🇲🇱For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Mali gambling market for operators: state monopoly
State-owned PMU-Mali holds the betting and lottery monopoly; one casino is licensed. A grey online market faces pending regulation and new taxes.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Mali 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 Mali
Regulator
Application authority and enforcement body
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
3 items
National online gambling framework confirmed to be in development
Authorities officially confirmed they are drafting a new legal framework to regulate the online gambling sector. The aims are to assert national control and protect consumers.
Source: 1
New tax on player transactions proposed
The government announced plans for a new levy of between 1.5% and 7% on all gambling-related financial transactions, including deposits and withdrawals.
Source: 2
A national framework for online gambling is in development (March 2026). A proposal to create a national gambling authority (ARJHM) was lodged in June 2025. A new tax of 1.5%-7% on player transactions was proposed in April 2025.
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 Mali
3 licence types are listed for Mali; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMU-Mali (horse-racing tote) | Government | Statutory | |
| Lottery Concession (LONAMI) | Government | Statutory | |
| Casino Licence | Ministry of Finance | Variable |
Licensing model
Mali operates under a 'ghost statute' model where a general prohibition on gambling is overridden by specific laws creating exceptions. Law N°94-021 established the state monopoly PMU-Mali for betting and lottery, while Law N°96-021 authorizes casinos exclusively within high-end hotels. There is no standalone online gambling licence.
Gambling tax and fees in Mali
Detail
State monopoly PMU-Mali is subject to a 10% state royalty on total stakes collected. Licensed casinos are subject to a levy on gross monthly gaming revenue, but the specific rate could not be confirmed.
Year-1 cost of operating in Mali
Mali's market is not open to private operators for betting or lottery. A state monopoly (PMU-Mali) controls these verticals, and a single casino licence is active. The following reflects the known costs for these entities, not a general fee schedule for new entrants.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Betting & Lottery Licence Fee | State monopoly Source3 | PMU-Mali holds the exclusive legal right to operate betting and lottery games. |
| Casino Licence Fee | no published fee schedule | Licensing is granted via inter-ministerial decree under Law N°96-021. Fees are not publicly disclosed. |
| Operator Tax (PMU-Mali) | 10% royalty on total stakes Source6 | The state monopoly pays a 10% state royalty ('Redevances Etat') on all stakes collected. |
| Operator Tax (Casino) | Rate on GGR not confirmed Source4 | Licensed casinos are subject to a levy on gross monthly gaming revenue, but the specific rate is not published. |
Year 1 estimate
Not applicable for new entrants as the market is closed.
The market is restricted to the state monopoly and a single licensed casino.
Which foreign licences Mali accepts
All 8 foreign licences listed here are tolerated in Mali.
ToleratedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Curaçao (CGB) · Alderney (AGCC) · Kahnawake (KGCB) · Anjouan · Isle of Man (GSC) · Gibraltar (GRA)
Operators are accessible but operate in a legal grey area without local authorisation or consumer protection.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses banned
Bonuses bannedInducement ads: Banned
The regulatory environment for bonuses and promotions is undeveloped because of the state-monopoly structure and the absence of a legal framework for licensed online gaming. There are no specific rules for a competitive market as private operators are not legally recognized.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Banned
Regulations for player bonuses are not specified because there is no legal framework for private online operators. The state operator, PMU-Mali, may offer promotions, but these are not subject to a broader competitive regulatory code.
What the operator can advertise
- Messages ads may not give
- Risk-Free
- Penalties
Fines range from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 XOF and imprisonment of one to five years for organizing illegal lotteries or taking illicit bets.
Penalties apply to unauthorized gambling operations as a whole, not to specific violations of bonus or advertising rules, which do not exist for private operators. No enforcement actions for advertising violations were found.
