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Rwanda
Sports betting in Rwanda is licensed by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which took over gambling regulation in 2024, paused licensing for a review and resumed it in August 2025. Since September 2025 operators pay 40% of gross gaming revenue in tax, and players pay 25% withholding tax on net winnings.
Rwanda regulates gambling under Law No. 58/2011 and later ministerial orders. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) took over regulation in 2024, and a new national gambling policy that year set a target of cutting gambling addiction by 60% by 2030.
How Has Rwandan Betting Regulation Changed?
RDB paused new licences from June 2024 while it reviewed the framework, after an internal report flagged weak enforcement and under-reported earnings. It resumed licensing in August 2025, with more than 30 operators registered, including sports betting shops and online platforms. In July 2026 RDB licensed new international operators for online betting, and shortly afterwards it suspended another company for offering casino-style games beyond its sports betting licence. Slot machines are now allowed only inside licensed casinos.
How Is Betting Taxed in Rwanda?
Since September 2025 the tax on operators' gross gaming revenue has been 40%, up from 13%, and the withholding tax on winnings has risen from 15% to 25%. The 25% applies to net winnings, meaning your payout minus your stake: on a Rwf1,000 bet that returns Rwf5,000, Rwf1,000 is withheld.
Which Betting Sites Are Licensed in Rwanda?
RDB does not publish an online list of licensees. betPawa Rwanda, at betpawa.rw, is run by Choplife Gaming Limited under licence No. 001 and accepts players aged 18 and over.
Rwanda Betting FAQs
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Support in Rwanda
Betting is legal and regulated in Rwanda, and the national gambling policy aims to cut gambling addiction by 60% by 2030. Self-exclusion and deposit limits are available from operators, so set them in your betting account or ask your bookmaker. To report an unlicensed operator, contact the Rwanda Development Board at NLGC@rdb.rw. For free, anonymous online support, you can use Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org).