Gabon

Gabon rewrote its rules on games of chance at the end of 2025. On 29 December 2025 the Council of Ministers approved the texts creating the Gabonaise des Jeux (GDJ), and ordinances No. 0010/PR/2025 and No. 0011/PR/2025 of 30 December 2025 set out the new legal framework. The reform replaces the 2004 general gambling law (Law No. 24/2004), which covered only physical gaming, and the Commission supérieure des jeux de hasard.

Who Runs Betting in Gabon?

The GDJ, a state-owned company under the Ministry of the Interior, Security and Decentralisation, holds the public concession for gaming and games of chance. Private companies can operate only under its supervision and control.

How Are Private Operators Licensed?

On 12 February 2026 the GDJ called for expressions of interest from private operators, with applications due by 2 March 2026. Applicants must meet national rules on excessive gambling, the protection of minors, anti-money laundering and operational security. Authorisations, licences and declarations issued under the old system were set to lapse from 7 April 2026, so existing operators had to comply with the new framework or stop operating.

How Is Online Betting Monitored?

In April 2025 a ministerial order named eTech SAS, a public-private partnership with a Canadian company, as the exclusive aggregator of financial flows from online games and betting. The platform is meant to trace payments, collect tax, guarantee payouts and limit illegal gambling, and is to pass fully to the Gabonese state when the contract ends. The award, made without a tender, drew criticism over transparency.

How Is Betting Taxed in Gabon?

The 2024 finance law set a 4.5% tax on the sector. Gambling taxes brought the state about 185 million FCFA in 2024.