Online bingo operates in a legally ambiguous regulatory environment in Madagascar, where the government has not yet established comprehensive legislation specifically addressing internet-based gambling activities (1). The Ministry of Interior oversees all gambling regulation, including land-based casinos, sports betting, and lotteries, but has not extended formal licensing or regulatory requirements to online bingo platforms (1). While all forms of gambling are generally legal in Madagascar, the online sector remains largely unregulated, with no dedicated authority established to license or supervise internet gaming operations.
Players in Madagascar can legally access online bingo sites without facing prosecution, as there are no laws prohibiting citizens from participating in offshore or unlicensed platforms (2). The government does not actively pursue enforcement against online bingo players, and there have been absolutely no prosecutions for online gambling despite the lack of regulatory framework (1). Online betting is the only regulated form of online gambling in the country, through Decree No. 7974 of 2018 by the Ministry of Interior, with PMU Bet holding the exclusive license for local online sports betting operations.
"There is no law forbidding access to online operators. As a result, players visit any online Madagascar bookmaker they wish. The general idea is that it may not be explicitly legal, yet it is not illegal either. Also, the state does not spare resources to surveil the internet."
Although online bingo is technically not explicitly authorized, the absence of legal prohibition creates a welcoming environment for both players and operators (2). The Ministry of Interior has not established a specific licensing framework for online bingo or other unregulated internet gaming platforms, leaving these activities in a grey zone between legality and illegality (1). Until Madagascar develops comprehensive legislation specifically addressing online bingo and internet gaming, players operate without legal protections or regulatory oversight, though without immediate legal consequences for participation in offshore online bingo platforms.
Source:
https://www.bookmakers.bet/betting-sites/madagascar/
https://www.esaamlg.org/reports/Madagascar%20MER.pdf
Last updated: 01-11-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
