Online casinos exist in a regulatory grey area in Madagascar, as the country has not yet established comprehensive legislation specifically addressing online gambling activities. While gambling has been legal in Madagascar since 1971, the current legal framework only covers land-based casino operations supervised by the Ministry of the Interior and Decentralization (1). Seven traditional casinos currently operate under government oversight, but online casino operations remain unregulated within the existing legislative structure.
Recent developments indicate that Madagascar is moving toward updating its gambling laws to include online gaming provisions. In 2022, the government began modernizing its legislation to allow licensed land-based casino operators to extend their services to online platforms (2). However, this transition remains incomplete, as there is currently no established licensing process specifically designed for independent online gambling operators or comprehensive regulatory framework governing digital casino activities.
"By 2022, the government decided to start updating legislation, allowing licensed land-based casinos to offer online gaming sites, though no single licensing process exists for iGaming."
The absence of specific online gambling regulations creates uncertainty for both operators and players in Madagascar's digital gaming market. While residents can access offshore online casinos that accept Malagasy players, these platforms operate without local regulatory oversight or consumer protections. The Ministry of the Interior and Decentralization continues to work on developing appropriate regulatory mechanisms for online gambling, but until comprehensive legislation is enacted, online casino operations remain in legal limbo despite growing industry interest and potential economic benefits.
Source:
https://www.worldcasinodirectory.com/madagascar
https://e-playafrica.com/the-status-of-gambling-in-madagascar/
Last updated: 18-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
