Angola advances gaming reform with ISJ review of draft regulation

On May 19, 2025, the Gaming Supervision Institute (ISJ) held a technical working session focused on the presentation and in-depth discussion of a Draft Presidential Decree aimed at approving the Regulation of the Gaming Activity Law.

The meeting took place at the Institute’s headquarters and was chaired by Dr. Nerethz Tati, Director General of ISJ. Also in attendance were Deputy Director General Dr. Cláudio Paulo, heads of departments, and technical staff from all operational areas of the institution.

This initiative follows the entry into force of Law No. 17/24 of October 28 — the Gaming Activity Law — which laid the legal foundation for the regulation of gambling, social games, and online gaming in Angola.

The session aimed to clarify, gather input, and identify areas of consensus regarding key aspects of the proposed regulation. The presentation focused on topics such as games of chance and social gaming, as well as the regulatory challenges and potential impacts on the gaming sector.

Discussions covered a broad range of legal and regulatory topics, including: market entry requirements for gaming operators, conditions for the establishment and licensing of commercial entities, designation of gaming zones for casinos and gaming halls, minimum capital requirements for operators, real-time monitoring systems, competitive distance regulations between casinos and gaming venues, exclusive operation and special regime criteria, rules for granting special licenses outside gaming zones without a public tender, and the legal framework for licenses that remain valid at the time of public tenders, among others.

The session successfully met its objectives, particularly through critical analysis of the rationale behind the proposed regulatory framework, fostering a shared understanding among participants of the guiding principles and philosophy of the document.

The initiative also strengthened team spirit within the ISJ, ensuring that each staff member actively and thoughtfully contributed to refining the regulation. This collective commitment ensures that the final version of the regulation will accurately reflect the institutional vision across all areas of the ISJ.