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Is Gambling Legal in Guinea-Bissau?

Unregulated
No specific laws or regulatory framework for gambling; both land-based and online gambling remain unregulated.
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    Key Information Highlights Legislation Timeline Requirements Sources

    Key Information

    Last Update 2025
    Regulatory Authority None
    License Cost Varies

    Regulation by Activity Type

    Casinos Unregulated
    Online Casinos Unregulated
    Betting Unregulated
    Online Betting Unregulated
    Lotteries Unregulated
    Poker Unregulated

    Highlights

    • Guinea-Bissau lacks concrete laws to regulate the gambling industry, operating without a specific legal framework for this sector
    • The country is categorized as a white-level online gambling jurisdiction where no form of gambling is officially regulated
    • Despite absence of local regulation, Guinea-Bissau does not block offshore gambling websites that target its citizens
    • According to some sources, operating a betting business in Guinea-Bissau is considered legal despite the regulatory vacuum
    • Citizens of Guinea-Bissau commonly access foreign betting venues and offshore gambling sites due to the lack of local options
    • Unlike some unregulated markets, Guinea-Bissau has not implemented website blocking as a consumer protection measure
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      Legislation

      Primary Legislation

      Guinea-Bissau currently does not have a comprehensive or specific legal framework governing gambling activities. There are no dedicated statutes, regulatory acts, or legal codes enacted by the government that directly regulate land-based or online gambling. The country lacks concrete laws addressing the operation, oversight, or prohibition of gambling, including online gaming, sports betting, casino games, or other forms of wagering. As a result, gambling in Guinea-Bissau exists in a legal vacuum, with no formal legislative structure in place to define or control the sector.

      Regulatory Authority

      There is no established governmental regulatory authority or oversight body responsible for the supervision, control, or enforcement of gambling activities in Guinea-Bissau. The absence of a legal framework means that no official agency or commission has been tasked with regulating gambling operations, issuing licenses, or monitoring compliance within the country.
      • No designated regulatory body for gambling oversight
      • No governmental authority for licensing or enforcement
      • No formal structure for monitoring or controlling gambling activities

      License Types

      Gambling Licensing System in Guinea-Bissau

      Guinea-Bissau currently does not operate a formal gambling licensing system for any type of gambling activity. The country lacks a regulatory framework, established authority, or official procedures for the licensing of land-based or online gambling operators.

      Types of Licenses Available

      • No specific licenses are available for casino gaming, sports betting, lotteries, online gambling, or any other gambling activities.
      • There are no distinctions between different gambling verticals, as all forms of gambling remain unregulated or, according to some sources, explicitly banned since 2019.

      Application Process

      • There is no official application process for obtaining a gambling license in Guinea-Bissau.
      • No government department or regulatory authority is designated to receive, review, or issue gambling licenses.

      Duration, Renewal, and Eligibility

      • As there is no licensing regime, there are no provisions regarding license duration, renewal procedures, or eligibility criteria for operators.

      Licensing Costs and Financial Requirements

      • No official fees, costs, or financial requirements exist for gambling licenses, as no such licenses are issued.

      Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining Licenses

      • There are no published requirements or ongoing compliance obligations because Guinea-Bissau does not issue gambling licenses or regulate gambling operations.

      Gambling Tax

      Taxation System for Gambling Operators in Guinea-Bissau

      As of 2025, Guinea-Bissau does not have a formal regulatory framework or specific tax regime for gambling operators. The country lacks concrete laws regulating the gambling industry, including both land-based and online operations. Consequently, there are no established tax rates, payment procedures, or tax-related requirements specifically targeting gambling activities.

      Tax Rates for Gambling Operations

      • There are no defined tax rates for any type of gambling operation in Guinea-Bissau, including casinos, sports betting, lotteries, or online gambling.

      Basis for Taxation

      • No official basis for taxation (such as Gross Gaming Revenue, turnover, or other metrics) has been set for gambling operators, due to the absence of a regulatory and fiscal framework.

      Tax Reporting and Payment Requirements

      • There are no formal tax reporting or payment obligations for gambling operators, as gambling activities are not subject to specific taxation or oversight by local authorities.

      Tax Incentives, Exemptions, or Special Provisions

      • No tax incentives, exemptions, or special provisions exist for gambling operators in Guinea-Bissau, given the lack of legislation and regulatory infrastructure in this sector.

