🇲🇦For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Morocco gambling market for operators: state monopoly
Online sports betting and lottery are state monopolies. All other online gambling is illegal. A 32% tax applies to offshore winnings. A court order requiring ISPs to block foreign sites was annulled on appeal on 10 February 2026.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Morocco is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Lottery | Limited |
| Online casino · Online poker | Banned |
Regulator and player protection in Morocco
Regulator
Application authority and enforcement body
Self-exclusion scheme
MDJS Self-Exclusion (Morocco)
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
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
1 item
ISP Blocking Order Annulled on Appeal
The Casablanca Commercial Court of Appeal annuls the lower court's blocking order on 10 February 2026, ending the obligation on internet providers to block offshore sites.
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 Morocco
4 licence types are listed for Morocco; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Betting Concession | Ministère des Finances | Statutory | Held by La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports (MDJS). |
| Lottery Concession | Ministère des Finances | Statutory | Held by Loterie Nationale. |
| Horse Race Betting Concession | Société Royale d'Encouragement du Cheval (SOREC) | Statutory | Held by SOREC as a state monopoly. |
| Land-based Casino Licence | Ministère de l'Intérieur / Ministère du Tourisme | Variable | Limited number of casinos in tourism zones. |
Licensing model
Morocco's framework rests on Dahir No. 1-65-206 from 1966, a 'ghost statute' enacted before the internet. It provides the legal basis for state monopolies and land-based casinos but does not address online gambling. This legislative gap creates a legal grey area for online casino and poker, which the government addresses through enforcement actions (ISP blocking, taxation of winnings) rather than a modern licensing regime.
Gambling tax and fees in Morocco
Detail
State monopolies (MDJS, SOREC, Loterie Nationale) remit their net revenues to the state treasury and designated funds, which is not a formal GGR tax. Land-based casinos pay a progressive tax of 30% to 40% on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
Morocco's market is structured around state monopolies for online betting and lottery, and a limited number of land-based casino concessions. No commercial online licenses are offered, and no government fee schedules for land-based operations are published.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online Casino Licence | Not applicable | No licensing framework exists for online casinos. |
| Online Sports Betting Licence | State monopoly | No commercial licences are available; the vertical is controlled by the state-owned MDJS. |
| Lottery Licence | State monopoly | No commercial licences are available; the vertical is controlled by state-owned entities. |
| Land-based Casino Licence | no published fee schedule | Licenses are granted via government concession and are not openly available. Costs are not publicly detailed. |
| Operator GGR Tax (Land-based) | 30% - 40% Source2 | Land-based casinos face a progressive tax on Gross Gaming Revenue. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: no commercial online licenses are offered.
The market is not open to private online operators. Costs for land-based casino concessions are not public.
Which foreign licences Morocco accepts
Morocco recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
BlockedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao (CGB) · Kahnawake (KGCB) · Anjouan · Alderney (AGCC)
All foreign online gambling licences are unrecognised. Operators are considered illegal and are actively targeted for ISP blocking, though the Casablanca Commercial Court of Appeal annulled the court-ordered blocking on 10 February 2026.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses restricted
Bonuses bannedInducement ads: Allowed
The state monopolies, MDJS and the Loterie Nationale, set the rules for bonuses and promotions through internal policies rather than a comprehensive, publicly accessible code. Online casino and poker are not legally offered by domestic operators, so regulations for these verticals do not exist.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Restricted
- Online casino and poker are not legally available through domestic operators.
- All legal online gambling is restricted to sports betting (MDJS) and lottery (Loterie Nationale).
The state operators determine the legality and nature of any bonuses or retention tools. A review of their official sites does not show prominent use of typical welcome bonus offers seen in competitive markets.
What the operator can advertise
- Channels off-limits
- Live lottery draws on television
- Mandatory disclaimer
Jouez si vous avez +18 ans. Jouez de manière responsable.
Advertising is permitted for the state monopolies. As there are no licensed private operators, there is no framework for fines or license risks for bonus or advertising violations in the traditional sense.
