The Republic of Niger, or simply Niger, is the second-largest landlocked country in West Africa, behind Chad. It was named after the Niger River. This is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.
When it comes to online gambling, the country has no officially regulated web-based casinos. Just like in other Muslim countries, people are not permitted to get involved in gaming activities, as religion prohibits them to do so.
However, individuals interested in participating in this form of entertainment do so on foreign betting platforms. There’s a solid number of Internet-based entertainment suppliers who accept registrations and deposits from residents of this African country.
On another note, this country is facing serious challenges in multiple crucial sectors, such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and is considered one of the poorest areas in the world. For that reason, the gaming industry is not among priorities, and it is highly unlikely that it will ever be.
Regulations in Land-Based Industry
Gambling is legal in this country, and it is monopolized by LONANI, the National Lottery of Niger, which has been operating since 1966. This institution generates the majority of revenue, mainly through pari-mutual betting, in cooperation with France’s PMU. In addition to this form of gambling, LONANI offers instant lottery products.
As for the legislations covering this sector, those are Law No 66-12 dating to January 20, 1966, and Ordinance No 93-06 from February 15, 1993. The Ministry of Finance is a body in charge of governing this sector.
According to the 2019 updates from H2 Gambling Capital, there’s a single casino operating in the country. It is located in the capital city, Niamey, in Hotel Gaweye. Overall, land-based casinos in Africa aren’t abundant, as the majority of countries from this continent belong to the poorest ones in the world.
Worth stressing out is that 80% of the population is Islamic, which means that people are forbidden to take part in gambling activities. On the other hand, no law explicitly bans this activity, so people do gamble.
Is it Legal to Gamble Online in Niger?
Struggling with poverty, Niger is far away from being considered an active gaming market. That explains the lack of regulations in any sector, including online activities.
Although the official attitude of the government is unknown, it is assumed that gambling outside licensed venues is illegal. This ban probably encompasses internet activities as well, but there are no clarifications on the matter.
Just like in other corners of the world with non-regulated online gambling, people from Niger visit foreign betting platforms and play the desired games.
Player Protection and Responsible Gambling
Niger is not on the FATF List of Countries recognized for having strategic AML deficiencies. It is compliant with the majority of recommendations. There are no international sanctions in force against Niger.
Nevertheless, the country has no official bodies and institutions in charge of monitoring the fairness of the products and services offered by the betting suppliers. Consequently, there are no guidelines for responsible gambling or player protection measures in place.
Having in mind that people gamble online on foreign websites, it is up to each and every consumer to ensure he/she acts responsibly. This means visiting reputable and licensed casinos in the first place, approved by renowned regulatory institutions. Sweden, Gibraltar, UK, and Malta are some of the best examples.
Such establishments are certified by a regulator who determines the guidelines and rules the company should abide by. One of the significant sectors is player protection.
Not all punters are capable of staying within the limits of responsible entertainment, and that’s precisely where diversity of tools step in. For example, there’s a possibility to limit deposit and/ or withdrawal amount, and even put a cap on losses.
Furthermore, there’s an option to track time spend playing games- it is called a reality check. Some operators have this option by default, while in other cases platers activate it before they start playing games.
Also, if a punter feels that he/she needs a temporary break from gaming, there’s a cool-off or self-exclusion. There are questionnaires through which players can evaluate whether they need additional assistance. With so many handy options, potential troubles are maximally minimized.
Finding a Good Online Casino- Tips and Tricks
It’s important to stress out that the majority of online casinos don’t accept players from countries where online gambling is illegal or unregulated. Some of them may accept deposits and registrations, but do not permit punters to claim promos and bonuses, and withdraw winnings deriving from them.
Such countries are usually listed in Terms and Conditions, so this is one of the first things to check when looking for an online casino for players from Niger. While doing so, check if there are any unfair rules related to payments, transactions limits, potential fees, and so on.
French is the official language of Niger, so players from this corner of the world will surely be interested in online casinos available in French. This will ensure a much smoother player experience and minimize the potential issues.
When evaluating whether an online casino has what one is looking for, a punter should:
- Check the availability of content developers and game categories
- See what are min and max limits for deposits and withdrawals, pending times, fees, and ID verification procedures
- Explore the collection of bonuses and the accompanying rules
These three fields are the crucial ones to analyze during the selection procedure. In addition to this, players can also take customer support into account, as well as mobile optimization and ease of navigation.
Once all of the sections are evaluated, a player will be able to make an informed decision and select what’s best for him. Take time to visit forums and see what other punters have to say on a certain online casino. First-hand information can be of great help when in doubt which venue to choose.
Play responsibly!
The Republic of Niger, or simply Niger, is the second-largest landlocked country in West Africa, behind Chad. It was named after the Niger River. This is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest. When it comes to online gambling, the country has no officially regulated web-based casinos. Just like in other Muslim countries, people are not permitted to get...