The Congo Republic, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, is a country located on the western coast of Central Africa. It gained its independence from France in 1960. A civil war rocked the country in 1997, leaving its marks up till today. Locals love sports, mainly football. The national team, “Les Diables Rouges,” were winners of the African Cup of Nations in 1972. Popular Congolese athletes include basketball player Serge Ibaka and tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Gambling in Congo-Brazzaville is legal and regulated by the Lottery Management (COGELO). It operates under the Ministry of Finance. However, there is no online gambling regulation, yet it is considered to be legal. The national lottery, COGELO, runs an online sports betting site. There are no locally licensed bookies and no such process in place either. The Congo Republic still offers many choices; and that’s because players are free to visit any international bookie that shall accept local registrations.
Best Bookmakers in the Congo Republic
The poor local offering of bookies is -thankfully- not your only choice; as there are plenty of international trustworthy operators awaiting your registration. So, to make it easier for you, we list the best Congo Republic bookmakers.
Betting in the Congo Republic - 5 Things to Know
- 1 Online betting falls under no regulation in the Congo Republic
- 2 There are many bookmaker shops in major cities
- 3 The national lottery offers online betting services
- 4 There is no licensing process for interested operators
- 5 Congo doesn’t stop any international bookie from accepting locals
General info
⏩Population: 5.300.000
⏩Active players: 650.000
⏩Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
⏩Regulated gambling products: Lotteries, casinos, sports betting
⏩Operator types: Lottery, casinos, sportsbooks, unlicensed online bookies & casinos
⏩Designated authority: Congo Lottery Management (COGELO)
⏩Status: Regulated
Online Betting in Congo Republic: The Law Framework
There is no specific legislation that regulates the Congo-Brazzaville online gambling industry. On the contrary, land-based activities are legal and regulated by COGELO. There are few land-based casinos, totally accessible to anyone. The national lottery, apart from its own draws, also offers online sports betting.
Apart from that, a few African bookies like Premier Bet and sports4africa are also apparent; do note that they do not hold a local license since there is no such process available. Online sports betting is, therefore, almost like a state monopoly. Online gambling falls under no specific legislation, having no laws to govern it.
As a result, players can freely access various betting sites in Congo Republic; they are not monitored or prosecuted in any way. Therefore, in terms of placing an online bet, Congo-Brazzaville provides a free and totally relaxed environment. All one needs is a proper internet connection and a quick stroll through the bookmakers’ list we provide.
Essential Info for Players
All forms of gambling in the Congo Republic are legal, including betting. Players may freely visit a casino, participate in lotteries and place a bet at the various bookmakers’ shops. Online gambling is not illegal either; it is just not regulated.
In simple words, what that means is that there is no regulatory framework covering the online sector. Practically, though, if a problem comes up, there is no respective authority to reach out to. Therefore, remember a simple piece of advice: only bet online with legitimate, renowned Congo-Brazzaville sports betting sites.
Every bookmaker we list in our analysis is trustworthy and legitimate; moreover, they provide a far wider array of betting options than that of the local offering. Last but not least, authorities do not enforce the blocking of foreign sites or surveillance of players’ online activity.
How to Deposit at Online Bookmakers
Since gambling online is treated as legal too, banks do not block transactions; players use credit cards and bank wires for their online betting in the Congo Republic. Apart from that, ecoPayz betting sites are also popular among locals.
They provide fast and secure transactions while having an easy-to-use interface. Skrill and Neteller, on the other hand, do not operate in the country yet. Internet penetration is relatively low, reaching 32%, according to reports. The use of cryptocurrencies is not as popular yet either.
Online gambling in the Congo Republic is, however, rising; familiarizing yourself with innovative practices could indeed prove beneficial in the long term. As more and more bookies are offering crypto betting, you could slowly be ahead of the game.
Gambling Laws in Other Countries
⏩ DR Congo: All games of chance have been legally permitted since 2005. The General Law Ordinance No. 95 outlines the terms and conditions that DR Congo bookmakers must adhere to if they wish to obtain a local license. This serves as a regulatory framework for companies, providing guidelines and requirements that must be met for licensing purposes.
⏩ Cameroon: Land-based gambling activities have been legally permitted for several years. However, when it comes to the online market, there is a lack of specific regulation. As a result, there are no clear rules dictating what players can or cannot do. This effectively means that residents have unrestricted access to some of the best betting sites in Cameroon.
⏩ Gabon: Similar to numerous other countries, the laws introduced in 2005 primarily apply to traditional brick-and-mortar operators. Consequently, betting sites in Gabon have the freedom to accept registrations from local users without the risk of facing legal prosecution.
⏩ Angola: In 2016, the government legalized land-based operators. Subsequently, in 2020, the introduction of the Remote Gambling Act brought regulation to the online sector as well. While there are currently no betting sites in Angola holding a local license, players have the freedom to join international ones without facing legal obstacles.
Gambling in the Congo Republic: What the Future Holds
The Congo bet scene is rather welcoming towards both players and operators. Despite not having a proper legal framework, authorities treat Congo-Brazzaville online sports betting as being legal too; alongside the well-organized brick-and-mortar sector, it could eventually receive regulation too at some point.
Setting up a legal framework for the online sector would also be beneficial towards the state economy; taxation is the keyword in this case. There are no reports indicating such a development yet, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise either.
All forms of gambling are legal in your country; despite the lack of regulation for the online sector, it’s still treated as being legal too. Either through the site of the national lottery, or at the numerous international operators we list in our analysis; which are all legitimate and trustworthy, while offering much more betting options.
ecoPayz is indeed one of the major online payments platform that accepts Congolese players. The use of credit cards and bank transfers for funding your betting account is always available, however, the ease of use and speed of ecoPayz is something different. It has a smooth interface and an easy registration process, placing it as one of the top online choices.
Yes. Even though this is one of the most reputable European bookmakers, it offers it services in many other part of the world, including the Congo Republic. For more info, check our updated Heyspin review.
Basically, stop thinking it’s complicated; it’s not. Just try any of our listed Congo Republic bookmakers and simply follow the step by step instructions. These typically include an email address, then filling up your personal data, and uploading some proof of ID. Lastly, choose a deposit method, and you’re all good to go; try it out and see for yourself.
Apart from the COGELO betting site, there are no locally licensed bookmakers in Congo-Brazzaville; thus, apart from it, just stay away from non legitimate operators. Players can easily do so, by simply sticking to the ones we list in our analysis, all guaranteeing 100% safe betting.