Advertising: limited
Gambling advertising in Morocco is controlled by a state monopoly, with only the state-run MDJS and Loterie Nationale permitted to promote their sportsbook and lottery products. All advertising for illegal online casino and poker games is strictly banned across all channels. Consequently, private and foreign operators are prohibited from any form of gambling advertising in the country.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Licensed operators only | Google's policy requires country-specific certification, available only to state monopolies like MDJS. Following a November 2025 update, ads for offline gambling are prohibited, and keywords for illegal online casinos like “online casino” are blocked, while state-run sportsbook terms are permitted under strict compliance rules.67 |
| App Store Publishing | Restricted | Apple's App Review Guideline 5.3 and Google's policies require local licensing, effectively limiting app publication to state monopolies. Official apps must be geo-restricted to Morocco, and the National Lottery warns that its official apps are only available via its website, not directly on the stores.8910 |
| Google/Apple App Store Ads | Restricted | Advertising for gambling apps is limited to the state-licensed entities (MDJS, Loterie Nationale) that are permitted to publish them. Promotions via Apple Search Ads or Google's app campaigns for any apps offering illegal online casino or poker are strictly forbidden.1112 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Restricted | Meta requires prior written permission for real-money gambling ads, a process only available to state-licensed operators targeting users 18+. A January 2026 investigation into influencers promoting unlicensed foreign sites signals strict enforcement of this policy.131415 |
| TV & Radio | Banned | A governmental decree explicitly banned all lottery and gambling advertising from public and private broadcast media to uphold ethical standards and protect minors. Despite this law, occasional violations by advertisers have been met with public and political condemnation.1617 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | Only the state monopoly, MDJS, is legally permitted to engage in sports sponsorship, and it is a primary funder of the National Sports Development Fund (FNDS). All sponsorship activities by private or foreign gambling operators are illegal.181920 |
| Digital OOH | Restricted | As only state monopolies can legally offer gambling, they are the only entities permitted to run Digital Out-of-Home campaigns. A new bill being finalized in 2025 to regulate digital advertising will increase oversight and consumer protection for these channels.2122 |
Channel rules for Morocco 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 Morocco enforces against unlicensed operators
Moroccan enforcement has recently become significantly more active and has moved from a passive stance to direct action. The primary tools are fiscal (the 32% withholding tax) and technical (ISP blocking). While the blocking efforts were temporarily paused on appeal in early 2026, the initial court order and investigations into influencers demonstrate a clear intent to disrupt the grey market.
- February 2026: The Casablanca Commercial Court of Appeal annulled a lower court's ISP blocking order against offshore sites.
- January 2026: A commercial court ordered major telecoms to block multiple named offshore gambling sites, with daily non-compliance fines of 10,000 MAD.
- January 2026: The National Judicial Police Brigade launched investigations into social media influencers for promoting unlicensed gambling sites.
- July 2025: A 32% tax on winnings from offshore sites was implemented, enforced at the point of payout by payment processors.
Enforcement cases in Morocco: 4 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Morocco. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- February 2026
Moroccan Internet Service Providers (Maroc Telecom, Orange, Inwi)
Grey-MarketBlocking order annulledThe Casablanca Commercial Court of Appeal annulled a lower court's order that had compelled ISPs to block offshore gambling sites.
Read-across: This ruling removes, for now, the state monopoly's main enforcement tool against grey-market operators, so their sites remain accessible.
- January 2026
Offshore Operators (1xBet, Betwinner, Melbet, Betway, etc.)
Grey-MarketISP blocking orderA commercial court ordered telecom providers to block access to unlicensed foreign online gambling platforms following a complaint by the state monopoly, MDJS.
Read-across: This initial blocking order signalled a significant shift towards active enforcement against the grey market and compelled other offshore operators to assess their operational risk in Morocco.
- 2025
Offshore Operators
TaxWithholding tax imposedThe 2025 Finance Bill introduced a 30% withholding tax on winnings from foreign online gambling platforms, to be deducted by payment processors.
Read-across: This measure aims to capture revenue from the grey market and reduce its attractiveness to players, potentially driving them towards the state-controlled offerings.
- February 2023
Sisal (Flutter Entertainment plc)
B2BSports betting concession awardedSisal was awarded an eight-year contract to exclusively manage sports betting for the state monopoly MDJS, replacing the previous operator, Intralot.
Read-across: This change in the monopoly's B2B partnership shows the competition among suppliers and the potential for shifts in technology and product offerings in the regulated market.
Market size: 0.48B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Morocco is approximately 480 million USD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Horse racing. A culturally distinctive product in this market is Quinté horse racing bet (SOREC).
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0.1056B USD22.0%
- Sports betting0.1824B USD38.0%
- Casino0.0096B USD2.0%
- Lottery0.1824B USD38.0%
Source: Focus GN Tax Metrics 2025/2026. Splits: online-casino 2.0%, sports 38.0%, land-based 22.0%, lottery 38.0%.
