for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Senegal’s online betting boom is spreading well beyond, into small cities and villages, and the country’s rules are struggling to keep up.
Industry reporting and local analysis says more people are betting on phones, more operators are showing up with foreign licences, and bettors often have little clarity on who is properly supervised.
Estimates circulating in sector coverage put total gambling revenues on track to reach about $2.1bn by 2026, driven by mobile play and rising participation.
The market is growing, even in the “traditional” channels
Senegal’s state lottery operator, LONASE, reported strong results in the first half of 2025, including profit of CFA20.7bn (about $34m) and revenue of CFA37.2bn (about $61m), with lotteries and sports betting cited as key drivers.
Those figures show betting has moved from niche activity to mainstream spending. The fastest growth is happening in the online space, where Senegal’s older, retail-first betting rules leave wide grey areas.
Rules built for kiosks are being stretched by mobile betting
Much of Senegal’s gambling law grew up around physical outlets: printed slips, cash payments, and shop-based distribution. That model does not match a market where a bettor can deposit, stake, and withdraw in minutes from a smartphone.
As a result, many brands lean on offshore authorisations to keep operating. For players, that can mean unclear complaint routes, uneven protection standards, and a harder time knowing which sites are accountable locally when something goes wrong.
The 20% winnings tax adds pressure on both sides
Senegal’s government has also tightened the screws on payouts. Under Law No. 17/2025, a 20% tax on gambling winnings started on 1 November 2025 for retail games, with a digital rollout following in mid-November, according to notices tied to LONASE and industry reporting.
Supporters present the measure as a way to raise revenue and bring more oversight to a booming sector. Critics argue it could push some bettors toward cheaper offshore options, especially when the regulated user experience already feels uneven.
Source: African Gambit
