The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recently announced the lifting of the comprehensive suspension order on the issuance of gambling licenses starting from June 2024, reinitiating the application process for physical casino licenses, and for the first time, inviting companies to submit letters of intent for online gambling-related businesses. This move marks the full-scale relaunch of Rwanda's gambling market.
According to Focus Gambling News Africa, RDB issued a statement on August 1st stating that it is currently conducting a "thorough review and restructuring" of the national gambling laws and regulatory system. However, until new regulations are introduced, the existing Gambling Law No. 58/2011 and the ministerial orders from 2013 and 2023 will continue to apply.
The decision to suspend licensing in 2024 stems from a survey report in 2023, which revealed issues in Rwanda's gambling industry such as weak regulation, tax evasion, lack of electronic monitoring, and increasing gambling addiction. As a result, the government decided to thoroughly overhaul the system and in May of this year, raised the gambling tax rate from 13% to 40% to strengthen fiscal control and industry standards.
The reopening not only covers applications for physical casino licenses but also adds three new vertical business areas: physical sports betting, online sports betting, and online casinos. RDB has now opened the submission channel for letters of intent, and applicants must submit their documents by September 20th, including company profiles, intended investment directions, and preferred business areas.
RDB also confirmed that it has resumed collecting annual license fees from licensed operators and will announce the specific payment process and deadlines through official channels, urging licensed businesses to comply on time.
According to public data, Rwanda currently has over 30 registered gambling operators, covering sports betting, online gaming, and national lotteries. The country's gambling market was valued at approximately $198.4 billion in 2021 and is expected to continue growing at an average annual rate of 8.94% until 2027.
With regulatory reforms and market opening progressing on dual tracks, Rwanda's gambling industry is entering a new phase of standardized development. The government also encourages legal and compliant business operations, attracting more international capital attention.
