DRC modernises gambling sector for enhanced revenue mobilisation
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Ministry of Sports and Leisure announced, in a communiqué published on 19 June 2025, the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a public-private partnership with Burundi’s East African General Trade Company (EAGT). The agreement targets the fast-growing gambling and sports betting market, pairing state oversight with private-sector technology and know-how.
Digital tracking at the core
According to the Ministry, EAGT will implement a “centralised digital monitoring system.” This system will connect operators’ platforms to transmit real-time reports to the DRC. By funnelling live data to regulators, the platform is designed to improve transparency, tighten compliance, and ensure the timely collection of levies, including the existing 10% tax on bettors’ winnings.
Pilot launch in Kinshasa
While no definitive rollout calendar has been fixed, officials have confirmed that a pilot phase is planned for Kinshasa. An inter-ministerial commission will rigorously supervise this pilot to ensure robust oversight by public authorities. Lessons drawn during the capital-city test will shape the nationwide deployment strategy, helping legislators and technologists refine technical standards, dispute-resolution protocols, and consumer-protection safeguards.
Financing structure eases budget pressure
Unlike many public modernisation projects that demand upfront treasury disbursements, DRC will not finance the inaugural build. will comprehensively cover the project’s initial funding, with repayment staggered based on generated revenues, thereby avoiding any immediate pressure on state finances. Such an arrangement aligns the private partner’s remuneration with the fiscal gains the country expects from cleaner, higher-yield reporting.
Plugging long-standing revenue gaps
The scale of lost receipts is not trivial. In 2023, during a Council of Ministers meeting, former Finance Minister Nicolas Kazadi revealed that 139 illegal operators were active in 2022, with no available data on their revenues. Despite buoyant wagering activity, tax collections that same year reached only 1 billion Congolese francs, an amount officials labelled woefully low compared with market potential.
Projections tabled during earlier reform discussions concluded that a robust tracking regime could deliver over $100 million annually (approximately 280 billion Congolese francs at the current exchange rate) purely from the tax applied to bettors’ stakes. The forthcoming monitoring platform is the tangible expression of that ambition, aiming to convert projections into inflows for the public purse.
Burundi’s 552% success story
Policymakers drew inspiration from the sub-region. In June 2024, the Burundian market adopted a similar oversight tool . According to the Director General of Burundi’s National Lottery, the system produced a 552% increase in sector tax revenues within its first operational stretch. That performance reinforced Kinshasa’s determination to replicate and, where possible, surpass its neighbour’s results.
Toward a comprehensive regulatory authority
The modernisation drive forms part of a larger strategy set in motion two years ago. Faced with fragmented licensing, cash-only betting kiosks, and cross-border digital operators, the government had considered creating a regulatory authority equipped with a digital tracking system. The imminent pilot with EAGT effectively fulfils that brief, bringing real-time analytics, operator auditing, and revenue reconciliation under one unified umbrella.
Broader economic impact
Enhanced revenue mobilisation extends beyond treasury coffers. Better data promises to sharpen responsible gaming programs, strengthen anti-money-laundering controls, and foster a level playing field for compliant businesses. Legitimate operators should benefit from more straightforward rules and faster licence processing, while consumers gain greater assurance that payouts, odds, and game integrity meet verifiable standards.
Next steps
Once Kinshasa’s pilot concludes, authorities will review performance indicators—tax yield, system uptime, dispute logs, and consumer feedback—before green-lighting a national rollout. Stakeholders across the value chain, from telecom providers to payment service firms, will be required to integrate with the new reporting nodes, ensuring every wager flows through traceable channels.
By partnering with EAGT and embracing digital oversight, the DRC is positioning its gambling sector for a significant revenue leap. If the Kinshasa pilot mirrors , the country could finally unlock the over $100 million annually that has been long foreseen by fiscal planners, translating untapped opportunities into tangible social investment and economic resilience.
