Located on the western coast of Africa, Liberia is the only country on the continent that has never been under colonial rule. Officially known as the Republic of Liberia, the country emerged in the early 19th century when free people of color from the United States established it with support and funding from the American Colonization Society.
Liberia was among the fastest-developing countries in the Sub-Saharan region until a series of civil wars destroyed the local economy and severely hindered its future growth. The oldest modern republic on the African continent is presently one of the world’s poorest countries, with over fifty percent of the population living below the poverty line.
High unemployment rates, crippling national debt, and a struggling economy are not exactly prerequisites for a thriving gambling industry. Liberia has only several large land-based casinos, all of which are located in the capital, Monrovia. The country allows various legal forms of gambling apart from casino games, including sports betting, bingo, raffles, lotteries, and poker.
Operators must apply for licenses before they can legally offer these activities to Liberians in land-based or online formats. In fact, the country was among the first African nations to legalize remote gaming in 1999, although, to our knowledge, very few operators currently hold Liberian licenses.
Laws That Govern Gambling in Liberia
Liberians can choose from a wide range of legal gambling activities, all regulated by the National Lottery Authority (NLA). The two largest gaming venues in the country are Palm Spring Casino and Oceano Casino, both located in the capital, Monrovia. These venues feature various gaming machines, along with table games such as blackjack, roulette, and house-banked poker.
Gaming Regulation 001
Amendment to NLA Gaming Regulation 001
The Penal Law of Liberia| Gambling License Fees and Levies in Liberia | |
|---|---|
| License Application | US$300 (non-refundable for rejected applicants) |
| License Renewal | US$250 |
| Licenses for Casinos with up to 20 Gaming Machines | US$60,000 |
| Sports Betting Licenses | US$40,000 |
| Instant-Win Games Licenses | US$40,000 |
| Fees for Registering Extra Gaming Machines | US$500 per additional machine |
| Fees for Registering Extra Gaming Tables | US$500 per gaming table |
| Fees for Raffle Permits | 15% of the raffle prize pool |
Social Responsibility and Gambling Restrictions in Liberia
Offering gambling games to individuals under the age of 18 constitutes a criminal offense in Liberia and, as such, is subject to penalties. As previously mentioned, licensed casinos can operate only at locations specially designated for this purpose.
Gaming Regulation 001 strictly disallows gambling operations in close proximity to churches, educational institutions, or hospitals. Licensed gambling premises should be located at least two miles apart from one another.
Similar restrictions are in place for authorized sports betting operators. Such businesses cannot accept wagers or sell betting tickets on the streets or outside places like betting agent offices and booths.
Each licensed gambling operator in Liberia must develop a responsible gambling program and follow the NLA guidelines for gambling addiction prevention. Gaming businesses must be able to identify compulsive gamblers and refer them to counseling services. Licensed operators who knowingly facilitate underage betting, run faulty gaming machines, or falsify gaming tickets are liable for license revocation and fines of up to US$2,500 per offense.
Policies on Gambling Advertising in Liberia
Gaming Regulation 001 prohibits misleading or false advertising of gambling services. All marketing materials related to such activities should contain disclaimers that warn the public about gambling-related harm and the risk of addiction.
Advertising materials should not contain elements that encourage disqualified individuals to participate in gambling. For clarity, this group includes minors, NLA employees, and members of licensed operators’ staff with access to sensitive gaming information.
Online Gambling in Liberia
Gaming Regulation 001 makes no specific reference to remote betting activities. Online gambling is nevertheless legal in the country, provided operators obtain the necessary licenses. The remote segment of the industry is severely underdeveloped, largely because of Liberia’s low internet penetration.
A Household Income and Expenditure Survey from 2016 found that more than half of the local population, or approximately 2.3 million people, lived below the poverty line. Over 40 percent were below the extreme poverty line, surviving on less than $1.90 per day. Given these figures, it is unsurprising that many locals cannot afford internet access.
Internet Penetration Rates
No Retribution for Offshore OperatorsGambling Regulators in Liberia
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has the mandate to regulate the gambling industry in Liberia. The regulatory body first emerged in the early 1980s, but the civil war disrupted its activities. It was later re-established through legislation passed in November 1993 (amended in 2014).
The entity is headed by a Director-General selected by the country’s president for a four-year term, with the option for reappointment. The Director-General’s chief functions include overseeing the implementation of regulatory policies, speaking on behalf of the NLA, and monitoring the work of NLA departments and their directors. Apart from its regulatory functions, the NLA also has the mandate to act as a mediator in disputes between players and licensed operators.
The NLA has also embarked on a mission to ensure players’ security, preserve the integrity of the local gambling industry, and raise funds through taxation. According to its official website, the NLA has generated more than US$2 million in tax revenue.
Conclusion
Most forms of gambling are legal and regulated in the Republic of Liberia, but factors like extreme poverty, high unemployment rates, and low internet penetration have stunted the local industry’s growth. Several online operators hold licenses from the Liberian authorities, with DOXXbet, Winners, and Bettomax among the most prominent brands on the market.
The limited choice forces residents who can afford internet access to place their bets with offshore betting sites licensed outside the country. The government is lax in this respect and does not block the domains of foreign operators who accept real-money wagers from Liberian nationals.