Gorilla Game’s licence is due to expire this year and the government is looking to open up the market. In March 2021 MINICOM announced that it was working on a policy that could further regulate betting activities in Rwanda once Gorilla Game's licence expires.
Population
Rwanda is a land-locked country with a high population density. One of the smallest countries in the African continent it has a population of 13 million.
Political and Economic Outlook
Overall, Rwanda has maintained its political stability since the 1994 genocide. President Paul Kagame, in office since 2000, won re-election to another seven-year term in 2017 after a new constitution effectively exempted him from term limits through to 2034. Critics have argued that restrictions on political and civil rights may ultimately undermine Rwanda’s stability and conceal deep divides.
Rwanda has recently enjoyed strong economic growth rates and is one of the fastest growing economies in Central Africa. The government has made efforts to promote private sector development. Rwanda’s strong economic growth has been accompanied by substantial improvements in living standards. In the second quarter of 2020, the economy contracted by -12.4 per cent owing to the impacts of Covid-19. Rwanda’s economy expanded by 20.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same period the previous year.
Sports Betting Regulation
Sports betting, along with other forms of gambling, have been permitted since 2011 and is regulated by The Ministry of Trade and Industry. Five categories of gaming in Rwanda are recognised by gaming law: slot machines, sportbooks (online and land- based), casinos, online gambling and lotteries (not yet operational). The Ministry is working upon developing its gambling policy further.
In June 2019, the government announced that it would not be issuing any more gambling licences due to fears over gambling related harm and lack of government supervision. Only one company is licensed to offer sports betting.
Local operators argue that allowing one company to operate Internet gaming is unfair as it allows for a sports betting monopoly and goes against gambling rules as enshrined in Law n°58/2011. In addition, they argue that they too should be allowed to offer online sports betting. Following the Covid- 19 outbreak, sports betting operators were permitted to move online temporarily, but the process was hindered as they were not granted approval by the Ministry of Trade and Industry due to a lack of clear government policy. In addition a Gaming Committee, which would advise the Government on gaming
policy, has not yet been set up.
In a letter addressed to The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) last year, members asked the government to revise regulations. They also asked the government to establish a different regulatory body for the sector, transferring regulatory powers from MINICOM to a newly established Gaming Board.
Gorilla Games, the first-ever Rwandan online gaming and sports betting site, was licensed by the government in 2019. Gorilla Games is still the only company licensed to operate online gaming in the country. Gorilla Game’s licence is due to expire this year and the government is seeking to open up the market. In March 2021, MINICOM announced that it was working on a policy that could further regulate betting activities in Rwanda once Gorilla Game's licence expires.
Samuel Kamugisha, the Director General of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said: “The policy will inform if we can open for all betting companies to operate online betting or not. We still need to protect this industry by establishing laws and guidelines that govern it.”
Newly established government policy should be established by year end according to Kamugisha.
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P85
RWANDA
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