The Democratic Republic of Congo is moving to strengthen control over its gambling industry, with the Ministry of Finance reaffirming its exclusive regulatory mandate and warning operators against complying with unauthorised payment demands.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Finance has reaffirmed that it holds sole authority over the country’s gambling and games of chance sector, bringing renewed attention to regulatory control and tax collection within the market.
The Ministry issued the clarification in a press release dated 27 August 2026, reminding gambling operators that responsibility for regulating the industry was formally transferred from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure to the Ministry of Finance under Ordinance No. 25/293.
According to the Ministry, the transfer was intended to eliminate uncertainty over which government institution has the legal mandate to supervise gambling activities in the DRC.
Ministry Seeks Greater Regulatory Control
The Ministry of Finance said it remains committed to implementing reforms in the gambling and games of chance sector in line with government directives.
The reforms are intended to provide greater legal certainty for operators, promote transparency and protect the interests of the country’s Public Treasury.
The statement was signed by Alain Malata Kafunda, chief of staff to the DRC Minister of Finance.
The Ministry’s renewed position comes as authorities seek to strengthen oversight of an industry viewed as having considerable economic potential but one that continues to face challenges around taxation and regulatory monitoring.
By clearly identifying the Ministry of Finance as the institution responsible for gambling oversight, the government appears to be seeking a more centralised approach to regulation and revenue collection.
Warning Over Unauthorised Payment Requests
The Ministry also issued a warning concerning payment requests made by government departments that do not have the legal authority to issue them.
Gambling operators were instructed not to comply with payment demands from unauthorised departments. Instead, any such requests or related actions should immediately be reported to the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate General of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Equity Revenues (DGRAD).
The DGRAD has been tasked with identifying irregularly issued payment notices and taking steps to have them cancelled.
The Ministry stressed that any approval, authorisation, payment notice or other administrative action issued by a department without the required legal authority would have no legal effect.
However, the government made clear that this does not remove operators’ existing financial obligations to the DRC’s Public Treasury.
Tax Collection Remains a Major Challenge
The renewed regulatory push comes against the backdrop of concerns about the amount of tax being collected from the country’s gambling industry.
With a population of more than 100 million people, the DRC is widely regarded as a market with substantial potential for gambling and iGaming operators.
Despite this potential, tax collection has remained a significant challenge.
In 2025, DRC Minister of Finance Doudou Fwamba estimated that iGaming operators generated approximately $1.7 billion in annual revenue, while contributing only around $1 million in taxes.
The large gap between estimated industry revenue and tax contributions has raised questions about the effectiveness of the existing system and the government’s ability to accurately monitor operators.
A senior executive from a major DRC operator previously told iGB that the country’s tax system largely relied on operators declaring their own financial figures. The executive suggested that operators could effectively determine how much they reported because the state lacked sufficient monitoring capabilities.
Plans for a Centralised Monitoring System
The government has already begun taking steps to address these weaknesses.
Earlier in 2026, the Ministry of Finance outlined plans to introduce a new gambling monitoring platform designed to strengthen supervision of gambling activities.
A centralised monitoring system could provide authorities with improved access to industry data and greater visibility over gambling transactions and operator activity. Such capabilities could potentially assist the government in improving compliance and strengthening tax collection.
Alongside the monitoring platform, the DRC government is also working on a new legal framework for gambling.
The proposed framework is expected to modernise existing regulations while strengthening oversight of the sector, particularly in relation to taxation.
A New Direction for the DRC Gambling Market
The Ministry of Finance’s latest statement signals a more assertive approach to gambling regulation in the DRC.
By reaffirming its exclusive oversight role, warning against unauthorised financial demands and pursuing new monitoring infrastructure, the government is attempting to establish a clearer regulatory structure for operators.
For gambling businesses operating in the DRC, the developments underline the importance of understanding the country’s evolving regulatory requirements and ensuring that financial and operational obligations are met through legally authorised channels.
As the government develops its new gambling framework and monitoring platform, the DRC’s large and potentially lucrative gambling market could face a significant regulatory transformation.
The success of these reforms will ultimately depend on the government’s ability to translate greater regulatory authority into effective monitoring, transparent enforcement and improved tax collection.
