The Ministry of Finance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reiterated that it exclusively oversees the gambling industry. In a press release dated August 27, the Ministry clarified that, under Ordinance No. 25/293, the responsibility for regulating gambling was shifted from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure to the Ministry of Finance.
This decision aims to eliminate any confusion regarding regulatory authority in the DRC’s gambling sector. "The Ministry of Finance reaffirms its determination to drive the reform of the gambling and games of chance sector in accordance with government directives, while upholding legal certainty for operators, enhancing transparency, and protecting the interests of the Public Treasury," stated Alain Malata Kafunda, the chief of staff to the Minister of Finance.
The Ministry cautioned gambling operators against acting on payment requests from unauthorized departments. Any such instances should be reported to the Ministry and the Directorate General of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Equity Revenues (DGRAD), which is responsible for cancelling any incorrectly issued payment notices.
The Ministry declared that approvals or payment notices issued by unauthorized departments are legally ineffective. Operators remain obligated to meet their commitments to the DRC’s Public Treasury.
Despite the DRC being considered a market with high gaming potential due to its population exceeding 100 million, the gambling sector's growth is hindered by tax collection issues. Last year, Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba estimated that iGaming operators generated approximately $1.7 billion in revenue but only paid around $1 million in taxes.
One CEO from a major DRC operator noted, "Operators do pay, yes, but they pay whatever suits them. In other words, we effectively pay what benefits us. All the while, the state has no means of monitoring its regulatory policies."
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Finance recently announced plans for a gambling monitoring platform to improve oversight of the industry. The government is also working on a new legal framework aimed at modernizing existing regulations and enhancing tax collection oversight.
