Best Gabon betting sites

Population: 2.100.000
Active players: 350.000
Currency: Central African Franc (CFA)
Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, casino games, horse racing, lottery
Operator types: Licensed bookmakers, lottery, non-licensed online bookmakers & casinos, land-based casinos, online lotteries
Designated Authority: No designated gambling authority
Status: Regulated

Gabon is a country located on the Equator, on the Western Coast of Central Africa. Unlike most of its neighbors, Gabon has a vibrant economy thanks to its petroleum reserves. It gained its independence from France in 1960 and in the early 90s introduced a democratic constitution and a multi-party system that contributed to advances in all economic fields. Football is the most popular sport with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shining in the Premier League for Arsenal and captaining the national team. Horse racing is also popular, with players traditionally focusing on French races. So, it goes without saying that there’s a lot of demand for betting sites in Gabon.

Speaking of betting sites, land-based betting is regulated by the ‘Réglementation générale des Jeux de Hasard’ law, enacted in 2005. The current legislation doesn’t specifically mention online betting, though. Although local bookies, such as bet241, offer an online operation as well; most locals place their bets with no restrictions at international bookmakers like 1xBet Gabon, Parimatch, 888sport and Vbet.

Betting in Gabon - 5 things to know

• The legal gambling age in Gabon is 21
• There are several betting shops operated by PMU Gabon and bet241
• There's no specific section on online betting in the 2005 law
• Licensed operators are obliged to a monthly 4.5% tax on their revenue
• You can find casinos and betting shops across the country

Best betting sites in Gabon

The online betting environment in Gabon is composed of local bookies and international ones. It can be confusing to find Gabon best bookmakers, that’s why we present to you the ones with the higher odds, a diverse list of betting markets and a local interface with the French language available.

Gabon online betting: The gambling law framework

Law No. 24/2004 which came into effect on 29 April 2005 is the latest law regulating gambling in Gabon. Although it doesn't mention online gambling in particular, local bookmakers offer online services too, based on their land-based license. Without a precise regulation of the Gabon online betting environment, local punters are free to choose between local and international bookmakers. The foreign sportsbooks accepting players from Gabon do so without having a license since there’s no framework set in place. In other words, for those that want to bet, Gabon is a very appealing place.

Locally licensed operators must pay a monthly tax of 4.5% on their overall revenue. Up to date, just Pari-Mutuel Urbain Gabon and bet241 hold a license, contributing significantly to the overall income of the Gabonese state. Licenses for land-based betting are issued by the Direction Generale de l'Administration du Territoire, a division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the authority that oversees the entire betting landscape.

Essential information for Gabonese bettors

The absence of taxes on their winnings is a vital piece of information for Gabonese punters. No matter if you play at land-based betting shops or online at local and international bookmakers, everything you win remains in your account. Winnings from gambling and betting aren’t considered income in Gabon, so they’re not targeted with taxes. On top of that, Gabonese bettors are free to play at any online bookmaker accepting players from the region. The authorities don’t place any restrictions on accessing foreign sportsbooks and only land-based betting shops are required to have a license. Lastly, most international bookmakers offer their websites in French, an extra perk for Gabonese punters who can bet online using their native language.

Bet in Gabon: Deposits and withdrawals

Most international bookmakers don’t offer CFA as a currency, however, the USD is a popular alternative. When it comes to depositing at foreign online sportsbooks, Gabonese punters mainly rely on credit/debit cards or bank transfer, since Neteller or Skrill e-wallets are not available in the country. Local bookmakers will accept local payment methods like DusuPay, Airtel or Mobicash. There are no restrictions when it comes to payments towards international bookmakers. However, some issues have been reported with international money transfer services such as Western Union or Moneygram. As previously mentioned, cards provide a quick workaround in these conditions.

The future of sports betting in Gabon

Despite having a regulated betting environment, when compared to other countries in Central Africa, Gabon's online betting scene is still volatile. The state doesn’t seem interested in passing a law that will be focusing on online gambling, despite the fact that it could gain much from regulating it, through taxation. With almost 60% of Gabonese citizens having access to the internet and the country’s GDP on a continuous rise, the state could be profiting a lot.  However, despite all the positive signs that show Gabon could be able to take online betting to a level displayed in Nigeria or South Africa, the future remains uncertain.

The complete list of bookmakers in Gabon