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Located on the southern coast of West Africa, Ivory Coast is home to more than 30 million people. With a history of colonization, this country was under the French from 1843 to 1960, when it gained its independence. The country is famous for its cocoa production, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and many natural riches like gold and cobalt. As it is a known exporter, this country has one of the most developed economies in Africa. The country has been developing since its independence, and with that its gambling industry has been changing and adapting to current trends. We will focus on the gambling regulation of Ivory Coast in further text.
This article was written on September 25th, 2024, and is based on information available at that time. Because regulations by nature are subject to change, one should consult with local experts for the most current information available pertaining to Ivory Coast’s gambling laws.
Does Ivory Coast Have Its Own Gambling License?
Ivory Coast has its own gambling license for land-based casinos. Operators need to obtain a license and obey certain rules in order to start a gambling business.
When it comes to online gambling businesses, there is no standardized licensing. Everything is organized through Ivory Coast’s national lottery portal. Online gambling is not illegal in the country but it is not strictly regulated by law either. The only licensed online gambling organization is LONACI, who are in charge of the National Lottery, and that is an exception in the country.
Who Oversees Gambling Regulations in Ivory Coast?
Gambling Regulation in Ivory Coast is managed by the National Authority for the Regulation of Games of Chance (Autorité Nationale de la Régulation des Jeux de Hasard). They oversee the gambling industry in the country, control licensing and ensure safe gambling activities.
An Overview of Ivory Coast’s Gambling Laws
Gambling in Ivory Coast is regulated by Law No. 2020-480, on the legal regime of gambling in Ivory Coast. This law provides regulations for casinos, lotteries, and other kinds of gambling. The law covers many aspects of the gambling industry, and here are some parts of it:
- Licensing: Land-based and certain online gambling businesses are licensed. Operators can work only if they have obtained a license from the regulatory body.
- Regulatory Body: The gambling regulatory body of Ivory Coast is the National Authority for the Regulation of Games of Chance (Autorité Nationale de la Régulation des Jeux de Hasard). They are in charge of overseeing the gambling industry and issuing licenses.
- Taxing: There is no tax on winnings for the players of Ivory Coast. That means whatever amount of money you win, everything is yours. Operators and companies pay corporate tax to the country.
- Consumer Protection: Consumer protection is clearly set in order to protect the players from potential fraud and other kinds of unfair activities. Age restriction is one of the protective measures and it is set to 18 years of age.
Online Gambling in Ivory Coast
Online gambling in Ivory Coast has been on the rise in recent years, even though it is not fully regulated by law. Online gambling is dictated by customer preferences, that is, by the games customers play the most.
Customers look for more approachable and convenient ways to enjoy games and engage with online gambling. Ivory Coast has a young population interested in new and developing technologies. They usually go for activities like casino games and sports betting.
There are many rising trends in online gambling in Ivory Coast, but one of the most dominant ones is sports betting. Football is the most popular sport people bet on in this country. People bet on their favorite teams, and they even do it live, which adds to excitement for the customers. Online casinos are also popular among players, and they play many games like roulette, poker, and slot games.
Gambling Problems in Ivory Coast
Popularity of gambling in Ivory Coast boosts the country’s economy, but it also brings problems to the country. Even though many people engage with gambling and have fun playing, the dark side is that many are also struggling with addiction. This leads to many social problems for the people.
The Ivorian government is aware of these challenges and they have come up with campaigns to raise awareness among the public. The campaigns promote responsible gambling and educate the people about available resources for the affected players.
Future Actions
In the future, there is a lot Ivory Coast can work on. They absolutely need to regulate their legal framework more and focus on controlling online gambling and protect their customers even more. In order to take a hold of online gambling, they need to upgrade their laws to international standards, which will help them build connections with international organizations in gambling industry.
To Conclude
Gambling in Ivory Coast is still developing and it is far from perfect. There are a lot of things Ivory Coast needs to work on in order to meet the international standards, but as this is still a developing country it is safe to say that in the future they will be able to focus on evolving their gambling regulations even further.
If you want to know more, read the full iGaming market research report.
