Cameroon: Sports Betting Tax Revenue Unclear Amid Transparency Concerns

• Cameroon lacks clear data on sports betting tax revenue and the number of licensed operators.
• An October 2026 study by AfriBallon found no consolidated figures for industry revenue or verifiable tax data.
• Cameroonian law mandates a 2% annual fee on pre-tax revenue for gambling operators.
• The Directorate General of Taxation (DGI) has been responsible for collecting this fee since December 2024.
• The AfriBallon report was a desk study and disclosed that its operator earns affiliate commissions from betting companies.

This absence of clear, consolidated financial data and a public registry of licensed entities poses substantial questions regarding the efficacy of regulatory oversight and the actual economic impact of the sports betting sector on Cameroon's public finances.

Cameroon's government faces a significant challenge in accurately assessing the financial contributions of its burgeoning sports betting industry, as a recent study indicates a profound lack of transparency regarding both tax revenues and the number of officially licensed operators. The October 2026 report by AfriBallon highlighted that no consolidated financial data exists to verify the actual taxes collected from betting companies, nor is there any publicly accessible record detailing the precise count of firms holding valid operating licenses within the country.

This absence of clear, consolidated financial data and a public registry of licensed entities poses substantial questions regarding the efficacy of regulatory oversight and the actual economic impact of the sports betting sector on Cameroon's public finances. Without verifiable figures on industry revenue and the precise number of compliant operators, the government's ability to ensure fair taxation and monitor market activity is significantly hampered, leaving the true extent of the industry's contribution to the national treasury largely unknown.

Under Cameroonian legal statutes, companies engaged in the operation of entertainment games, gambling, and other games of chance, particularly those operating under government concessions or authorizations, are mandated to remit an annual fee. This fee is stipulated at 2% of their total revenue before any tax deductions, forming a key component of the country's regulatory approach to the sector.

The responsibility for the collection of this specific fee was transferred to the Directorate General of Taxation (DGI) following a comprehensive reform of local taxation implemented in December 2024. This change aimed to centralize and streamline the collection process for these specialized levies, yet the overall clarity regarding the actual amounts collected remains elusive according to recent findings.

The findings originate from the 'Sports Betting Barometer in Francophone Africa,' a comprehensive desk study conducted by AfriBallon. This report, which also examined gambling regulations and available financial data in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, relied on sources reviewed up to October 9, 2026, and was not based on an on-the-ground investigation. Its scope was limited to existing public information and regulatory documents.

AfriBallon, operated by the Mauritius-based company LLAO LLAO LTD, focuses on football and sports betting content, comparing offers from various bookmakers. The company openly discloses that it receives affiliate commissions from certain betting operators, a detail relevant to understanding the report's context and potential biases. Despite its methodology, the study serves as a critical indicator of the information gaps within Cameroon's sports betting landscape.

Source: Original reporting via AfriBallon study