SlotEquatorial Guinea’s online-gambling position is genuinely unclear as of 2026. In August 2025 a wave of industry reports claimed the country had launched an online-gaming “master-licence” framework, with a firm called Mascott Capital Partners named as the licensing gateway. But on 8 August 2025 the Government of Equatorial Guinea publicly disowned that scheme, stating that no online-gaming master licence had been legally granted, that it “lacks all legal effect,” and that existing legislation does not authorise it. Land-based casinos remain regulated by the Ministry of Finance under Law 2/1995. Crypto sits outside any regulated regime, and player-side detail on taxation and safer-gambling support is limited. We classify online gambling here as grey/unclear.
Is online betting legal? A disputed 2025 announcement
For most of its history Equatorial Guinea regulated only land-based casinos, through the Ministry of Finance, with no framework for online play. In August 2025 industry media reported that a Minister had announced an online-gaming, online-betting and online-casino licensing regime, with Cyprus-based Mascott Capital Partners running the application platform, positioned as a rival to offshore hubs like Curacao and Anjouan.
That announcement was quickly contradicted. On 8 August 2025 the Government of Equatorial Guinea issued a statement saying that no online-gaming master licence had been legally granted, that the publicised licence “lacks all legal effect,” and that the country’s existing gaming law does not authorise such a licence. Officials indicated the matter would be investigated.
Because the government itself disputes the framework’s validity, we do not treat online gambling here as a settled, regulated activity. The honest classification is grey/unclear. If you can reach offshore betting sites from within the country, understand that they are not operating under a confirmed local licence, and any “Equatorial Guinea licence” claim should be treated with strong scepticism.
Payments and crypto
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| Local currency | Central African CFA franc (XAF) |
| Card/bank rails | Limited banking penetration; offshore sites typically rely on international cards/e-wallets |
| Crypto legal tender | No — no legal-tender status, no dedicated national regulation |
| Crypto banking | CEMAC 2022 regional rules bar banks/payment providers from facilitating crypto |
| Crypto gambling | Outside any regulated regime; treat as not permitted |
As a member of the CEMAC monetary union, Equatorial Guinea is covered by a 2022 regional prohibition on financial institutions facilitating cryptocurrency transactions, and the regional central bank (BEAC) has resisted calls to regulate crypto. Crypto betting therefore carries clear legal and consumer risk.
Winnings tax
Authoritative sources do not publish a specific personal tax on gambling winnings in Equatorial Guinea. Given how little player-side detail is public, do not assume winnings are tax-free — confirm with the Ministry of Finance.
Safety and getting help
We could not identify a dedicated national problem-gambling helpline for Equatorial Guinea. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek local medical or mental-health support and use international resources where accessible. Set deposit and time limits, never chase losses, and treat unlicensed sites, sites claiming a disputed local licence, and crypto sites as high-risk.
18+ only. Gambling can be addictive — please play responsibly and seek help if it stops being fun.