The Ministry of Finance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), through the Gambling Supervision Unit (Cellule de Surveillance des Jeux d’Argent – CSJA), has raised awareness of gambling regulation among students during the “Mbote Eurobond 2026” immersion seminar held at the National School of Finance.
The session focused on the regulatory challenges facing the country’s gambling sector, highlighting the importance of establishing a legal, transparent, secure and accountable framework for gambling operations.
The initiative forms part of the ongoing reform of the sector under the leadership of Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba Likunde Li-Botayi, aimed at strengthening oversight and improving the regulation of gambling activities across the country.
Representing the CSJA, Didier Bobwa, Head of Information Systems and the Central Monitoring System, delivered a technical presentation outlining the key criteria used to identify gambling activities. These include the placement of a bet, the expectation of a potential win, the risk of losing the stake and the total or partial involvement of chance.
Students were also introduced to the main reasons for government supervision of the gambling industry, including protecting public revenue and ensuring the traceability of transactions, safeguarding players and minors, preventing gambling addiction and its social and economic consequences, facilitating dispute resolution between operators and players, and combating money laundering, terrorist financing and illicit financial flows.
Discussions further examined the regulatory challenges arising from the expansion of sports betting, digital gambling platforms, mobile payment systems and remote gambling operators. These developments, the session highlighted, present new demands for the country’s existing legal and regulatory framework.
Pending the completion of a new legal and institutional framework, the CSJA continues to support the Ministry of Finance in preparing regulatory measures, monitoring gambling activities and implementing modern supervision tools. These efforts align with the broader vision of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo to strengthen governance and oversight in the sector.
Through initiatives such as the “Mbote Eurobond 2026” seminar, the Ministry of Finance is seeking to deepen understanding of gambling regulation among future finance professionals and reinforce awareness of the sector’s legal, economic and social implications. The initiative underscores the importance of informed regulation in promoting responsible gambling, protecting citizens and ensuring greater transparency in the industry.
