The Ministry of Finance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reiterated its exclusive authority over the nation’s gambling sector.
In a press release issued on August 27, the ministry underscored that responsibility for regulating gambling was formally transferred to it from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure through Ordinance No. 25/293. This transition, according to the Ministry of Finance, has resolved any existing uncertainties regarding regulatory oversight of gambling in the DRC.
"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, transparency in activities and the protection of the Public Treasury's interests," stated the press release, which was signed by Alain Malata Kafunda, chief of staff to the DRC minister of finance.
The ministry also cautioned gambling operators against complying with payment requests from unauthorized departments. Such actions should be reported immediately to the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate General of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Equity Revenues (DGRAD).
The DGRAD has been assigned the task of identifying and nullifying any irregular payment notices. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that any approval, authorization, or payment notice issued by an unauthorized department is considered legally ineffective. However, operators remain responsible for fulfilling their obligations to the DRC’s Public Treasury.
Despite the DRC's perceived potential in the gambling market, attributed to its population exceeding 100 million, tax collection issues continue to hinder growth in the sector. In the previous year, Minister of Finance Doudou Fwamba estimated that iGaming operators generated about $1.7 billion in revenue yet contributed only roughly $1 million in taxes.
A CEO from a leading DRC gambling operator noted that the current tax system largely depends on self-reporting by operators. "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," they remarked.
To address these challenges, earlier this year the Ministry of Finance announced the development of a new gambling monitoring platform aimed at improving oversight of the gambling industry. Additionally, the DRC government is working on a fresh legal framework intended to modernize existing regulations and enhance tax collection efforts in the sector.
