TLDR
- DRC opposition leader Delly Sesanga wants the 10% tax on player winnings scrapped.
- He argues the tax base should be Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), not winnings.
- Sesanga says heavy taxes on players could push bettors to illegal platforms.
- He questions whether the $1.6bn sector figure reflects deposits, stakes, or GGR.
- The dispute follows a separate fight over who regulates gambling in DRC.
Delly Sesanga, leader of the Envol political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has criticized the government’s approach to taxing gambling winnings. He made his position public in a statement on September 4, 2026.
Sesanga wants the government to drop the 10% tax that currently applies to player winnings. He believes the tax should instead target gambling operators directly.
“The state must tax the activity, not your earnings,” Sesanga said. He also called for stronger regulation, better identification of operators, and tougher action against illegal gambling businesses.
Why Sesanga Wants a GGR-Based Tax
Sesanga proposed using Gross Gaming Revenue, known locally as Produit Brut des Jeux, as the basis for taxation. This figure is the difference between total stakes collected and winnings paid out to players.
He explained his reasoning in simple terms. “A deposit is not income. A withdrawal is not a benefit. A movement of money is not necessarily a creation of wealth,” he said, according to local outlet MediaCongo.
Sesanga also warned that taxing winnings too heavily could have an unintended effect. He said bettors might turn to illegal, unregulated platforms instead of licensed ones.
According to a report from Ouragan, Sesanga does not think low tax revenue is only caused by weak tax rates. He pointed to other possible causes, including illegal operators, under-reporting, and fraud.
He also mentioned gaps in how rules are enforced and how money is collected. These issues, he argued, could be reducing state revenue just as much as the tax structure itself.
Regulatory Dispute Adds Context
Sesanga’s comments came shortly after the DRC Finance Ministry issued a separate warning to gambling operators. The ministry told operators not to respond to payment demands, tax notices, or inspections from bodies without legal authority over the sector.
The ministry directed the General Directorate of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Participation Revenues to identify and cancel any irregular payment notices. Operators who ignore the directive could face administrative, disciplinary, or criminal penalties.
This warning followed an earlier dispute in August. On August 21, the Ministry of Sports and Leisure announced a nationwide inspection of gambling operators.
Six days later, the Finance Ministry responded. It said oversight of gambling and lotteries belonged only to its authority, citing a December 2025 presidential ordinance and the Finance Law.
The government has valued the DRC gambling sector at more than $1.6 billion. Sesanga did not challenge this number directly, but he questioned what it actually measures.
He asked whether the figure represents player deposits, total stakes, winnings paid out, or GGR. He argued that clarity on this point is needed before any tax base is finalized.
Sesanga also raised concerns about the country’s planned centralized monitoring system for gambling activity. He called for more transparency about how it will be financed and which technical provider will run it.
He warned against any fee tied to the monitoring system if it were based on deposits and withdrawals rather than GGR. Sesanga said such a fee could add further pressure on both operators and players.
The disagreement highlights ongoing questions in DRC over how gambling should be taxed and who has authority to regulate it. Both issues remain unresolved as of mid-September 2026.
