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The Gambia

Is betting legal in The Gambia? What the law says

By · checked on25 September 2026

Sports betting is treated as legal in The Gambia. A ban on all gambling from 2015 was lifted in 2017, and there is no regulator.

The rule most people quote is the Betting and Gaming Act, Act 16 of 1973. Foroyaa reported on 31 December 2023 that it was amended in 1974, 1980 and 1986 and “makes it an offence for a Gambian to gamble”. The text of the Act itself has not been obtained.

That reporting frames the Act around casinos. Casinos must check identity papers to keep citizens out. The penalty is stated as a fine of D1,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years.

Court clerks told Foroyaa they do not remember any case of prosecution. The Point reported on 7 September 2022 that “sport betting is considered legal in The Gambia”. I do not describe sports betting as an offence for citizens.

All gambling was banned from 2 March 2015 under the government of Yahya Jammeh. The ban covered “lotteries, casinos and all forms of gambling”, as reported by The Point in 2015. The Point reported on 26 May 2017 that “gambling resumes in full force” after the new government withdrew the ban.

The Gambia lacks a gambling regulatory body with real enforcement capacity, according to Foroyaa on 23 April 2025. Foroyaa also reported that authorities have yet to announce a regulatory framework for online betting. There is no public list of licensed betting operators for you to consult.

The Point reported on 17 March 2026 that the Gambia Football Federation secured a sponsorship agreement with 1xBet. The deal was signed at the Gambia Football House in Kanifing. I have not found whether 1xBet holds a local licence.

The tax on winnings affects what you keep. The rates stated in budget speeches are:

The Minister of Finance proposed the rise to 50% in the 2026 Budget Speech presented on 5 December 2025. The National Assembly approved the 2026 budget on 9 December 2025 for 1 January to 31 December 2026.

The rate comes from the budget speech, a statement of revenue measures. The Finance Act or tax amendment that enacts it has not been found. The 1 January 2026 start date is reported by trade press, not by the Revenue Authority.

Sources