Rwanda
Rwanda Gambling Licensing: RDB, MINICOM Laws and Entry Routes
Rwanda permits authorised gaming under Law No 58/2011, but newer official notices identify RDB rather than MINICOM as the gambling regulator. RDB’s 2025 notice retains the existing law and ministerial orders while a replacement framework is developed, and distinguishes casino applications from expressions of interest for betting and online casino.
Online sports betting · Online casino · Lottery · Land-based casino · Land-based betting
Last reviewed: 2 November 2026
Regulator
Rwanda Development Board (RDB), acting through the National Lottery & Gambling Commission (NLGC)Company & local presence
The checked RDB notice does not specify incorporation or local-office conditions. Request the current category-specific application pack from NLGC@rdb.rw before choosing a local subsidiary, branch or premises.
Ownership requirements
The national lottery call expressly requires a corporate profile and ownership structure. No current foreign-shareholding cap or compulsory local ownership percentage was verified.
Required documents
- Request current forms from NLGC@rdb.rw; Article 8 of Law No 58/2011 requires the prescribed application and fees and provides for probity and technical-competence investigations.
- The lottery call additionally requests ownership information, relevant operating experience with a regulatory reference, operational and platform plans, financial/technical capacity and a system demonstration/readiness plan.
Financial requirements
Fees
RDB says annual licence-fee collection resumed under Ministerial Order No 01/013 of 20/06/2013, with payment instructions supplied directly to operators. Confirm the current amount with the regulator; request separate application, annual and product-specific charges.
Capital
The lottery call requires sufficient financial capacity but does not state a minimum in the notice. Confirm the current amount with the regulator for the chosen category; no general capital threshold was verified.
Guarantees / bonds
No current mandatory bond or security amount was verified from the checked sources. Confirm the current amount with the regulator and request the required security form and beneficiary.
Application process
- For land-based casinos, RDB’s notice invites formal applications to NLGC@rdb.rw and offers guidelines/forms on request.
- For online sports betting, land-based sports betting and online casino, the notice invited expressions of interest, not an immediately available licence; confirm whether a new intake has opened.
- National lottery operation was the subject of a separate competitive call. Article 7 prohibits unauthorised gaming.
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Timelines
The betting/online casino EOI deadline was 30 September 2025; the lottery call deadline was 31 October 2025. These dated calls do not establish a presently open window. No current processing service standard was verified. Article 10 of the checked 2011 law specifies renewable licences of at least ten years; confirm application to the proposed product and any later amendments before relying on that term.
Official sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; always confirm with the regulator or speak to our team.