Gambling Age In Gambia

Minimum Age: No specified age

Details and Explanation

Legal Age Requirement: In Gambia, gambling is illegal, with no specified minimum legal age, as per the Gambling Ban 2015, reflecting a ban under Islamic law to curb social harms. The prohibition aligns with the country’s conservative Islamic identity.

Offline / Land-Based Gambling: Land-based gambling, including casinos, betting shops, and lotteries, is illegal under the 2015 Ban. No legal venues exist, offering no game catalogs, contrasting with your interest in extensive options. Underground gambling is minimal due to cultural disapproval, with no significant market value. The ban, enacted under Yahya Jammeh, reflects Gambia’s Islamic governance.

Online Gambling: Online gambling is illegal, with no local licensing framework. Offshore sites, accessed via mobile browsers, contribute to a $2 million unregulated market in 2024, with players facing risks without legal protections, aligning with unregulated markets you’ve explored. Website blocking is minimal due to weak infrastructure.

Regulation and Oversight: No regulatory body oversees gambling due to the ban. Gambia’s Sharia-based stance prioritizes social control, lacking the licensing rigor you’ve inquired about. No regulatory updates occurred in 2024, and none are expected in 2025, given political stability.

Enforcement and Penalties: Gambia enforces its gambling ban strictly, with police targeting illegal activities. Operators face fines up to GMD 500,000 or imprisonment, while players face fines or detention. Online enforcement is negligible, with the negligible gambling market projected to remain static in 2025, limited by poverty and internet access.