🇬🇲For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Gambia for operators: no online regime
Online gambling is an unregulated grey market. Land-based venues are licensed, but all gambling winnings are subject to a steep 50% withholding tax.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Gambia is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Online casino · Online poker | Unregulated |
| Lottery | Licensed |
Regulator and player protection in Gambia
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
Licence Types in Gambia
One licence type is listed for Gambia: Casino Licence.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Licence | Gambia Revenue Authority | Three years | Limited number of licences. |
Licensing model
Gambia has a dual structure. Land-based venues are licensed by the GRA under the pre-internet 'Betting and Gaming Act'. However, there is no specific legislation or licensing regime for online gambling, creating a grey market served by offshore operators. This 'ghost statute' approach means online operations exist in a legal vacuum, neither explicitly permitted nor prohibited.
Gambling tax: 35% of GGR
Detail
Licensed operators are subject to standard corporate taxes. No specific GGR tax has been identified, but operators are legally required to withhold and remit the 50% tax on player winnings.
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
Gambia does not have a regulated online gambling market, and the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has not published a public fee schedule for land-based casino or betting shop licences.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Land-Based Casino Licence Fee | no published fee schedule | Licensing costs are not publicly disclosed by the GRA. |
| Land-Based Betting Shop Licence Fee | no published fee schedule | Licensing costs are not publicly disclosed by the GRA. |
| Online Gambling Licence Fee | Not applicable | Gambia does not offer online gambling licences. |
| Player Winnings Tax Withholding | 50% of net winnings Source1 | Operators are required to withhold and remit this tax to the GRA. |
| Corporate Tax | Standard rates apply Source2 | Gambling operators are subject to standard corporate income tax. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: gov fee schedule not published
The absence of a public fee schedule for land-based licences makes a year-one estimate impossible. The primary known cost is the significant operational burden of withholding the 50% player winnings tax.
Which foreign licences the Gambia accepts
All 8 foreign licences listed here are tolerated in the Gambia.
ToleratedMalta (MGA)
MGA-licensed operators accept Gambian players; however, the government provides no legal recourse or protection.
United Kingdom (UKGC)
UKGC-licensed operators are accessible but operate in the grey market, with no local oversight.
Curaçao (CGB)
Operators holding Curaçao licences are common in the offshore market serving Gambia, but they are unregulated locally.
Alderney (AGCC) · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan · Isle of Man (GSC) · Gibraltar (GRA)
Accessible to players, but the licence has no legal standing within Gambia.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Allowed
The regulatory framework for online gambling bonuses and promotions in The Gambia is largely undefined. The government's focus has been almost exclusively on taxation, managed by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), rather than on consumer protection rules related to marketing and promotions.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
There are no specific laws prohibiting or restricting bonuses. Offshore operators active in the market routinely offer a full range of promotions.
What the operator can advertise
The current enforcement focus of the Gambian authorities is on tax compliance, specifically the collection of the 50% tax on player winnings. There are no documented statutory penalties for bonus or advertising violations.
