Is online gambling legal in Rwanda?

Status of online casinos, the regulator, the minimum age and where to get help, with our sources and the date we checked them.

Regulated market 18+ By the Gambling Hero editorial team · Checked October 25, 2026

Short answer

Online casino play is legal for residents only with operators holding an online casino licence from the Rwanda Development Board, reported in July 2026 to include Betway and ForteBet. The minimum age to gamble is 18.

Legal overview

Rwanda's main gambling statute is Law N°58/2011 of 31/12/2011 governing the gaming activities, published in the Official Gazette of 26 March 2012. It lists internet gaming as one of the gaming categories and provides an internet gaming licence (Category E), alongside licences for casinos, betting and other games. Article 7 makes it an offence to carry out any gaming activity without authorisation. The law defines a minor as a person under 18 and contains a chapter on the protection of minors. Overall control lies with the ministry in charge of commerce, and under Prime Minister's Order N°028/03 of 28/06/2024 the Rwanda Development Board acts as the gambling sector regulator through its National Lottery and Gambling Commission.

In 2024 the government adopted a national Gambling Policy and paused new licences while the framework was reviewed. In August 2025 the Board resumed licensing land-based casinos and invited expressions of interest for land-based and online sports betting and online casino, while the 2011 law and the ministerial orders of 2013 and 2023 stay in force until new legislation is passed. Trade press reported in July 2026 that the Board had licensed Betway and ForteBet for online sports betting and online casino, and ElephantBet for online sports betting only.

Online casino play is therefore legal for residents with operators licensed by the Board. Offshore sites hold no Rwandan authorisation, and players using them have no local protection. The same reports state that Parliament raised the gaming tax from 13% to 40% and the withholding tax on winnings from 15% to 25% in 2025.

Key facts
Status	Regulated market
Regulator	Rwanda Development Board (gaming regulation)
Main law	Law N°58/2011 of 31/12/2011 governing the gaming activities; Ministerial Order N°01/013 of 20/06/2013 (licensing procedures and fees); Ministerial Order N°001/MINICOM/2023 of 31/03/2023 (administrative sanctions)
Licensing model	Licensing by the Rwanda Development Board, with separate categories including an internet gaming licence; after a 2024 pause, licensing resumed in 2025 through a selective expression-of-interest process.
Online casinos	Online casino play is legal for residents only with operators holding an online casino licence from the Rwanda Development Board, reported in July 2026 to include Betway and ForteBet.
Tax on winnings	According to trade press reports, the withholding tax on players' winnings was raised from 15% to 25% in 2025 and is withheld by operators; the amending tax law itself was not read.
Minimum age	18 years
Currency	RWF
Self-exclusion scheme	Not disclosed
Last checked	October 25, 2026

Questions about the law in Rwanda

Is online casino legal in Rwanda?

Yes, with operators licensed by the Rwanda Development Board. Law N°58/2011 provides an internet gaming licence, and online casino licences were reported to have been issued in July 2026.

Who regulates gambling in Rwanda?

The Rwanda Development Board, through its National Lottery and Gambling Commission, under Prime Minister's Order N°028/03 of 28/06/2024; overall control lies with the ministry in charge of commerce.

What is the minimum gambling age in Rwanda?

Law N°58/2011 defines a minor as anyone under 18 and includes rules on protecting minors, so players must be at least 18.

Sources

This overview is editorial information, not legal advice. Laws change; the regulator's own publications are binding.