GGR figure24
Licensed operators: ~5
As of 8 Oct 2026, approximately 5 operators hold an active licence in Morocco. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports (MDJS)
Loterie Nationale
Casino de Marrakech
Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort Casino
Traps operators hit in Morocco
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 the 'Taxed but Illegal' Paradox
Offshore operators are in a precarious position. The 2025 Finance Bill implicitly acknowledges their existence by taxing player winnings at 32%, yet the government simultaneously pursues ISP blocks that declare them illegal. This creates significant legal uncertainty: payment channels are recognized for tax purposes while the service is subject to being cut off without notice.
Sources23
Monopoly-Driven Legal Challenges
The state monopoly, MDJS, is the primary driver of enforcement against offshore operators. It was the MDJS complaint that led to the ISP blocking order in January 2026. Any operator gaining significant market share can expect to become a direct target of legal action initiated by the monopoly seeking to protect its exclusive rights.
Sources25
Payment Blocking as an Enforcement Tool
The 32% withholding tax is enforced by payment intermediaries. While this is currently applied to player winnings, the same mechanism could be used to block deposits to offshore operators entirely. The government has signaled its intent to use payment-facilitating websites as part of its crackdown.
Sources26
Timeline: rules in force
- January 2026
ISP Blocking Ordered by Lower Court
At the request of state monopoly MDJS, a commercial court orders telecom providers to block access to numerous offshore gambling websites.
Source: 25
- November 2025
Domestic Winnings Become Taxable
The government confirms the 2025 budget makes all winnings from domestic licensed gambling (lottery, sports, casino) part of the taxable income base.
Source: 27
- July 2025
Offshore Winnings Tax Implemented
The 2025 Finance Bill introduces a 32% tax (30% withholding + 2% solidarity) on winnings from foreign online gambling sites, enforced by payment providers.
Source: 23
- 1966
Dahir No. 1-65-206 Enacted
The foundational 'ghost statute' is passed and establishes the legal basis for land-based casinos and state monopolies long before the internet era.
Source: 28
Operator myths vs reality in Morocco
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythMorocco is an unregulated grey market with no enforcement.Reality
This is dangerously outdated. Since 2025, Morocco has implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy that combines a 32% tax on offshore winnings and court-ordered ISP blocking campaigns driven by the state monopoly, MDJS.
Sources25
- MythA European or Curaçao license offers legal protection in Morocco.Reality
Morocco recognizes no foreign licenses. All offshore operators are considered illegal, and holding a foreign license provides no defense against ISP blocks or other enforcement actions.
Sources29
- MythThe new tax on winnings is the government's way of legalizing the market.Reality
The tax is an enforcement and revenue-capture tool, not a step towards regulation. The government's parallel actions, suing for ISP blocks and investigating marketers, confirm that the strategy is to suppress the offshore market, not license it.
Sources23
Markets that work like Morocco
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.
- UruguayChecked
Online casino and poker banned; betting and lottery limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly blocked.
- LuxembourgCheckedSingaporeCheckedHong KongAI overview
Online casino and poker banned; betting and lottery limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted.
- IcelandChecked
Online casino and poker banned; betting limited; state monopoly; 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 Morocco
Documents cited on this page
- 1Focus Gaming News
- 2SoftSwiss Regulation Map
- 3Loterie Nationale
- 4MDJS
- 5Sigma World Overview
- 6Google Ads Gambling and Games policy
- 7Focus Gaming News on Google's Africa Policy
- 8Apple App Review Guidelines
- 9Google Play Developer Policy Center
- 10iGamingToday Morocco Regulations
- 11Apple Search Ads Policies
- 12Google Ads Inappropriate Content Policy
- 13Meta Advertising Policy on Gambling
- 14Hespress EN on Influencer Investigation
- 15SBC Eurasia on Meta Policy Updates
- 16Morocco World News on Broadcast Ad Ban
- 17Le360.ma on Lottery Ad Violations
- 18MDJS Official Website - Mission
- 19MDJS Official Website - Sponsoring
- 20Chambers and Partners - Sports Law Morocco
- 21Global Media Kit - Morocco Advertising Regulations
- 22African Scientific Journal - Digital Advertising Regulation
- 23Sigma World
- 24Focus GN Tax Metrics 2025/2026
- 25SlotsUp News
- 26GamblingTalk.net
- 27Focus Gaming News
- 28Legal Pilot
- 29iGamingToday.com
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Morocco (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Morocco player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Oversight is fragmented. The Ministry of Economy and Finance oversees the state monopolies for sports betting (MDJS) and lotteries (Loterie Nationale). The Ministry of Agriculture oversees the horse racing monopoly (SOREC). The Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Tourism are jointly responsible for licensing land-based casinos.. We are not a legal adviser.