Malawi
Malawi gambling licensing: MAGLA applications and requirements
MAGLA licenses gambling under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 2022. Its 2026 sports betting invitation closed on 10 July 2026 at 16:30 local time; as of 2 November 2026 that deadline has expired, and this guide does not establish a currently open application window.
Land-based betting
Last reviewed: 2 November 2026
Regulator
Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA)Company & local presence
The sports betting invitation expressly accepted qualified local and foreign applicants. It does not establish whether a foreign successful applicant must incorporate locally before licensing; obtain the applicable RFP and confirm the required corporate presence with MAGLA.
Ownership requirements
Applicants undergo fit-and-proper, financial-integrity and beneficial-ownership checks. The reviewed notice does not specify a mandatory Malawian equity percentage; do not infer unrestricted foreign ownership from eligibility to apply.
Required documents
Submit the prescribed forms, supporting documentation and proof of payment required by the RFP. The expired sports betting invitation required a sealed envelope marked “APPLICATION FOR SPORTS BETTING LICENCE – 2026”, addressed to the Director General, MAGLA, Blantyre.
Financial requirements
Fees
The expired 2026 invitation charged a non-refundable RFP access fee of MWK 2,000,000 for local applicants or USD 1,500 for foreign applicants. These were document-access charges, not verified licence issuance or annual fees. Confirm the current amount with the regulator.
Capital
MAGLA’s procedure includes assessment of financial soundness. No minimum paid-up capital was verified in the reviewed notice or procedure. Confirm the current amount with the regulator.
Guarantees / bonds
No security deposit or bank-guarantee amount was verified in the reviewed notice. Ask MAGLA whether the applicable RFP requires security and its permitted form. Confirm the current amount with the regulator.
Application process
MAGLA publishes a notice, issues an RFP and reviews compliant submissions. Evaluation includes local and international probity investigations, anti-money-laundering screening and assessment of financial soundness and management capability.
The invitation expressly allows MAGLA to reject applications or cancel or amend the invitation; applying does not guarantee a licence.
Planning to enter Malawi? Contact Octa88 to discuss the licensing route, documentation and market-entry plan.
Timelines
The sports betting deadline was 10 July 2026 at 16:30 local time and is expired as of 2 November 2026. Late submissions were not accepted under that notice.
No general approval turnaround was verified. Obtain a new invitation or explicit regulator confirmation before treating applications as open.
Official sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; always confirm with the regulator or speak to our team.