TLDR
- DRC’s Ministry of Finance says it holds sole authority over gambling regulation and taxation.
- A communiqué dated August 27, 2026 told operators to register only through the ministry.
- Any tax note or authorization from another body has no legal effect, the ministry said.
- The 2023 Finance Law and a December 2025 ordinance moved gambling oversight to the ministry.
- DGRAD will enforce compliance, and the CSJA unit will handle accreditation and monitoring.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Finance issued a warning to gambling operators this week. It said only its offices have the legal power to regulate and collect taxes from the gambling sector.
The statement came in a communiqué dated August 27, 2026. It applies to casinos, sports betting companies, lotteries, and similar businesses operating in the country.
The ministry said these operators must register directly with its offices. It also said they must follow existing laws on taxes and licensing.
Any authorization, tax note, or control measure issued by another body carries no legal weight. The ministry said this type of document does not remove an operator’s duty to pay the Treasury.
Reforms Shift Oversight to Finance Ministry
The communiqué pointed to reforms adopted in April 2025. Those reforms placed gambling regulation fully under the Ministry of Finance.
This ended overlap with the Ministry of Sports and Leisure, which had previously shared some oversight duties. An ordinance issued in December 2025 formally transferred operator registration and oversight to the Finance Ministry.
The 2023 Finance Law also played a role. It moved key taxes, including authorization fees and taxes on player winnings, into the ministry’s control.
Operators must now identify themselves with the ministry and obtain proper authorization. They also must pay taxes only through legally designated services.
The ministry said any irregular payment demands should be ignored. It also asked operators to report these cases when they come up.
Enforcement Falls to DGRAD and CSJA
The Directorate General of Administrative, Judicial, State Property and Participation Revenues, known as DGRAD, will handle enforcement. This includes canceling documents issued without authority.
DGRAD can also forward cases for administrative, disciplinary, or criminal action. The ministry said this step is meant to protect the integrity of the tax system.
Operators were told to avoid working with any unauthorized service. The ministry said this step protects businesses from legal and financial risk.
The ministry also referenced its wider gambling reform effort. It said the changes are meant to protect players, increase transparency, and reduce illegal activity.
The Gambling and Games of Chance Monitoring Unit, called the CSJA, supports this work. It was created in January 2026 as the ministry’s technical arm.
CSJA handles accreditation requests and monitors operator compliance. It also plays a role in collecting gambling revenue for the state.
The ministry has said it plans to launch a national platform for monitoring gambling activity across the country. No launch date has been confirmed yet.
In July, the ministry set August 30, 2026, as the end date for a pilot phase of the reform process. It warned that operators who missed a July 31 compliance deadline could face penalties under current law.
