Gabon’s state-owned gaming company, the GDJ, has yet to disclose any businesses approved to operate under its newly implemented state-controlled gambling system. This lack of transparency raises concerns within the Central African nation of approximately 2.65 million residents along the Atlantic coast.
All previous authorizations, licenses, and declarations became void as of April 7, 2026. This date was highlighted in a notice issued by GDJ's director general, Roméo Nguema Ondo, which invited private operators to apply for new licenses under the company's oversight.
There has been no public announcement regarding the approval of individual businesses or the terms under which they might be operating, leading to uncertainty about which operators can legally participate in this new framework.
In February, the GDJ called for expressions of interest from potential operators, with a submission deadline of March 2. The company pledged a “transparent, fair and rigorous selection process” to identify those with proven technical, financial, and organizational capabilities. Applicants were required to adhere to regulations concerning excessive gambling, underage access, money laundering, and operational security.
As of now, more than seven months after the application deadline, the GDJ has not revealed any outcomes, leaving applicants without updates on approved operators, as well as on fees and participation requirements.
The legal landscape for online betting in Gabon shifted with the ratification of Ordinance 0012/PR/2020 in February 2021, which categorized online betting businesses as third-category operators with renewable five-year declarations. A decree in May 2022 introduced a cap of five online operators nationwide for a period of three years. The new operational framework received governmental approval on December 29, 2025, with Ordinances 0010/PR/2025 and 0011/PR/2025 following the next day.
The reform replaced the prior gaming commission with the GDJ, tasked with organizing, operating, and regulating gambling activities while supervising private operators. Concerns regarding the oversight process arose during parliamentary discussions in 2026, as lawmakers questioned the implications of combining commercial and regulatory roles within a single state entity. Former interior minister Adrien Nguema Mba assured that adequate control systems would distinguish oversight functions from GDJ operations, highlighting the initiative as a “sovereign choice” aimed at reclaiming control over the gambling sector.
Mba announced the plan to establish 2,000 points of sale across Gabon’s nine provinces, stating that the GDJ would ensure the state could trace financial flows more comprehensively than before.
In August, the GDJ board convened for its inaugural meeting, approving its strategic plan, budgets, and internal regulations. Yet, details on maintaining a separation between its commercial interests and supervisory responsibilities remain unclear.
In a controversial move, the contract to centralize gambling-related financial transactions was granted to eTech SAS in May 2025 without a competitive bidding process. Local technology firms expressed their exclusion from the process, leading then-internal minister Hermann Immongault to assert the state’s sovereignty in selecting this operator, describing the endeavor as legal and transparent while transitioning eTech toward state ownership.
Immongault voiced the rationale for state payment control, citing the outdated nature of the existing purely declarative system, where operators declared their own profits and paid an 8% tax.
In June 2026, reports emerged that Paymetrust had signed an agreement with the GDJ to oversee online betting payments through links with mobile money and banking networks. However, the GDJ has not clarified how Paymetrust's role fits within eTech's established mandate.
As of June, operators are still awaiting definitive licenses and operating agreements. Industry insiders have raised concerns about potential fees associated with individual activities and sites, increased costs for cash transactions, delayed payouts, and challenges related to financial reconciliations, reporting a possible monthly deduction equivalent to 30% of turnover.
The initial Finance Law for 2026 projected CFA1.24 billion ($2.1 million) in revenue from gambling taxes, but did not specify the fees or terms imposed on individual operators. While the reforms intend to enhance state control, financial traceability, and public revenue, their success will depend on the GDJ disclosing the results of the operator selection process and the financial obligations for participation.
