A guide to the legality of betting in Africa

 

Throughout the world, there are vastly different laws when it comes to gambling. Some countries 

completely outlaw it and strictly enforce the law. For others, it is the backbone of the economy. Today, we will examine which categories various African countries fit into and which regions have the loosest 

regulations.  

 

Countries such as Tanzania, for instance, have fully regulated and legal gambling industries. To boost 

tourism, the government introduced legal gambling 25 years ago, and it has become a prominent feature of the economy ever since. 

 

You can gamble online in Tanzania. The website suffix for the country is .tz. TZ online gambling news is a hot topic for many businesses operating in the tourist sector, as it brings in millions in profit annually.  

 

Other countries, such as South Africa, have a well-regulated gambling industry which also provides 

millions to the country’s tax base. Cape Town, the capital, has several casinos. South African companies have been able to pay dividends with the ample profits generated within the industry. 

 

 

Even though we have touched on a couple of examples of where gambling is widely accepted, there are 

plenty of other countries throughout the vast African continent where there are far more stringent 

gambling laws. 

 

One of the strictest countries in the world regarding gambling is the region of Sudan, where you can be 

publicly lashed for placing a bet on any game. Somalia has similarly strict rules which prohibit any 

gambling from taking place on its shores. 

 

Regions with less strict laws  

 

However, there are plenty of other regions where gambling is legal. Some laws are ambiguous, such as in Egypt, where there is a national lottery, but placing any other type of bet is illegal. 

 

Other countries, such as Morocco, allow gambling on their shores. However, it is predominantly for 

tourism as it is a majority Islam country, and plenty of the population does not gamble for religious 

reasons. Sierra Leone is a region that has unclear gambling laws. It is best to exercise caution if you are 

in a region where the laws are unclear. 

 

 

In addition to South Africa and Tanzania, you can legally gamble in other large African countries, such as Nigeria, which has an expanding casino industry. Kenya also has dated legislation but doesn’t prohibit gambling in any form. However, as the legislation is so dated, it doesn’t include any reference to online gambling, so it is still ambiguous.  

 

Ghana is another vast region where you can gamble, and the legislation they have introduced is clear and specific. You can follow the latest sports news and place sports bets online and in person. In addition, Botswana is another country with clear laws that legislate gambling and provide an effective income stream for the region. 

 

 

Due to the size and scope of Africa, we have only touched on a few countries today. As more than half of the countries on the continent allow gambling, we have only skimmed the surface. You can find a wide range of laws across the territories so you should do some research to learn what to expect if you’re travelling to any of these countries.