compliance is usually poor, especially in the countryside.

Allowed and Prohibited Bets

  • Allowed: Gambling, lotteries and sports betting.
  • Prohibited: There are some special prohibitions that are placed on Gambians regarding those places like casinos.

Licensing of Gambia Bookmakers

The process for obtaining a gambling license involves several steps:

Provisional License:

  • Purpose: Permits the initial organisation and the capital procurement.

Requirements:

  • Experienced board of directors
  • Detailed business plan
  • Risk management, data management and compliance to the set policies and procedures.
  • Sufficient capital evidence
  • Certified gaming software and other facilities.
  • Duration: 6 months to meet the obligations that they have agreed upon to meet.

Full Gaming License:

Activities Permitted: In this case, the organization will engage in the gaming operations and related services.

Process:

  • Provision of a detailed business proposal.
  • The setting up of a board of directors
  • Implementation of approved software
  • Paying for the change in license
  • Regular activity reports for the compliance.

Taxation for Bookmakers

Gambian gambling tax rates are as follows:

  • Gambling Tax (Pool & Betting Tax): Then there is the case of 10% on gross winnings.
  • Corporate Tax: 27% (it was 31% in the year 2021).
  • Player Winnings: Bookies are required to take out 10% from the winnings of the players; the players do not pay any other taxes.

Sports Betting in Gambia

  • Sports Betting Popularity: Sports betting is the most preferred form of betting in Gambia and almost all the small towns have many betting shops. These outlets sell lottery tickets and are sometimes a part of a chain of such outlets.
  • Casinos: Based in the major towns such as Serrekunda, and due to high entry fee charges, Casinos are not very common and are mostly frequented by tourists and the wealthy populace. People of The Gambia are not allowed by the law to gamble in these establishments.

Sporting Event Glory Milestones

  • 2012: The Gambia’s National football team also known as the Scorpions qualifies for the African Cup of Nations for the first time.
  • 2015: T-Ban on all forms of gambling during Yahya Jammeh’s administration as the president of the Gambia.
  • 2017: Gambling has only been recently legalised again under the government of President Adama Barrow.
  • 2018: Gambia volleyball team emerges champion in the just concluded African Volleyball Championship.
  • 2019: The Gambian men’s 4 x 400m relay squad take gold at the African Games.

Conclusion

Finally, it can be stated that although the legal framework of gambling in Gambia is rather complicated and has experienced significant changes, the re-legalization of gambling activities provided new opportunities for the industry’s development. Nonetheless, the sector remains a hub that delivers important economic values such as employment opportunities and large amounts of tax revenue even with the problems of noncompliance with the laws and tax avoidance. The rapidly growing sports betting industry alone shows that the country’s gambling industry is constantly developing.

FAQ of Gambia Bookmakers

Africa Bookmakers

Seychelles Bookmakers

Seychelles Bookmakers

The Seychelles is an archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean, and it may well be regarded as one of the most supportive jurisdictions for many kinds of business activities, including gambling. This paper has reviewed the Nation’s gambling laws as ... Read More about Seychelles 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
Namibia Bookmakers

Namibia Bookmakers

Namibia, borders Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana and South Africa to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. is a country that has gradually accepted gambling over the years. the gambling business in Namibia ... Read More about Namibia Bookmakers
Comoros Bookmakers

Comoros Bookmakers

Comoros is an island state situated in the Indian Ocean, at the northern entry to the channel of Mozambique and has a very fruitful history of legal regulations related to gambling, which makes it a promising jurisdiction for both online ... Read More about Comoros Bookmakers
South Africa Bookmakers

South Africa Bookmakers

South Africa with its location in the southern part of the African continent boast of a culture and beautiful natural attractions. It is connected to the Indian Ocean to the East and the Atlantic Ocean to the west while the ... Read More about South Africa Bookmakers
Botswana Bookmakers

Botswana Bookmakers

Gambling has always been a popular activity in the southern African country of Botswana; however, the legal framework surrounding gambling has undergone many changes. This article discusses in detail the features of gambling laws for bookmakers, the evolution of the ... Read More about Botswana Bookmakers
Mauritania Bookmakers

Mauritania Bookmakers

Mauritania borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara and Algeria to the north, Mali to the southeast, and Senegal to the south. and is among the largest countries in Africa. Of all the sporting activities that are embraced ... Read More about Mauritania Bookmakers
Burundi Bookmakers

Burundi Bookmakers

Burundi, a country located in East Africa, Neighboring countries include Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Lake Tanganyika to the southwest. In this article, we zoom in ... Read More about Burundi 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
Sudan Bookmakers

Sudan Bookmakers

Sudan is a country that is part of both the Sub-Saharan Africa. Sudan, has one of the richest histories, has not been very favorable on gambling especially on the Sudan bookmakers and sports betting. In this article, the reader will ... Read More about Sudan Bookmakers
Scroll to Top