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 most dynamic nations in Africa. This includes its gambling sector which has come a long way in the society. This article aims to discuss the gambling laws in the country with regard to Ivory Coast bookmakers, their control, types of betting, licenses, taxes, and steps in sports betting.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Gambling Laws in Côte d’Ivoire
The development of gambling in Ivory Coast can be divided into different stages following the country’s independence from France in 1960. Below is a timeline of major legislative milestones:
- 1960: Ivory Coast also got its independence from France in the year 1960. The first gambling act was based on French legislation, and thus, gambling has been legal in one or another form ever since.
- 1970: The state-owned National Lottery of Ivory Coast (LONACI), was established under the Law No. 70-208.
- 1998: Adoption of Decree No. 98-371 on June 30th, 1998, that offered integration of the legal provisions related to gambling activities.
- 2009: Revision of the gambling laws through Decree No. 2009-29 of February 12 that formally allow online gambling.
- 2017: Online gambling was further legalized and LONACI started its online gambling business with the help of Parions Direct.
Laws that Regulate Gambling and the Regulatory Bodies
The regulation of gambling in Côte d’Ivoire is done under the provisions of the decree number 98-371 dated 30 June 1998 with the last amendment being the decree number 2009-29 dated 12 February 2009. The key regulatory agencies include:
- Ministry of Interior: Authorisations for the operation of land-based gambling activities are issued by.
- Ministry of Economy and Finance: This department is responsible for the regulation of the conducting of online gambling business.
- Autorité de Régulation des Jeux de Hasard: Created in the year 2020 to regulate and license the games of chance. ”
Licenses are valid for up to 10 years and can be renewed for another 3 years. Applications for permits are made to the Minister of Interior and passed through a team that includes officials from the Ministries of Interior and Security, Economy and Finance, and Tourism.
Ivory Coast Bookmakers and Their Activities
Legal and Prohibited Bets
In Côte d’Ivoire all primary forms of gambling are legal but highly regulated by the government and this includes; The National Lottery of Ivory Coast (LONACI) holds a monopoly over:
- Lottery: Tangible lotteries and other similar products like scratch-off tickets, keno, and possibly bingo.
- Sports Betting: Sportcash, which is the other arm through which sports betting is conducted is referred to as the “virtual lottery”.
- Online Gambling: Such as lottery, scratch cards, keno and bingo that are available online.
It is only legal for Ivorian players to gamble on licensed websites only. It is unlawful to participate in gambling activities in unregulated websites.
Licensing and Fees
Licensing for various types of gambling is done by the Ministry of Economy and Finance for the online gambling whereas the lottery related activities come under the jurisdiction of LONACI. Local licensees are expected to remit 25% of their GGR while LONACI only pays 10% of the GGR as taxes.
Casinos in Côte d’Ivoire
The only casino located on the land territory of Côte d’Ivoire is Golden Elephant Casino in Abidjan. Originally called the Hotel Ivoire Inter-Continental & Casino, the hotel got a new name in 2017. The casino offers:
- 13 Gaming Tables: For the tourists only; we offer blackjack, roulette, and craps.
- 80+ Slot Machines: Numerous forms of electronic games.
- 4 Poker Tables: No Limit Hold’em is their forte.
The activity of Lotteries and Other Gambling Activities.
LONACI was founded in 1970 and provides lottery games such as the draw-based games and instant games such as scratch tickets. Lottery money goes to the government and social needs such as education and health among other needs. The company has ventured into the provision of other products that can be accessed online; these include various slots, bingo, and sports betting.
Ivory Coast Sports Betting
Sporting activities betting, a LONACI’s business under the brand name Sportcash, was launched into the market in the year 2012. It is available at numerous betting shops across the country and offers:
- Pre-game Wagers: Bets placed before the commencement of the different sporting activities.
- Live Betting: It permits betting during the events.
- Virtual League: Takes only 3 minutes to get the results and the payouts for virtual sports.
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
- 1984: Côte d’Ivoire has the privilege of hosting the African Cup of Nations and in the process finishes fifth.
- 1985: Ivory Coast takes the trophy at the African Basketball Championship.
- 1995: National rugby union team gets to the Rugby World Cup.
- 2006-2014: National football team plays in the FIFA World Cups held in Germany, South Africa and Brazil.
- 2015: The national football team takes the trophy of the African Cup of Nations.
Conclusion
All in all, it can be stated that Côte d’Ivoire has a rather strict approach to gambling with clear laws and supervising bodies. The country provides a diverse forms of gambling services that include lotteries, sports betting among others, hence a rich market for the local as well as the international bookmakers.
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