Is online gambling legal in Cabo Verde?

Lottery prizes are subject to a 20% tax, while the tax law for casino winnings is not publicly specified. The IGJ has no jurisdiction over offshore sites, so you cannot rely on local authorities for help in a dispute.

Play only on sites licensed in Cabo Verde; those have to follow its player-protection rules.

Online sports betting is legal on sites licensed in Cabo Verde. Online casino is legal on sites licensed in Cabo Verde. Online poker is legal on sites licensed in Cabo Verde. The lottery is legal on sites licensed in Cabo Verde.

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Cabo Verde: Legal.

Gambling with crypto: Unclear in law.

You must be 18 to gamble online in Cabo Verde, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike.

Lottery winnings are subject to a 20% tax on property gains. The tax applicability for other forms of gambling winnings, such as from casinos or sports betting, is not specified in available regulations.

There are approximately 3 licensed operators in Cabo Verde as of 8 Oct 2026.

Always verify a casino holds a valid Inspeção Geral de Jogos (IGJ) licence before depositing.

Inspeção Geral de Jogos (IGJ)'s website

Prominent operators in Cabo Verde

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

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  Use the official lottery website

  The only legal online platform for the national lottery is jogoscruzvermelha.cv. Any other site claiming to sell official Totoloto or Joker tickets online is unauthorized.

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  Recognize the limited number of licensees

  The legal market is extremely small, consisting of the national lottery and a few land-based casinos like Casino Royal. Be highly skeptical of any other operator claiming to hold a local Cabo Verde license.

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  Understand offshore sites lack local protection

  While you can access sites with licenses from Malta or Curaçao, the Cabo Verde regulator (IGJ) has no jurisdiction over them. If you have a dispute, you cannot rely on local authorities for help.

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  Confirm the legal age is 18

  The minimum age for all legal gambling activities, including lottery and casinos, is 18. Licensed operators are required to perform age verification.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Cabo Verde. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.

We have no record of a national self-exclusion scheme or problem-gambling helpline in Cabo Verde. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.

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   1. Contact the licensed operator

   The first step for any dispute regarding bets, payments, or account issues is to contact the customer support of the licensed gambling operator directly and attempt to resolve it through their internal procedures.

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   2. Escalate to the Inspeção Geral de Jogos (IGJ)

   If the issue cannot be resolved with the operator, players can escalate the complaint to the regulator, the IGJ. There is no public online portal for this; complaints must be filed directly with the Inspectorate.

   IGJ Website

• Myth

  Online gambling is illegal in Cabo Verde.
  Reality

  This is false. Online gambling was legalized in 2005 and regulated in 2015. However, for ten years (2015-2025) it was a monopoly, so player choice for locally licensed sites was limited to one operator.

• Myth

  All gambling winnings are tax-free.
  Reality

  This is incorrect for the lottery. Lottery prizes are subject to a 20% tax. For other forms of gambling like casino winnings, the tax law is not publicly specified, creating an ambiguous situation.

• Myth

  Using international betting sites is a crime.
  Reality

  There is no evidence that players are prosecuted for using offshore gambling sites. The government does not appear to block these sites, but players should be aware they are using them without any local consumer protection from the IGJ.