Online casinos are not legally permitted in Guinea-Bissau. The country's gambling regulatory framework is overseen by the Ministry of Tourism of Guinea-Bissau, which has established clear distinctions between permitted and prohibited forms of gambling (1). In 2019, the government imposed significant restrictions on gambling activities, banning casino gambling, online casino gambling, live poker, and bingo halls while allowing only betting, online betting, and lottery operations under strict government control.
The legal status of gambling in Guinea-Bissau is heavily influenced by the country's Muslim-majority population and Islamic principles, which traditionally forbid all forms of gambling. The regulatory authority, the Ministry of Tourism, maintains exclusive control over gambling licenses and prohibits casino operations both online and land-based (2). The Loteria Nacional de Guiné-Bissau holds a monopoly on lottery services, including online lottery operations, while other forms of gambling remain strictly prohibited.
"In 2019, the Guinea-Bissau Secretary of State for Tourism imposed a ban on games of chance. Justifying the decision, the Secretary stated that one of the main issues is that these games are taking place outside the legal norms, pointing out that minors are participating as well."
Despite the official ban on online casinos, Guinea-Bissau residents can technically access offshore gambling websites, as the government does not actively block international platforms targeting local consumers. However, players engage in such activities without legal protection or regulatory oversight from local authorities. The country's political instability and economic challenges have created an environment where anti-money laundering measures are weak, and player protection mechanisms are largely non-existent, making online gambling particularly risky for residents.
Source:
https://lcb.org/restrictions/guinea-bissau
https://bookiessite.com/africa/betting-sites-in-guinea-bissau/
Last updated: 18-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
