🇧🇮For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Burundi for operators: no online regime
Sports betting and other forms of gambling are licensed by the Loterie Nationale du Burundi (LONA), which is set to become a dedicated regulator by mid-2026.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Burundi is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Lottery | Licensed |
| Online casino | Banned |
| Online poker | Unregulated |
Regulator and player protection in Burundi
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Advertising stance
Limited
Whether you can run TV / sponsorship / paid-social campaigns
Heads-up for operators
4 items · last change 8 Oct 2026
The planned transition of the Loterie Nationale du Burundi (LONA) into a Gambling Regulatory Authority, due by 30 June 2026 under the 2023-2035 National Strategy, had not been completed as of August 2026, when LONA was still acting as the national lottery and fee collector. A Joint Ministerial Order of 12 August 2026 (No. 760/540/319) under the 2026/27 Finance Law sets a rule for suspending licences over unpaid gambling fees (trade press).
LONA begins crackdown on fraudulent and informal operators
LONA's Director General announced the development of new rules for informal betting houses and active monitoring of fraudulent websites.
Source: 1
Timeline for new Gambling Regulatory Authority confirmed
It was confirmed that the national lottery, LONA, will complete its transition into a dedicated Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) by June 30, 2026.
Source: 2
Show all 4Show fewer
New Gambling Regulatory Authority becomes operational
LONA is expected to be formally established as the new GRA by June 30, 2026, separating its regulatory functions from its operational lottery business.
Source: 2
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Licence Types in Burundi
2 licence types are listed for Burundi; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Betting Licence | LONA | Three years | |
| Casino Licence | LONA | Five years |
Licensing model
Burundi's licensing model has a structural conflict of interest, as the regulator, Loterie Nationale du Burundi (LONA), also functions as a commercial operator. This is being resolved as part of the 2023-2035 National Strategy for Gambling Regulation, with LONA set to transition into a dedicated Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) and cease its operational activities by June 2026.
Gambling tax and fees in Burundi
Detail
The specific GGR or turnover tax rate for operators could not be confirmed. While licensed operators are required to make financial contributions, the exact percentages are not published.
Claims of a 15% GGR tax could not be substantiated.
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
The cost of compliance in Burundi is not transparent, as the regulator, LONA, has not published an official fee schedule for licensing or annual contributions.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (one-time) | no published fee schedule | The fee for applying for a gambling license is not publicly disclosed by LONA. |
| Annual Licence Fee (Online Sports Betting) | no published fee schedule | The annual fee for licensed online sportsbooks is not specified in public documents. |
| Annual Licence Fee (Land-Based Casino) | no published fee schedule | Casino operations were suspended nationwide in October 2023. No fee information is available. |
| Operator Tax (GGR/Turnover) | no published fee schedule Source3 | The tax rate and basis (GGR or turnover) could not be confirmed. Operators make financial contributions, but the percentage is not public. |
| Payment System Integration | Commercial rates apply | Integration with local mobile money providers (Lumicash, EcoCash) and the new BurundiPay platform will incur commercial costs. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: gov fee schedule not published
The lack of a public fee schedule for licensing and taxation makes a reliable year-one cost estimate impossible.
Which foreign licences Burundi accepts
All 8 foreign licences listed here are tolerated in Burundi.
ToleratedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
No active blocking of MGA-licensed sites.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Allowed
The regulatory framework for bonuses in Burundi is not yet well defined, and no specific legislation governs online gambling promotions. Current practices are observed from the few licensed operators and point to a generally permissive but unregulated environment.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
Licensed operator Bubet offers a 150% welcome bonus up to 200,000 BIF with a 5x wagering requirement, while another licensed operator, Rahisibet, does not offer any bonuses. There is no evidence of statutory caps or restrictions.
What the operator can advertise
There have been no documented enforcement incidents related to bonus or advertising violations in the last 24 months. The regulator's focus is on unlicensed operations and structural reform. Some operators like Bubet include a general 'Interdit aux mineurs' notice on their sites.
Advertising: limited
Burundi's gambling advertising landscape is characterized by a licensed-only regime, with the Loterie Nationale du Burundi (LONA) overseeing all activity. While both online sportsbook and casino are legal for licensed operators, their advertising possibilities diverge significantly. Licensed sportsbooks appear to have more latitude, particularly in traditional channels, while online casino advertising is more restricted on major international digital platforms.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Banned | Google does not include Burundi in its list of countries eligible for a gambling advertising certification. Therefore, all ads for online casinos and sportsbooks are prohibited on its search platform as of 2026.78 |
| App Store Publishing | Restricted | Google Play does not list Burundi as a country where real-money gambling apps are permitted. While Apple may permit licensed operators who meet its guidelines, no primary source from the verified list confirms this policy, making the channel restricted.910 |
| Google/Apple App Store Ads | Restricted | Advertising is banned on Google Play as gambling apps cannot be published for Burundi. While Apple Search Ads may be available for a compliant iOS app, specific ad policies for either platform are not available in the verified source list.911 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Allowed | Meta requires prior written permission for real-money gambling advertising. Advertisers must provide a valid LONA license and can only target users aged 18+ in Burundi, making the channel highly restricted.1213 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | Advertising on broadcast media is permitted for LONA-licensed operators and is governed by the national Press Law. There are no specific “watershed” hours or content restrictions for gambling, but all ads must comply with general media regulations.1415 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | While sponsorships appear to be an active channel, no verified sources specifically address the regulations governing them. The activity is presumed to fall under general media laws, but the lack of specific rules renders the channel restricted.1416 |
| Digital OOH | Restricted | Digital and static billboards are available, but the specific regulatory framework for gambling advertisements is not documented in any verified sources. Advertising is assumed to be subject to LONA approval and general media laws.1417 |
Channel rules for Burundi reflect each platform's published policy and the sources numbered in each row (listed under Methodology & sources). Verify with the local regulator and your ad-platform account manager before launching.