Advertising: limited
Mali's gambling advertising landscape is highly restrictive, primarily operating under a state-monopoly model. Advertising for online casino and private online sportsbook operators is generally banned due to the absence of a formal licensing framework. State-monopoly entities like PMU-Mali (sports betting, horse racing) and LONAMI (lotteries) are permitted to advertise their legal offerings, though specific regulatory details are not publicly detailed.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Licensed operators only | Google Ads policy requires country-specific certification and “Good Policy Health” as of March 23, 2026. Private online casino and sportsbook operators are banned from advertising due to Mali’s lack of a licensing framework, while state-monopoly entities (PMU-Mali, LONAMI) can advertise their legal offerings if they meet Google’s certification and licensing requirements.10111213 |
| App Store Publishing | Restricted | Apple App Review Guideline 5.3 and Google Play policies mandate local licensing for real-money gambling apps and prohibit private online casino and sportsbook app publishing in Mali due to the lack of a formal framework. State-monopoly entities (PMU-Mali, LONAMI) may publish apps for their authorized activities if they demonstrate state-sanctioned status and comply with platform requirements.1415 |
| Google/Apple App Store Ads | Banned | Promoted listings and Universal App Campaigns for gambling apps are subject to the same restrictions as app publishing. Private online casino and sportsbook app promotion is banned due to the lack of licensing in Mali, while PMU-Mali and LONAMI advertising is restricted to their publishable, legal offerings.1415 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Banned | Meta requires prior written permission for gambling advertisements, and advertisers need to be licensed in targeted jurisdictions. Private online casino and sportsbook advertising is banned in Mali due to the absence of a licensing framework for unregulated activities. PMU-Mali and LONAMI must obtain Meta’s prior written permission, provide evidence of state-sanctioned status, and comply with age targeting (e.g., “18+”) and responsible gambling guidelines.1416 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | Only PMU-Mali and LONAMI are permitted to advertise gambling in Mali, which bans TV and radio advertising for private online casino and sportsbook operators. For PMU-Mali and LONAMI, advertising for their legal products (lotteries, sports betting, horse racing) is permitted, though specific watershed times or “whistle-to-whistle” bans are not publicly detailed.1517 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | Only PMU-Mali and LONAMI are authorized to advertise gambling, a rule that extends to sponsorships and bans jersey, stadium, and naming-rights sponsorships by private online casino or sportsbook operators. PMU-Mali and LONAMI may engage in sponsorships for their legal offerings, but specific regulations or reforms are not readily available.1517 |
| Digital OOH | Restricted | Only PMU-Mali and LONAMI are permitted to advertise gambling, which bans digital OOH channels like billboards and transit advertising for private online casino and sportsbook operators. PMU-Mali and LONAMI can use these channels for their authorized products, subject to general advertising standards and local regulations, though specific details are not publicly available.1517 |
Channel rules for Mali 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 Mali enforces against unlicensed operators
Enforcement in Mali is low and focuses mainly on internal fraud and corruption within the state-owned operator, PMU-Mali. There is no evidence of systematic enforcement against unregulated offshore operators that serve Malian players.
- 2023: Mali's Auditor General referred PMU-Mali management to prosecutors for financial irregularities found in an audit covering 2015-2020.
- 2017: Eight employees of PMU-Mali were convicted by a Bamako court for creating fraudulent winning tickets.
- 2025: A former Director General of PMU-Mali was convicted in a Paris court for accepting bribes from a supplier between 2007 and 2012.
Sources18
Enforcement cases in Mali: 4 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Mali. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- January 2025
PMU-Mali (Société du Pari Mutuel Urbain du Mali)
OtherFormer Director General convicted of corruptionA former Director General of PMU-Mali was convicted by a Paris court for accepting €79,000 in bribes to facilitate market access for a French supplier between 2007 and 2012.
Read-across: This conviction in a foreign court shows corruption risks within the state monopoly and potentially brings increased scrutiny of its international partnerships and procurement processes.
- July 2023
PMU-Mali (Société du Pari Mutuel Urbain du Mali)
B2BLitigation over procurement processPMU-Mali won a dispute before the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMDS) against Touch Solutions SARL, which had challenged its rejection from a tender for a new gaming regulation platform.
Read-across: This ruling affirms the state monopoly's procurement decisions and sets a precedent for how technology and service provision contracts are disputed and awarded in the national gambling sector.
- November 2017
PMU-Mali (Société du Pari Mutuel Urbain du Mali)
Other8 employees convicted of fraudA court in Bamako convicted eight employees of PMU-Mali for their involvement in a network that created fraudulent winning tickets to illegally claim winnings.
Read-across: The internal fraud case exposes significant operational vulnerabilities within the state-owned operator and potentially damages public trust and prompts internal control reforms.
- May 2017
PMU-Mali (Société du Pari Mutuel Urbain du Mali)
OtherInternational arrest warrant for former CEO cancelledAn international arrest warrant for the former CEO, related to a major financial scandal and alleged embezzlement of 34 billion FCFA, was cancelled by the Bamako Court of Appeal.
Read-across: The cancellation of the arrest warrant for a former CEO accused of large-scale embezzlement raises questions about accountability and the state's ability to prosecute high-level corruption within its gambling monopoly.
