The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has suspended Baron Sports Gaming Ltd, which operates as Forzza, effectively halting all its operations in the country. This suspension, reported on Thursday, mandates the company to immediately cease all activities and remove any related advertising or promotional materials.
The action follows a revelation that Forzza has persistently offered casino-style games beyond the scope of its licensing agreement. The RDB clarified that Forzza’s licence is strictly for sports betting.
The regulatory body also cautioned Forzza that if it continues its operations during the suspension, further enforcement measures may be enacted.
In a statement to The New Times, a Rwandan newspaper, Forzza voiced its astonishment at the decision, noting that it had not received any explanation from the RDB regarding the suspension's rationale.
In a broader context, Serge Nyombayire, the RDB's COO, indicated last week that Rwanda’s gambling market includes 15 licensed operators, which reduces to 14 with Forzza's licence revocation. Recent changes to the licensing framework have allowed three new operators to enter the market, including ForteBet and Super Group’s Betway, who have secured licences for online sports betting and casino operations. ElephantBet is also newly authorised for online sports betting.
As Rwanda develops its gambling sector, Nyombayire highlighted the importance of attracting reputable international operators like Betway. He commented, "Companies like Betway have proven their experience elsewhere, and their way of doing business has been seen as the proper way in so many aspects."
He expressed hope that such companies, with their established best practices, could assist Rwanda in crafting future gambling regulations. Nyombayire emphasized that the sector is designed to facilitate information exchange between regulators and operators for mutual benefit.
Kyle Goldsmith has been with Clarion since December 2023, transitioning from sports journalism to become a senior reporter focused on Latin America for iGB.
