New Madagascar Bill Creates National Gambling Framework, Bans Credit Betting, Sets Age Limit at 21

Madagascar has introduced Draft Law No. 019/2026, a sweeping proposal that would overhaul the country’s gambling sector for the first time in more than fifty years.

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Published by the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization and adopted by the National Assembly at its second extraordinary session, the bill sets out a modern framework to regulate gambling activities and venues nationwide. 

It replaces the outdated 1971 law and a February 2026 decree, bringing licensing, online gambling, player protection, and anti‑money laundering measures under one unified structure. The draft, tied to Article 95.II.5 of Madagascar’s Constitution, has not yet been passed into law. 

New gambling categories and age limit

Madagascar’s draft law sets out a clear structure for real money gambling, dividing it into five categories that each require separate authorization.

Casino games inside hotels rated at least three stars fall under category one, while casinos outside hotels and amusement arcades are grouped into category two. Betting on animals, sports, lotteries, and scratch cards form a third category, with online and network-based gambling placed in a fourth category.

The bill also sets the gambling age at 21, and operators must verify both age and legal capacity before allowing play.

They are further required to introduce safeguards against excessive gambling, including self‑exclusion tools, deposit limits, and playtime restrictions. Credit betting is banned outright, with operators prohibited from lending money or enabling players to lend to each other. Online platforms are further barred from advertising or linking to lending services.

The bill establishes a national platform, under the Ministry of Interior, dedicated to monitoring, overseeing, and collecting data on money gambling conducted online.

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Penalties include venue closures and up to five years in prison

The draft law also introduces a strict penalty system that combines administrative sanctions with criminal offences. 

Operators who break player‑protection rules are first given one month to correct violations. If they fail, their licence can be suspended for three months, and if compliance is not restored, the licence is revoked entirely.

Once revoked, operators, partners, or shareholders are barred from opening a new venue for ten years. Anti‑money laundering breaches trigger immediate licence revocation, separate from any criminal charges that may follow.

Criminal penalties under the bill are wide-ranging. Unauthorized gambling advertising carries fines between 10 million and 30 million Ariary ($2,300–$7,000). More serious offences, such as laundering gambling profits and fraudulent online operations, can result in one to five years in prison along with fines reaching 50 million Ariary ($11,600). 

Even failing to connect to the national online monitoring platform is punishable, with sentences ranging from three months to three years.

Existing operators will be required to bring their operations into compliance with the new law, including renewing their licences with the Ministry of Interior, within one year of the bill’s adoption.

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