The Ministry of Finance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has made it clear that it has exclusive authority over the country's gambling industry.
In a press release issued on August 27, the Ministry reiterated that Ordinance No. 25/293 had officially transferred regulatory responsibility from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure to itself. This move, the Ministry argues, has eliminated any confusion regarding oversight of 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, transparency in activities and the protection of the Public Treasury's interests," stated Alain Malata Kafunda, the chief of staff to the minister of finance, who signed the release.
Regarding taxation, the Ministry warned gambling operators not to comply with payment requests from unauthorized departments. It urged operators to report any such requests immediately to the Ministry and to the Directorate General of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Equity Revenues (DGRAD).
DGRAD is responsible for identifying and nullifying any incorrectly issued payment notices. The Ministry emphasized that any approvals, authorizations, or payment notices issued by an unauthorized department would be considered "devoid of legal effect," yet operators remain responsible for fulfilling their obligations to the DRC’s Public Treasury.
The DRC's gambling market is seen as having considerable potential thanks to its population, which exceeds 100 million. Nonetheless, tax collection issues hinder the sector's development. Last year, Minister of Finance Doudou Fwamba estimated that iGaming operators produced approximately $1.7 billion in annual revenue but contributed only about $1 million in taxes.
A CEO from a major DRC operator noted that the tax system is primarily based on operators’ declarations to the government. "Operators do pay, yes, but they pay whatever suits them. In other words, we effectively pay what benefits us. Meanwhile, the state lacks the means to monitor its regulatory policies," they stated.
To address these challenges, the DRC Ministry of Finance announced plans earlier this year to implement a new gambling monitoring platform aimed at improving sector oversight. Additionally, the government is working on a new legal framework intended to modernize current regulations and enhance tax collection oversight.