      Prohibited Individuals

      Age Restrictions

      There are currently no formally established minimum age requirements for gambling in Guinea-Bissau, as the country lacks a concrete regulatory framework governing gambling activities. In practice, there are no enforced identification or verification procedures to restrict underage participation in gambling.

      Prohibited Activities

      • No specific types of gambling activities are explicitly prohibited by law. The absence of regulation means there are no formal restrictions on particular games or gambling formats, whether land-based or online.
      • There are no official bans on online gambling or the operation of online gambling platforms, and the government does not actively block access to foreign gambling websites targeting local players.

      Advertising and Marketing Limitations

      • There are no defined limitations or controls on the advertising and marketing of gambling services within Guinea-Bissau. Without a regulatory authority or legal framework, operators are not subject to restrictions on promotional activities or advertising content.
      • Operators, including offshore platforms, are free to market their services to residents of Guinea-Bissau without oversight or approval from local authorities.

      Responsible Gambling Requirements and Player Protection Measures

      • No formal responsible gambling requirements exist for operators. There are no mandated tools or programs for self-exclusion, deposit limits, or player support services.
      • There are no obligations for operators to monitor player behavior, intervene in cases of suspected problem gambling, or provide information on responsible gambling practices.
      • Player protection measures such as anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) checks are not required by local law, although international operators may apply such measures based on their own jurisdictional obligations.

      Geographic or Location Restrictions

      • No geographic or location-based restrictions are imposed on gambling venues or online gambling access. There are no designated gambling zones or limitations on where gambling may take place within the country.
      • Residents can access foreign gambling websites freely, as the government does not block or restrict such access.
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        Timeline

        Year/Date Event
        1974 Guinea-Bissau gains independence from Portugal; no formal gambling regulations established at this time.
        1990s Initial attempts to introduce gambling regulations occur, but no comprehensive or enforceable legal framework is developed.
        2000s Land-based gambling activities, such as informal betting and small-scale casinos, begin to appear, but remain largely unregulated by national law.
        2010s Growing interest in online gambling globally; Guinea-Bissau does not introduce specific legislation or regulatory authority for gambling or online betting.
        2020 No significant changes; gambling remains unregulated, with no national regulator or licensing system in place.
        2024 Guinea-Bissau still lacks concrete gambling laws or a regulatory framework. Both land-based and online gambling remain unregulated, and there is no government body overseeing the gambling industry.

        Requirements

        Software Certification and Technical Standards Requirements

        • Guinea-Bissau currently does not have established or enforced technical standards or software certification requirements for gambling operators.
        • There are no official government-mandated protocols for game fairness, random number generator (RNG) certification, or system integrity testing.
        • Operators are not subject to local technical audits or compliance checks for their gaming software.

        Data Protection, Privacy Measures, and Server Location Requirements

        • There are no specific data protection or privacy regulations governing gambling operators in Guinea-Bissau.
        • No requirements exist regarding the physical or logical location of servers hosting gambling platforms or player data.
        • Operators are not legally mandated to implement data encryption, secure storage, or privacy policies tailored to local standards.

        Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Procedures

        • Guinea-Bissau does not impose jurisdiction-specific AML or KYC obligations on gambling operators.
        • There is no local regulatory oversight or prescribed process for customer identification, transaction monitoring, or suspicious activity reporting within the gambling sector.
        • Operators may voluntarily adopt international AML/KYC standards, but this is not enforced by any national authority.

        Financial Reporting, Auditing Standards, and Record-Keeping Requirements

        • No statutory requirements exist for financial reporting, auditing, or record-keeping specific to gambling operations in Guinea-Bissau.
        • Operators are not required to submit financial statements, undergo independent audits, or maintain transaction logs for regulatory review.

        Technical Implementation Requirements for Responsible Gambling Tools

        • There are no technical or operational requirements for the implementation of responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion mechanisms, deposit limits, or reality checks.
        • No local standards or enforcement mechanisms exist to ensure player protection features are available or functional.

        Sources

        Primary Regulatory Authorities

        • No official gambling regulatory authority currently exists in Guinea-Bissau.

        Legislation Resources

        • No dedicated government portal or official legislative database for gambling regulation is available for Guinea-Bissau.
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          Important Information Notice

          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.

          Last updated: 22 April 2025