Jogos Cruz Vermelha
jogoscruzvermelha.cv
🇨🇻For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Operating in Cabo Verde: ad limits and compliance
A regulated market where land-based casinos are tied to tourism investment in specific zones. The online framework is legal but its post-monopoly structure is uncertain. The national lottery is a key, newly digitized vertical.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Cabo Verde is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Online casino · Online poker · Lottery | Licensed |
Regulator and player protection in Cabo Verde
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
2 items · last change 8 Oct 2026
The 10-year exclusive online gambling and sports-betting licence granted to Macau Legend Development in 2015 ran to 2025; whether it was renewed, opened to competition or replaced is not publicly confirmed. Resolution 79/2025 of 14 August 2025, which licensed Monte Cara Casino in São Vicente, covers land-based games only and does not allow remote play.
Future Online Licensing Model Awaited
The government has yet to announce the new regulatory framework for online gambling following the expiration of the 2015-2025 monopoly.
Source: 1
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 Cabo Verde
3 licence types are listed for Cabo Verde; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Licence | Inspeção Geral de Jogos (IGJ) | Up to 25 years | Tied to significant tourism and infrastructure investment within designated gaming zones. |
| Lottery Concession | Government of Cabo Verde | Statutory | Currently operated by the Red Cross of Cabo Verde (Cruz Vermelha). |
| Online Gambling Licence | Inspeção Geral de Jogos (IGJ) | 10 years (based on historical monopoly) | Historically granted as a nationwide monopoly. Future licensing model post-2025 is pending clarification. |
Licensing model
Cabo Verde's licensing model is structurally unique, restricting gambling to designated tourism zones on specific islands (e.g., Sal, Santiago, Boa Vista) to support the tourism sector. Major concessions are tied to significant infrastructure investment. The online market operated under a nationwide 10-year monopoly (2015-2025) granted to a single land-based concessionaire, and its structure post-2025 is pending clarification.
Gambling tax and fees in Cabo Verde
Detail
The specific GGR tax rate for operators is not publicly disclosed. However, tax revenue is a significant contributor to the state budget, with the government's 2023 budget forecasting PTE 60 million (approx. USD 600,000) in revenue from the tax on games.
Revenue saw a 21.6% year-over-year increase in early 2023, linked to the recovery of the tourism sector.
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
Fee schedules for gambling licenses in Cabo Verde are not publicly available. Costs are likely determined on a case-by-case basis as part of large-scale tourism concession agreements rather than a standardized rate card.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (Online Casino) | no published fee schedule | Determined by negotiation within a concession agreement. |
| Annual Licence Fee (Online Casino) | no published fee schedule | The historical monopoly structure means competitive fees are not established. |
| Application Fee (Land-Based Casino) | no published fee schedule | Tied to major infrastructure and tourism investment proposals. |
| Annual Licence Fee (Land-Based Casino) | no published fee schedule | Details are part of confidential concession agreements. |
| Operator GGR Tax | no published fee schedule Source2 | The specific tax rate on Gross Gaming Revenue is not publicly disclosed by the government. |
| Lottery Concession | State monopoly Source3 | The national lottery is operated exclusively by the Red Cross of Cabo Verde. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: gov fee schedule not published
Costs are entirely dependent on negotiations for large-scale investment concessions, not standardized fees.
Which foreign licences Cabo Verde accepts
All 8 foreign licences listed here are tolerated in Cabo Verde.
ToleratedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
The regulator does not actively block offshore operators or penalize players. Users of foreign-licensed sites have no local consumer protection.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses restricted
Inducement ads: Channel-restricted
Bonuses and promotions are generally permitted in Cabo Verde, but their advertisement is severely restricted by the Advertising Code (Decree-Law No. 46/2007). This law prohibits advertising where a game of chance is the main subject of the message. Despite these rules, there have been no publicly documented enforcement actions against iGaming operators in the last two years.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Restricted
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
While welcome bonuses and retention tools are not explicitly banned, their promotion is significantly limited by the country's strict advertising laws.
What the operator can advertise
- Messages ads may not give
- Misleading advertising
- Penalties
Infringements of the Advertising Code can lead to administrative fines, but specific amounts for gambling operators are not detailed in the legislation.
Violations can lead to potential civil or criminal sanctions depending on the severity.
The complete absence of public enforcement actions in the last 24 months suggests a period of regulatory forbearance as the online market develops.
Sources4
How Cabo Verde enforces against unlicensed operators
Regulatory enforcement in Cabo Verde appears low and is primarily focused on the initial licensing and concession process rather than ongoing operational compliance. There is no public record of fines or sanctions against operators for AML, responsible gambling, or marketing violations. The regulator, IGJ, maintains a low public profile.
- 2015: Regulator's primary focus was granting a 25-year land-based and 10-year online monopoly concession tied to a major tourism project.
