Mauritania reviews a draft law that would ban gambling and online betting
Mauritanian officials reviewed a draft law in early October 2026 that would ban gambling and electronic betting, including via digital platforms. iGamingToday reported on 19 October that the draft is still under review and no timetable has been set.
Mauritania is far from South Africa and the draft has no direct effect on South African players. It matters as a reminder that African gambling rules are moving in different directions: some countries are licensing and taxing online betting, while others are weighing outright bans framed around youth protection. For South Africans, it shows why the local debate about online casinos, which are not licensed here, sits inside a much wider regional argument.
What happened
iGamingToday reported on 19 October 2026 that Mauritania's government is reviewing draft legislation that would prohibit gambling activities and electronic betting, including services offered through digital platforms.
The detail
- The report says the prime minister led an initial review of the draft on 1 October, and a second meeting followed about a week later under the minister responsible for youth, employment, sports and the civil service.
- Ministries and agencies were asked to do further work on legal, technical and religious issues before a fuller version is prepared.
- The minister had said in September that a law was being prepared to ban gambling games and online betting, linking it to concerns about children and young people online.
- Existing law reportedly penalises running gambling venues or unauthorised lotteries, but does not clearly cover online betting.
The report says the text of the draft, new penalties and a parliamentary timetable are not yet public. It cites Focus Gaming News for part of the account.
What it means for South African players
Nothing changes for South African players. Online casino rules here are set by national and provincial law, covered in our South Africa gambling law guide. The story is useful context for how African governments are handling online betting and player protection.
What to watch next
Watch for a published draft, penalties for operators or players, and a date for it to go to parliament. Until then it remains a proposal under review.