Market size: 0.02B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Mali is approximately 20 million USD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Football (soccer). Online gambling represents 30% of total GGR. A culturally distinctive product in this market is Pari Mutuel Urbain Malien (PMU-Mali).
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0.001B USD5.0%
- Sports betting0.015B USD75.0%
- Casino0B USD0.0%
- Lottery0.004B USD20.0%
Source: IBIA Anti-Fraud Africa Metrics. Splits: online-casino 0.0%, sports 75.0%, land-based 5.0%, lottery 20.0%.
GGR figure19
Licensed operators: ~2
As of 18 Jun 2026, approximately 2 operators hold an active licence in Mali. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Casino de l'Amitié
Traps operators hit in Mali
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.
Attempting to acquire a local licence
The betting and lottery market is a state monopoly controlled by PMU-Mali. There is no licensing process for private or foreign operators. The only exception is for casinos within high-end hotels, governed by a specific 1996 law, with only one such licence currently active.
Ignoring pending regulatory changes
The Malian government is actively developing a comprehensive legal framework for online gambling, a new regulatory authority, and a tax on player transactions. Operators in the current grey market face significant future risk as the unregulated environment is set to end.
Misunderstanding payment processing risks
While mobile money services like Orange Money and Wave are widely used for gambling transactions, they operate in a regulatory grey area. The proposed tax on all gambling-related financial transactions indicates increased government scrutiny on these payment channels, which could lead to future restrictions.
Sources20
Timeline: rules in force
- 2003
PMU-Mali absorbs the national lottery (LONAMI)
The state monopoly's remit was expanded as it merged with and took over the operations of the Loterie Nationale du Mali.
Source: 3
- 1996
Law N°96-021 authorizes land-based casinos
A specific law was passed to authorize the operation of casino games exclusively within international-class hotels, which created a legal carve-out from the general prohibition.
Source: 21
- 1994
Law N°94-021 establishes state monopoly PMU-Mali
The Pari Mutuel Urbain Malien (PMU-Mali) was created as a semi-public company with exclusive rights to organize horse race betting.
Source: 3
Operator myths vs reality in Mali
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythMali offers gambling licences to international operators.
- MythThe Malian government ignores the online grey market.Reality
This is no longer true. In March 2026, Malian authorities publicly expressed concern over the proliferation of unregulated sites and confirmed they are drafting a national legal framework to establish control over the online sector.
Sources1
- MythA foreign licence, such as from Curaçao or Malta, ensures compliance in Mali.Reality
This is incorrect. Mali has no legal mechanism for recognizing foreign-issued gambling licences. While sites are not currently blocked, operators with foreign licences function in an unregulated grey area without any local legal standing or consumer protection mandate.
Sources22
Markets that work like Mali
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.
- Burkina FasoAI overviewSan MarinoAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- GambiaAI overviewEswatiniAI overviewBoliviaAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; 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 Mali
Documents cited on this page
- 1Mali Actu - Authorities Alert on Online Gambling
- 2Mali Actu - Proposed Tax on Winnings
- 3Wikipedia - PMU-Mali
- 4Law N°96-021 on Casinos
- 5Mali Treasury - Casino Regulations
- 6Mali Auditor General - PMU-Mali Audit Report
- 7Mali Advertising Law
- 8Penal Sanctions Law
- 9Mali Authorities Alert
- 10Google Ads Gambling and games policy update (March 23, 2026)
- 11Running Gambling Ads on Google in 2026 - YeezyPay Blog
- 12Google Ads Gambling Policy: What it Means for You (2026) - Blockchain-Ads
- 13Unlock New Revenue: Google Ads Now Allowed for Online Gambling in 18 Countries
- 14Gambling and Gambling-like Products Advertising Policy - Xiaomi
- 15Is Gambling Legal in Mali? Current Laws & Regulations Explained - Legal Pilot
- 16Global Gambling Advertising Rules: A Guide to Compliance 2026 - AdSpyder
- 17Mali iGaming Market Research Report - iGamingToday.com
- 18Orbite Info - Financial verification of PMU-Mali
- 19IBIA Anti-Fraud Africa Metrics
- 20Info Mali - New Tax on Sports Betting
- 21Law N°96-021 on Casinos (Official Journal)
- 22Equinox Magazine - Mali Gambling Overview
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Mali (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Mali player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 18 Jun 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Ministère de l'Economie et des Finances, Ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Sécurité, and Ministère de l'Artisanat et du Tourisme (jointly for casinos); direct government oversight for PMU-Mali.. We are not a legal adviser.