Congo-Brazzaville set to address gambling regulation in upcoming budget session

The ordinary budget session in the Senate and National Assembly of Congo-Brazzaville is set to commence on October 15th. This session follows the conferences of presidents held on October 8th, which outlined a total of fourteen matters for the Senate and seventeen matters for the National Assembly.

During this session, which will run from October 15th to December 23rd, deputies will consider various bills, including a significant proposal for the creation of a Gambling and Gambling Regulatory Authority. This initiative aims to regulate the country's gambling sector, which has been operating in a legal grey area.

On May 8, Budget Minister Ludovic Ngatse introduced two critical bills during a Council of Ministers meeting. The first bill addresses games of chance and gambling, responding to concerns over a lack of regulation that has led to issues such as inadequate protections for minors, tax evasion by operators, and potential public order disturbances.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for governing these activities while mitigating associated risks. Additionally, Minister Ngatse's second bill proposes the formation of a regulatory authority dedicated to overseeing gambling activities. This authority will operate under the supervision of the Minister responsible for the budget, ensuring security within the gambling sector and addressing online gaming risks, including money laundering and threats to national security.