- 2023: A tender for a new casino concession in São Vicente was evaluated heavily on investment volume and tourism impact, not on compliance history.
- 2026: There is no publicly accessible register of licensees or enforcement actions on the IGJ's official website.
Enforcement cases in Cabo Verde: 3 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Cabo Verde. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- September 2025
Casino Royal
AdvertisingContravention proceedings initiatedThe operator allegedly violated the Advertising Code by running billboard campaigns that were deemed to be an affront to religious symbols and to objectify women.
Read-across: This enforcement action shows a restrictive advertising environment, where all operators need to be extremely cautious with marketing content to avoid regulatory penalties and public complaints.
- November 2024
Macau Legend Development Ltd
LicensingLicence revokedThe company repeatedly failed to meet its contractual obligations for the construction of a €250 million casino-resort in Praia.
Read-across: This action signals the government's low tolerance for non-performance on major projects and creates uncertainty for other large-scale investors.
- May 2024
Monte Cara Casino SA
B2BLawsuit filedThe company filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of Justice to annul the government's suspension of a public tender for a casino license in São Vicente, alleging irregularities in the tender process.
Read-across: The litigation adds risk and potential delays to the licensing process for new gaming zones and potentially discourages other applicants.
Market size: 0.01B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Cabo Verde is approximately 10 million USD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Casino. Online gambling represents 5% of total GGR. A culturally distinctive product in this market is Totoloto (National Lottery).
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0.004B USD40.0%
- Sports betting0.0045B USD45.0%
- Casino0.0005B USD5.0%
- Lottery0.001B USD10.0%
Source: H2 Gambling Capital Global Tracker. Splits: online-casino 5.0%, sports 45.0%, land-based 40.0%, lottery 10.0%.
GGR figure7
Licensed operators: ~3
As of 8 Oct 2026, approximately 3 operators hold an active licence in Cabo Verde. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
- Visit site
- Visit site
Casino Royal
casinoroyal.cv
Macau Legend Development Ltd.
Traps operators hit in Cabo Verde
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.
Navigating Post-Monopoly Uncertainty
The 10-year online monopoly expired in 2025, but the government has not clarified the new market structure. Operators planning market entry face total uncertainty regarding whether licenses will be available, the cost, and the competitive landscape. Any investment is highly speculative until a new framework is announced.
Sources6
Meeting Zonal and Investment Requirements
Land-based and potentially online licenses are not simple permits; they are tied to designated gaming zones on specific islands and linked to substantial, long-term tourism and infrastructure investments. This model is unsuitable for online-only operators and carries significant capital risk.
Sources8
Operating with an Inactive Regulator
The regulator, IGJ, has a minimal public presence. Its website is a static placeholder with no active licensing information, dispute resolution portal, or updated regulations. Operators may find it difficult to get clear guidance or engage with the regulator on routine compliance matters.
Sources5
Timeline: rules in force
- 2025
Nationwide Online Monopoly Expires
The 10-year exclusive right for online gambling held by Macau Legend Development came to an end. This left the market at a regulatory crossroads.
Source: 6
- May 2024
National Lottery Goes Digital
The Red Cross of Cabo Verde launched a national digital platform for its lottery games, which modernized the country's most popular gambling vertical.
Source: 3
- 2015
Online Framework and Monopoly Established
A specific online gambling framework was created, and Macau Legend Development was granted a 10-year nationwide monopoly on online gambling and sports betting.
Source: 6
- 2005
Law No. 77/VI/2005 Legalizes Gambling
The foundational law was passed and legalised both land-based and online games of chance in Cabo Verde.
Source: 8
Operator myths vs reality in Cabo Verde
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythCabo Verde is an open, competitive online licensing market.Reality
Historically, this is false. The market was a 10-year monopoly (2015-2025). While that has expired, the new framework has not been announced. It is not currently an open market and may revert to a restrictive model.
Sources6
- MythA license can be obtained for online-only operations.Reality
The established licensing model ties gambling concessions to significant land-based tourism and infrastructure investment. It is unlikely that a standalone online license, disconnected from a physical investment project, would be granted under the current philosophy.
Sources8
- MythThe regulator (IGJ) provides a clear and active compliance framework.Reality
The IGJ has a very limited public presence. Its website lacks a license register, fee schedules, or detailed regulations, suggesting a reactive or non-transparent regulatory body that may be difficult for new entrants to engage with.
Sources5
Markets that work like Cabo Verde
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.
- Antigua and BarbudaAI overviewAngolaAI overviewRwandaAI overviewMalawiAI overviewVanuatuAI overview
Online casino, betting, poker and lottery licensed; licensed market; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
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 Cabo Verde
Documents cited on this page
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Cabo Verde (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Cabo Verde player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Inspeção Geral de Jogos (IGJ). We are not a legal adviser.