MADAGASCAR- Madagascar’s Parliament has advanced plans for a major overhaul of the country’s gambling regulations, with new legislation proposing stricter licensing, player-protection and anti-money-laundering requirements.
The proposed reforms, contained in Bill No. 019/2026, include mandatory national data monitoring for licensed online gambling operators and measures aimed at strengthening oversight of the growing digital gambling market.
The bill was included in Parliament’s agenda for its second extraordinary session, which opened on August 25, 2026, alongside six other pieces of legislation.
The proposed legislation was approved by the government in June and formally submitted to Parliament for consideration. It seeks to update the regulatory framework governing gambling activities and gaming establishments across Madagascar.
According to the government, the rapid growth of gambling, particularly online gambling, has created new regulatory challenges, with some activities operating outside effective oversight because of their clandestine or online nature.
The government argues that stronger regulation is therefore necessary to improve monitoring, protect players, combat illicit financial activity and ensure that operators comply with licensing requirements.
If adopted, the reforms would mark a significant step towards strengthening Madagascar’s oversight of both traditional and online gambling activities.