Sources3
Advertising: limited
While online gambling in Gambia was previously considered a grey market, the landscape has significantly shifted with the enactment of the Gambling Control Act, 2025, which came into force on August 26, 2025. This Act establishes a regulated framework for online gambling, creating separate licenses for online bookmakers, online casinos, and online lotteries, overseen by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). Advertising for all forms of gambling, including both Sportsbook and Online Casino, is now subject to specific regulations under this Act, requiring responsible messaging and prohibiting targeting minors.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Restricted | As of March 23, 2026, Google's Gambling and Games policy requires advertisers to demonstrate “good policy health,” obtain per-country certification, and have a proven compliance history. The Gambling Control Act, 2025, in Gambia mandates specific online licenses for bookmakers and casinos, which are a prerequisite for Google certification. Google prohibits misleading claims and targeting minors, and ads must include responsible gambling information.4567 |
| App Store Publishing | Banned | For Apple App Store, real-money gambling apps require valid licenses for every country, must be geo-restricted, and free on the App Store, with age verification. Google Play currently bans real-money gambling apps in Gambia, as the country is not on its whitelist, despite the Gambling Control Act, 2025, establishing local licensing. If whitelisted, apps would need valid licenses, AO rating, and geo/age-gating.891011 |
| Google/Apple App Store Ads | Licensed operators only | Promoted listings and Universal App Campaigns for gambling apps are subject to the same strict licensing, geo-restriction, and age-gating requirements as app publishing. Google Ads for Real Money Gambling (RMG) content is permitted in 18 approved countries, but Gambia is not explicitly listed. Apple Search Ads similarly require compliance with App Store Review Guideline 5.3.4 and local licensing.91112 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Allowed | As of July 2025, Meta requires prior written permission for gambling ads, obtained through its “Permissions and Verifications” portal. Advertisers must provide proof of valid gaming licenses and ensure compliance with local laws in all targeted jurisdictions. Ads must not target anyone under 18, regardless of local legal thresholds. The Gambling Control Act, 2025, provides the necessary licensing framework in Gambia.13141516 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | The Gambling Control Act, 2025, stipulates that gambling advertising must indicate addictive nature, promote responsible play, prohibit children, and avoid misleading claims. Such ads are generally not to be broadcast on TV or radio between 06:00 and 22:00, unless during live sporting events. Additionally, 20% of aired advertising time must be dedicated to responsible gambling messaging.78 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | While specific regulations for sponsorships are not explicitly detailed, any gambling-related sponsorship in Gambia falls under the general advertising guidelines of the Gambling Control Act, 2025. This requires responsible messaging, a prohibition on targeting minors, and adherence to the licensing framework established by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). Operators must ensure sponsorships align with the Act’s principles of consumer protection and responsible gambling.78 |
| Digital OOH | Restricted | Specific regulations for Digital OOH advertising are not explicitly outlined in the provided sources. However, all gambling advertising in Gambia is governed by the Gambling Control Act, 2025, which requires responsible messaging, prohibits targeting children, and forbids misleading claims. Any Digital OOH advertising for sportsbook or online casino must comply with these overarching principles and GRA licensing requirements. School-zone buffers would likely be implicitly covered by the prohibition on targeting minors.78 |
Channel rules for Gambia 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 the Gambia enforces against unlicensed operators
Enforcement in Gambia is currently low-intensity and focused almost exclusively on tax collection. The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) actively enforces the withholding tax on winnings but does not block offshore operators or carry out significant player protection enforcement.
- January 2026: A new 50% tax on player winnings was implemented, with operators required to withhold and remit funds monthly.
- October 2025: The GRA launched a digital tax payment platform to streamline revenue collection from the sector.
- December 2024: The government announced an increase in the winnings tax from 30% to 40% as part of the 2025 national budget.
Sources17
Enforcement cases in the Gambia: 3 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Gambia. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- January 2026
All licensed operators
TaxWinnings tax increased to 50%The government increased the tax on all gambling and lottery winnings from 40% to 50% to boost state revenue and address social concerns.
Read-across: This second major tax hike in two years makes Gambia one of the highest-taxed jurisdictions in Africa, which significantly affects operator profitability and potentially leads to market exits.
- December 2024
All licensed operators
TaxWinnings tax increased to 40%As part of the 2025 national budget, the government announced an increase in the tax on gambling winnings from 30% to 40%.
Read-across: This substantial tax increase followed a previous rise from 10% to 30% and signaled a challenging and unpredictable fiscal environment for gambling operators.
- May 2017
All licensed operators
LicensingMarket re-openedThe new government under President Adama Barrow lifted the blanket ban on all gambling activities imposed by the previous administration in 2015.
Read-across: The reversal allowed all licensed gambling operations to resume, though it showed the significant political risk in the market.
Market size: 0.01B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Gambia 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 Senegambia Beach Hotel Casino.
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0.0025B USD25.0%
- Sports betting0.0055B USD55.0%
- Casino0.0005B USD5.0%
- Lottery0.0015B USD15.0%
Source: Focus GN Tax Metrics 2025/2026. Splits: online-casino 5.0%, sports 55.0%, land-based 25.0%, lottery 15.0%.
GGR figure18
Licensed operators: ~2
As of 18 Jun 2026, approximately 2 operators hold an active licence in Gambia. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Star Casino
Grand Casino Fajara
ChopWin
African Gaming Co. Ltd.
