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Located on the northwest coast of Africa, a country like Senegal allows games of chance—lotteries, sports betting, and casino gambling. For a predominantly Muslim land, its law allows its citizens to gamble, and as far back as 1993, the first brick-and-mortar casino in Dakar was opened. As such, Senegal stands out in this region because it embraces gambling as part of its entertainment culture. Although land-based casinos work legally, regarding online gambling, the clarity is not there. Below we will explore in detail information about regulations concerning gambling in Senegal and how we could expect things to develop in the future.
This article was written on October 6, 2024, and is based on information available on that date. Because regulations by nature are subject to change, one should consult with local experts for the most current information available pertaining to gambling laws in Senegal.
A snippet of gambling legislation in Senegal
In Senegal, the general framework for gaming outsets the decree of 2004. The decree provides for the regulation of gambling activities and some online gambling. The core governing bodies are the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economy & Finance. These provide the overall organisation involved in the management of gambling and the issuing of licenses to establishments.
Legal forms of gambling in Senegal:
- Lotteries: LONASE is the only body responsible for organising lotteries.
- Sports betting is another monopoly controlled. by LONASE.
- Casino gambling in licensed casino venues
- Poker: The only activity that can take place even within licensed casinos.
The role of LONASE
The state lotteries and sports betting company LONASE is the leading player in the Senegalese gambling market. Lotteries and sports betting enjoy a monopoly and are deeply intertwined with the fabric of the gambling industry in Senegal. Online gambling is not mentioned in the legislation; all the same, LONASE is very often regarded as the key gatekeeper, and hence entry to the online gambling market of Senegal is possible only with the involvement of LONASE.
Online gambling: The grey area
While the online gambling market in Senegal neither falls under any regulated nor prohibited category, there is no formal licensing of online operators. The law doesn’t mention anything about online casinos or gambling platforms, yet there is a growth in using technology, mobile apps, and virtual betting terminals. Curiously enough, Senegalese law prohibits making bets on foreign, unlicensed gambling websites, but this law is simply never enforced, and no penalty has ever been issued against players who engage with international online casinos.
One of the reasons for the lack of strict regulations is the relatively low internet penetration rate in the country. This is, however, fairly changing at a high speed. With more Senegalese increasingly turning to mobile internet access, online gambling also becomes more accessible, which in turn may spur further regulation of online gambling in the near future.
Land-based basinos in Dakar
The first casino opened in 1993 in Dakar; since then, a few more have sprung up, offering everything from slot machines to poker and live gaming. Tourists and Senegal locals are mainly drawn to the slot machines, poker, and live gaming offered by these venues. Some casinos are attached to hotels and restaurants to offer a comprehensive entertainment facility for their clients.
Poker tournaments are especially in demand in Senegalese casinos and are open to all comers with a legal threshold of 18 years of age for admission. Though a Muslim country by majority, no penalties, either legal or social, are imposed on gamblers, nor is there any stigma against the patrons of casinos.
Horse racing and virtual betting
Another quirky aspect of the gambling scene in Senegal is the long tradition of horse racing, dating back deep into the colonial era. One popular variety of horse race betting is pari mutuel betting, wherein the prize pool is divided among the winners. Horse racing in Senegal is a very favourite sport, and thus betting on races has become an intrinsic part of the sport’s culture.
Over the years, virtual bets also gained momentum. Now, alongside local operators, LONASE also offers such options as virtual horse racing, virtual football, and greyhound racing. Virtual bets are now available via the betting terminals and mobile applications, giving players access round the clock to their favourite virtual sports.
Player protections: What’s in place?
Currently, no rules exist that can protect online gamblers, specifically in Senegal. With no regulatory body for online gambling, players who opt to gamble on international sites do so at their discretion. This will mean that website choices should be carefully considered with a good review record of customers for safety.
The lack of regulation on online gambling, however, provides no such penalties against players taking part in such activities online—from account cancellation to blocking of payments. Senegal happens to be one of the more lenient countries in Africa toward online gambling, so there are quite a few players who engage with international platforms without anything to fear from the law.
The future of gambling in Senegal
Although the market for games of chance in Senegal is considered at an embryonic stage of development, the growth in cell phone usage and increasing internet penetration in recent years may hold great potential for the online gambling sector over the next couple of years. As access to mobile technology becomes easier, it is expected that the government will tackle legislation regarding online gambling and will provide a licensing system accordingly.
Besides that, with the increasing popularity of gambling, a state might want to capitalise on tax revenue coming from online operators. This would, in turn, regulate the market and protect players while making sure that part of the profit made out of gambling goes into financing social programs, as is done today with the national lottery financing health, education, and cultural activities.
Summary: A land of opportunity
In conclusion, Senegal is a very unique market in the African landscape of gaming. But even at that, the country has shown its openness to legal gambling in the form of established land-based casinos, lotteries, and sports betting operations. At the same time, access to the internet is becoming more widespread across the country, which improves the chances of opening a regulated online gaming market. From both the local participants and international operators’ point of view, Senegal offers a fascinating mix of opportunity and future potential.
