Is online gambling legal in the Republic of Congo?

The law allows tax on player winnings above a certain amount, but the rate and threshold have not yet been publicly specified. If the operator does not settle a dispute, you can complain to the ARJHA, though no online complaints portal is available yet.

Play only on sites licensed in Republic of Congo; those have to follow its player-protection rules.

Online sports betting is legal on sites licensed in Republic of Congo. Online casino is legal on sites licensed in Republic of Congo. Online poker is legal on sites licensed in Republic of Congo. The lottery is legal on sites licensed in Republic of Congo.

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Republic of Congo: Legal.

Gambling with crypto: Banned.

You must be 18 to gamble online in Republic of Congo, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike.

Law No. 37-2024 provides the legal basis for taxing player winnings above a certain threshold. However, the specific rate and threshold are determined by the annual finance law and have not yet been publicly specified.

There are approximately 5 licensed operators in Republic of Congo as of 18 Jun 2026.

Always verify a casino holds a valid Autorité de régulation des jeux de hasard et d'argent (ARJHA) licence before depositing.

Prominent operators in Republic of Congo

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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  Verify the operator has a local ARJHA license

  Only bet with sites licensed by the new Congolese regulator, ARJHA. Unlicensed offshore sites offer no player protection under Congolese law and can be blocked by ISPs at any time.

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  Avoid sites offering cryptocurrency payments

  Crypto gambling is banned in the Republic of Congo due to regional financial regulations. Any site promoting Bitcoin or other crypto deposits is operating illegally and poses a high risk to your funds.

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  Use mobile money for secure payments

  Prefer using established local payment methods like Airtel Money or MTN Mobile Money. They are widely supported by licensed operators and offer more security and consumer protection than direct bank transfers to unknown entities.

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  Confirm the site is for Congo-Brazzaville

  Ensure you are on the correct site for the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), not the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa). The laws, licensed operators, and regulations are completely different for each country.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Republic of Congo. 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 Republic of Congo. 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 operator directly

   You must first attempt to resolve your dispute with the customer service department of the licensed operator. Keep detailed records of all communication, including dates, times, and any ticket or reference numbers.

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   2. Escalate to the ARJHA

   If you cannot resolve the issue with the operator, you can file a formal complaint with the regulator, the Autorité de régulation des jeux de hasard et d'argent (ARJHA). As the regulator is newly established, a formal online portal for complaints is not yet available.

• Myth

  All online betting sites are legal in Congo.
  Reality

  This is false. Since the 2024 law, only operators holding a specific license from the new regulator, ARJHA, are legal. Offshore sites are not permitted, and the regulator can have them blocked by internet service providers.

• Myth

  Gambling winnings are completely tax-free.
  Reality

  Not necessarily. The new law allows the government to tax player winnings above a certain amount. While the rate for 2026 has not been specified in the finance law yet, players should be aware that a tax could be implemented at any time.

• Myth

  You can use Bitcoin to bet online.
  Reality

  This is illegal. The Republic of Congo is part of the CEMAC zone, whose regional financial regulator has banned financial institutions from processing cryptocurrency transactions. Licensed operators cannot legally accept crypto deposits.