SlotOnline betting in Senegal sits in a legal grey zone. The state lottery LONASE holds a legal monopoly on lotteries and sports betting under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, but the country’s gambling legislation does not specifically address private online operators, so there is no dedicated licensing framework for them. Players who use offshore sites have no local recourse, and individual bettors are not prosecuted. Since late 2025 a 20% levy is withheld from winnings, and a 0.5% tax applies to money transfers.
Is online gambling legal in Senegal?
Senegal’s gambling laws were written for physical betting and cash tickets. They give LONASE (Loterie Nationale Sénégalaise) a monopoly over lotteries and sports betting, with land-based casinos separately licensed by the Ministries of the Interior and of Economy and Finance. Online betting grew up outside this framework: the legislation does not specifically address private online operators, so it is neither clearly authorised for them nor clearly prohibited. In practice a large offshore-facing market operates, there is no regulatory body protecting online players locally, and individual bettors are not prosecuted.
LONASE has moved to bring digital play inside the tent, launching its own online sports-betting platform, LPbet (unveiled in Dakar in July 2025), and signing technical partnerships with operators while preserving its legal monopoly. That means the regulated route is LONASE’s own channels rather than offshore sites, which offer no local recourse if something goes wrong.
Who regulates gambling?
The Ministry of Economy and Finance is the supervising authority, and LONASE is the operational gatekeeper for lotteries and sports betting. Land-based casinos are additionally licensed by the Ministry of the Interior. Horse-race betting runs through PMU (pari mutuel), which entered Senegal in 2022 via a LONASE partnership powered by Honoré Gaming. There is no standalone online-gaming regulator issuing licences to private iGaming firms.
Payments: mobile money rules
Mobile wallets are the backbone of betting payments in Senegal:
| Method | Notes |
|---|---|
| Orange Money | Widely integrated wallet for deposits/withdrawals |
| Wave | Popular low-fee mobile wallet |
| Free Money | Another major mobile-money option |
| Bank cards | Accepted by some operators |
Since 17 December 2025, a 0.5% Tax on Money Transfers (TTA) applies to money transfers — including mobile money, electronic transfers and card payments — capped at CFA 2,000 per transaction, with exemptions including withdrawals up to CFA 20,000 per 24-hour period, salaries and scholarships.
Crypto status
Cryptocurrency is not legal tender and not regulated in Senegal. The country uses the West African CFA franc inside the BCEAO monetary union, and the central bank does not recognise crypto as a currency, warning that it is unregulated and risky — without formally banning ownership or trading. There is no licensing regime, so crypto gambling carries no local consumer protection. Local players overwhelmingly transact via mobile money, not crypto.
How winnings are taxed
Under Law No. 2025-17 of 27 September 2025 (amending the General Tax Code), a 20% levy is withheld at source from gambling winnings by the operator before payout — from 1 November 2025 at physical outlets and from mid-November 2025 for digital channels. A CFA 100,000 win pays out CFA 80,000. Combined with the 0.5% transfer tax, bettors are now taxed on transfers and on winnings, reducing net returns. The measures, part of the government’s Economic and Social Recovery Plan, prompted a 72-hour bettors’ strike in protest.
Safer gambling and getting help
Rapid growth in mobile betting has raised addiction concerns, especially among young people. LONASE has signed a memorandum of understanding with CEPIAD (the Dakar Integrated Addiction Treatment Centre) at Fann University Hospital, covering awareness, early detection and treatment of gambling-related harm. If betting stops being fun, set deposit limits, take breaks, and seek support early.
You must be 18+ to gamble in Senegal. Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. If it stops being fun, seek help via CEPIAD (Fann Hospital, Dakar).