How Burundi enforces against unlicensed operators
Enforcement is transitioning from passive to active. While foreign sites are not blocked, the regulator (LONA) is taking steps to formalize the market, and government ministers have shown a willingness to intervene directly, such as by suspending all casino operations.
- March 2026: LONA announced it is developing rules to formalize informal betting houses and has begun taking action against fraudulent websites.
- October 2023: The Minister of the Interior, Community Development, and Public Security suspended all casino games nationwide.
- February 2026: The government formalized the timeline for LONA's transition into a dedicated Gambling Regulatory Authority, which signals a move towards stricter oversight.
Market size: 0.02B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Burundi is approximately 20 million USD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Sports betting. Online gambling represents 60% of total GGR. A culturally distinctive product in this market is 1xBet.
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0B USD0.0%
- Sports betting0.016B USD80.0%
- Casino0B USD0.0%
- Lottery0.004B USD20.0%
Proxy estimate using the Chad/Niger baseline. Top-tier data firms pool lower-income Sub-Saharan markets into a generic "Rest of Africa" bucket rather than tracking each country separately. This placeholder ($0.02B GGR, 80% sports / 20% lottery) keeps the map complete; verify against local sources before quoting.
GGR figure18
Licensed operators: ~9
As of 8 Oct 2026, approximately 9 operators hold an active licence in Burundi. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Bubet
King's Investment
1Tbet
Megalotto
Traps operators hit in Burundi
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
Navigate the regulatory transition
LONA is transforming from a state operator/regulator into a dedicated Gambling Regulatory Authority by June 2026. This process creates significant uncertainty regarding future licensing requirements, technical standards, and compliance costs. Operators must monitor developments closely.
Sources2
Beware of political volatility
High-level government officials have expressed negative views on gambling. The Minister of the Interior called sports betting a 'scam' and unilaterally suspended all casino operations in October 2023. This indicates a risk of sudden, politically driven market interventions.
Sources1
Plan for an undefined tax framework
There is no officially published tax rate for operator GGR or turnover. Operators are required to contribute to public funds, but the lack of a clear, legislated tax framework makes financial planning and forecasting difficult and subject to administrative discretion.
Sources3
Timeline: rules in force
- October 2023
Government suspends all casino operations
The Minister of the Interior announced the suspension of all casino games throughout the country, citing concerns about the industry.
Source: 1
- 2023
National Strategy for Gambling Regulation (2023-2035) launched
The government initiated a 12-year national strategy to formalize the control and regulation of the gambling sector.
Source: 2
- 2008
Penal Code technically outlaws online gambling
The 2008 Penal Code contains provisions that make many forms of online gambling technically illegal, though these are not actively enforced against players.
Source: 3
Operator myths vs reality in Burundi
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythBurundi is an unregulated 'wild west' market.
- MythA foreign license is sufficient to target Burundian players.Reality
While foreign-licensed sites are currently tolerated and not actively blocked, the market is moving towards a local licensing model. LONA has already licensed several operators and is developing stricter rules, which indicates that a local license will become essential for compliant operation.
Sources3
- MythThe operator tax rate is a stable 15% of GGR.Reality
This figure has not been confirmed and should not be used for financial planning. The official tax framework for gambling operators has not been published. Licensed operators are required to make financial contributions, but the specific rates and calculation basis are not public.
Sources19
Markets that work like Burundi
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- CameroonReviewedSouth AfricaIn reviewAlbaniaReviewedFranceCheckedKazakhstanChecked
Online casino banned; betting and lottery licensed; licensed market; most ad channels restricted.
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
How we researchAsk us to run the Deep AI Scan for Burundi
Documents cited on this page
- 1FocusGN on LONA Progress
- 2FocusGN on LONA Transition
- 3iGaming Today Regulation Overview
- 4Bubet Bonus Offers
- 5Rahisibet Casino Review
- 6Report on Match-Fixing Scandal
- 7blockchain-ads.com
- 8igamingtoday.com
- 9aistechnolabs.com
- 10sigma.world
- 11adspyder.io
- 12covers.com
- 13sigma.world
- 14medialandscapes.org
- 15ubjburundi.org
- 16presidence.gov.bi
- 17lawgratis.com
- 18IBIA Anti-Fraud Africa Metrics
- 19Betpack Burundi Casino Guide
- FocusGN - LONA Transition to GRA
- FocusGN - LONA Regulatory Progress Report
- iGaming Today - Burundi Regulation Overview
- Casinos Online Africa - Burundi Legal Info
- Focus Gaming News: LONA identifies payment providers; planned transition into a Gambling Regulatory Authority (July 2026, trade press)
- Focus Gaming News: Burundi sets licence suspension rule for unpaid gambling fees (August 2026, trade press)
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Burundi (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Burundi player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Loterie Nationale du Burundi (LONA). We are not a legal adviser.