Traps operators hit in the Gambia
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 Extreme Fiscal Volatility
The tax on player winnings has increased dramatically in a short period, rising to 40% in 2025 and then 50% in 2026. This unpredictable and aggressive fiscal policy creates significant financial uncertainty and operational challenges for market participants.
Brace for Political and Regulatory Instability
The market is subject to abrupt political shifts. A blanket ban on all gambling was imposed by the previous government in 2015, only to be reversed by the new administration in 2017. This history shows the potential for sudden, market-altering regulatory changes.
Sources19
Operate in a Legal Grey Area Online
There is no specific legal framework for licensing or regulating online gambling. Operators function in a legal vacuum under an outdated 'Betting and Gaming Act', which offers no clear guidelines, consumer protection standards, or dispute resolution mechanisms for remote gambling.
Sources20
Timeline: rules in force
- January 2026
Winnings Tax Increased Again to 50%
The tax on all gambling and lottery winnings was raised to 50%, one of the highest rates in the region and a major fiscal policy shift.
Source: 1
- October 2025
Digital Tax Payment System Launched
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) rolled out a new digital platform to modernize and simplify tax collection from the gambling sector.
- December 2024
Winnings Tax Hiked to 40% for 2025 Budget
The government announced a significant increase in the tax on gambling winnings from 30% to 40% as part of the 2025 national budget.
Source: 17
- May 2017
Gambling Ban Lifted by New Government
Following a change in government, the blanket ban was reversed, allowing licensed land-based gambling operations to resume.
- March 2015
Blanket Ban on All Gambling Imposed
The government of the day announced an immediate and total ban on all forms of gambling, citing moral and religious grounds.
Source: 19
Operator myths vs reality in the Gambia
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythGambia has no gambling laws.Reality
This is incorrect. Land-based gambling is regulated under the 'Betting and Gaming Act', which is administered by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). While this law is outdated and does not address online gambling, it provides the legal basis for licensing casinos and betting shops.
Sources2
- MythThe 2015 presidential ban on gambling is still in effect.Reality
The ban was lifted in 2017 following a change in government. Licensed land-based gambling operations resumed, and the market has been active since, albeit with significant recent tax changes.
Sources19
- MythOur only tax obligation is standard corporate tax.Reality
This is a critical misunderstanding. While operators pay corporate tax, they also have a legal obligation to act as tax collectors. You must withhold 50% of net winnings from all players and remit these funds monthly to the Gambia Revenue Authority.
Markets that work like Gambia
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.
- BoliviaAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; GGR tax 30–40%; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- EswatiniAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; licensed market; tax on GGR; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- SamoaAI overviewSolomon IslandsAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; licensed market; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- Sierra LeoneAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; licensed market; tax on GGR; 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 Gambia
Documents cited on this page
- 1iGaming Afrika Analysis of 50% Tax
- 2Gambia Revenue Authority - Legal Framework
- 3Overview of Gaming Regulation in Gambia
- 4EEGaming - Google Update to Gambling and Games Policy
- 5iGaming Expert - Google Advertising Regs
- 6Blockchain-Ads - Google Ads Gambling Policy
- 7AdSpyder - Global Gambling Advertising Rules
- 8Afriwise - Gambling Control Act, 2025
- 9ShopApper - Fix Apple Gambling App Rejection
- 10Pocketnow - Google Play to Allow Gambling Apps
- 11XDA Developers - Google Play Lifting Ban
- 12MonetizeMore - Google Ads for Online Gambling
- 13SBC Americas - Meta Marketing Standards Gambling
- 14Tribuna.com - Meta Updates Gambling Ad Policy
- 15SiGMA - Meta New Rules Online Gambling Ads
- 16iGamingToday.com - Meta Updates Rules on Gambling Ads
- 17Gambling Talk - 2025 Tax Hike to 40%
- 18Focus GN Tax Metrics 2025/2026
- 19G3 Newswire - 2015 Gambling Ban
- 20iGaming Today - Gaming Regulation in Gambia
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Gambia (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Gambia player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 18 Jun 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Gambia Revenue Authority. We are not a legal adviser.