The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Ministry of Finance has asserted its exclusive authority over the nation’s gambling sector. In a press release issued on 27 August, the Ministry clarified that Ordinance No. 25/293 officially shifted the responsibility for regulation from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure to itself, thereby eliminating any potential confusion regarding oversight.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to reforming the gambling and games of chance sector in alignment with government directives, stressing the importance of legal certainty for operators, transparency in operations, and safeguarding the Public Treasury’s interests. Alain Malata Kafunda, the chief of staff to the Minister of Finance, signed the press release.
In addition, the Ministry of Finance warned operators against responding to payment demands from unauthorized departments. It urged them to report such incidents to both the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate General of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Equity Revenues (DGRAD). The DGRAD is tasked with identifying and nullifying any improperly issued payment requests.
According to the Ministry, any approvals or payment notices issued by an unqualified department lack legal validity, though operators remain responsible for meeting their obligations to the Public Treasury.
Despite its large population exceeding 100 million, the DRC's gambling market faces challenges in tax collection. Last year, Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba indicated that iGaming operators generated approximately $1.7 billion in revenue but contributed only about $1 million in taxes. A CEO of a leading DRC operator pointed out that the tax system relies heavily on operators' self-reporting, saying, “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.”
In light of these challenges, the Ministry of Finance has proposed the development of a new gambling monitoring platform to enhance supervision in the sector. The DRC government is also working on a fresh legal framework aimed at modernizing current regulations and reinforcing tax collection measures.
