All forms of gambling, including online gambling, are illegal for residents of Mali.
There is no regulatory authority or licensing framework for gambling operations in Mali.
No player protections or responsible gambling measures exist under Malian law.
Enforcement is strict, with severe penalties possible for both operators and players.
Foreign online gambling sites are not regulated and access may be restricted by local internet controls.
No specific tax regime or revenue collection exists for gambling activities in Mali.
The lack of regulation creates significant safety and security risks for players.
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Legislation
Primary Legislation
Gambling in Mali is primarily governed by national legislation that addresses games of chance and betting activities. The legal framework for gambling is established under the general provisions of the country’s penal and commercial codes, which outline the legality of gambling and the types of permitted activities. There is no specific, comprehensive law dedicated solely to gambling; instead, the regulation of gambling is embedded within broader legislative acts. Notably, Mali does not have a dedicated statute for online gambling, and as such, online gambling remains largely unregulated under current law.
Regulatory Authority
Oversight of gambling activities in Mali is managed by designated governmental authorities responsible for supervising compliance with the relevant legal provisions. These regulatory bodies are tasked with ensuring that gambling operations adhere to national laws and maintain the integrity of the sector. The main responsibilities of these authorities include:
Monitoring and supervising all forms of legal gambling within the country
Enforcing compliance with national legislation concerning games of chance and betting
Protecting consumers and ensuring fair gaming practices
Preventing illegal gambling activities and addressing violations of the law
License Types
Gambling Licensing System in Mali
Mali does not currently operate a formal or comprehensive gambling licensing system. The country lacks a dedicated regulatory authority overseeing the issuance of licenses for gambling activities, including both land-based and online operations.
Types of Licenses Available
There are no officially recognized or structured categories of gambling licenses in Mali for casinos, betting shops, lotteries, or online gambling.
Online gambling is not regulated, and there is no licensing framework for remote operators.
Application Processes
There is no established application process for obtaining a gambling license in Mali.
No official government portal or regulatory agency exists for the submission or review of gambling license applications.
Duration, Renewal, and Eligibility
No procedures are defined for the duration, renewal, or eligibility of gambling licenses, as no licensing system is in place.
Operators cannot apply for, renew, or transfer gambling licenses within Mali.
Licensing Costs and Financial Requirements
There are no published fees, costs, or financial requirements for gambling licenses in Mali.
No information is available regarding capital requirements, financial guarantees, or ongoing fees for maintaining a gambling license.
Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining Licenses
Since there is no licensing regime, there are no formal requirements or compliance obligations for gambling operators.
No technical, operational, or responsible gambling standards are set by Malian authorities for licensees.
Gambling Tax
Tax Rates for Gambling Operators in Mali
Currently, Mali does not have a formal regulatory or taxation framework specifically for gambling operators. Both land-based and online gambling are either unregulated or explicitly prohibited, which means there are no officially established tax rates for different types of gambling operations. As a result, there are no published or enforced tax rates for casinos, sports betting, lotteries, or online gambling operators.
Basis for Taxation
No official basis for taxation (such as Gross Gaming Revenue, turnover, or other metrics) exists for gambling operators in Mali, due to the absence of a regulatory and taxation regime for the sector.
Tax Reporting and Payment Requirements
There are no formal tax reporting or payment procedures for gambling operators in Mali.
Operators are not required to submit gambling-related tax returns or payments to any regulatory or fiscal authority within the country.
Tax Incentives, Exemptions, or Special Provisions
No tax incentives, exemptions, or special provisions apply to gambling operators in Mali, as the sector is not formally recognized or regulated for taxation purposes.
Prohibited Individuals
Age Restrictions and Identification Requirements
Gambling in Mali is broadly prohibited, and there are no formal, regulated frameworks specifying minimum age requirements or mandatory identification checks for players. In the absence of regulated legal gambling, there are no official age verification or player identification requirements enforced by the government or any regulatory authority.
Prohibited Gambling Activities
All forms of gambling, including both land-based and online gambling, are explicitly prohibited for individuals located in Mali.
Online gambling is not regulated or permitted, and participation in any form of gambling (including casino games, sports betting, lotteries, and online gambling) is considered illegal.
There are no exceptions or legal carve-outs for specific game types or gambling activities.
Advertising and Marketing Limitations
Advertising and promotion of gambling services are not permitted, as all gambling activities are illegal.
There are no legal channels for gambling operators to market their services within Mali, and any attempt to do so would be in violation of national restrictions.
There are no regulated responsible gambling messages or marketing disclosures, as no legal gambling market exists.
Responsible Gambling and Player Protection Measures
There are no formal responsible gambling requirements or player protection measures in place, due to the blanket prohibition of gambling activities.
No official support services, self-exclusion programs, or harm minimization tools are mandated or available for players.
Individuals who choose to participate in illegal gambling do so without any legal protections or recourse.
Geographic and Location Restrictions
Gambling is prohibited throughout the entire territory of Mali, with no regions or areas where gambling is legally permitted.
There are no designated zones, licensed venues, or physical locations where gambling can legally take place.
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Timeline
Year/Date
Event
Pre-2000s
Gambling activities in Mali largely unregulated; traditional and informal gambling existed without formal legal oversight.
Early 2000s
Initial attempts to introduce regulatory frameworks for gambling, but no comprehensive national legislation enacted.
2000s
Gambling remains largely prohibited in Mali, reflecting the influence of Islamic law, which forbids gambling; no formal regulatory authority established.
2010s
No significant legislative changes; gambling continues to be officially prohibited, though informal and unregulated gambling activities persist.
2020s
Mali remains one of the few African countries where gambling is officially prohibited by law, with no regulatory structure for land-based or online gambling.
2024
There is still no regulation or legal framework for online gambling in Mali; gambling remains prohibited and unregulated at the national level.
Requirements
Software Certification and Technical Standards
There are currently no official software certification or technical standards requirements for gambling operators in Mali, as online gambling is not regulated and there is no formal oversight of technical platforms.
No recognized authority exists to mandate independent testing or certification of gaming software for fairness, randomness, or integrity.
Data Protection, Privacy Measures, and Server Location
Mali does not have specific data protection or privacy requirements tailored to gambling operators, as the sector is not formally regulated.
There are no legal obligations regarding the physical location of gambling servers or requirements for data storage within Mali’s borders.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Procedures
There are no established AML or KYC procedures mandated for gambling operators in Mali due to the absence of a regulatory framework for the sector.
No technical standards or operational guidelines exist for verifying player identity, monitoring transactions, or reporting suspicious activities within the gambling context.
Financial Reporting, Auditing Standards, and Record-Keeping
Operators are not subject to any specific financial reporting or auditing standards for gambling activities in Mali.
No requirements exist for maintaining or submitting operational records, transaction logs, or audit trails to regulatory authorities.
Technical Implementation of Responsible Gambling Tools
There are no technical requirements for responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion systems, deposit limits, or reality checks, as Mali does not regulate gambling operations.
No compliance procedures or technical standards are enforced regarding player protection or responsible gambling measures.
Gambling regulations are subject to change. The information provided on this page was accurate at the time of publication, but may not reflect the current regulatory landscape. Always consult official sources for the most up-to-date information before making any gambling-related decisions.
