Rwanda’s regulatory authorities have announced the resumption of gambling licensing following a one year hiatus.
The Rwanda Development Board (RWB) confirmed in a statement over the weekend that it had lifted the licensing suspension, which had been in place since June 2024.
The 2024 suspension was imposed with the intention of allowing time for the development of and approval of a new national gambling policy, and affected both applicants for new licences and those seeking to renew expired ones.
Following the decision, the RDB will resume collecting annual licensing fees and will continue to accept new licence applications.
The board is also seeking expressions of interest for online and land-based sports betting as well as online casino, which must be submitted before 30 September.
The RDB also confirmed that it is continuing its “thorough review and redesign” of Rwanda’s regulatory framework, with the goal of establishing a “modern and responsible gambling ecosystem” for the country.
Currently, Rwanda has more than 30 registered gambling operators, across sports betting shops, online platforms and lottery services.
The sector is governed by the 2011 gaming law and two ministerial orders issued in 2013 and 2023, covering licensing procedures, fee structures and administrative sanctions.
Gambling tax spike
Operators seeking to establish a presence in Rwanda will also be forced to contend with a significant tax burden.
In February, the country’s Ministry of Finance moved to significantly raise taxes on the country’s gambling sector.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning,Yusuf Murangwa, revealed during a press conference that GGR tax would be raised from 13% to 40%.
Furthermore, adding the woes of regulated operators in the country, withholding tax on winnings grew from 15% to 25%.
A statement released at the time by the country’s Minister of Finance and Economic planning said: “As we continue to build a robust economy and transform the livelihoods of all citizens, the reform of the gambling tax regime is a pivotal part of our medium-term strategy.
“These measures not only strengthen our resilience, but also promote self reliance, allowing us to meet our development goals effectively.
“In these challenging times, we recognise the importance of collaboration with our taxpayers. Our commitment to a prosperous future for all Rwandans remains steadfast, and we will work diligently to ensure that these reforms benefit our society as a whole.”
The changes came as part of wider governmental hikes to tax and VAT.
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