History of Gambling in Benin
We might take online lottery casinos for granted in Benin nowadays, but it was the first gambling component to be banned! The earliest history of gambling in Benin goes back to 1836 when Prohibition des Loteries was introduced. At that time, the country was still a French Colony.
In 1960, the République du Bénin, or the Republic of Benin, was born. Seven years after its independence from France, the first set of gambling laws was introduced. Primarily, sports betting shops and lotteries were legalized. The national lottery was formed in the same year.
It was the Loi N° 2002-28 – Portant Wéglementation des Jeux de Hasard, D’argent et de Paris en République du Bénin that accredited the permission.
Two thousand two marks a historic year for the residents of Benin as gambling in all forms were legalized. It’s fascinating because even a lot of the first-world countries were reluctant to regulate the online gambling industry at that time. It was a bold move by the Beninese government.
Last but not least, 2018 marks when gambling with cryptocurrencies was banned in the country. Well,
Benin Gambling Law
Non-UK licensed casinos are subject to regulation by one country’s laws. Of course, there are unregulated casino brands too. But we don’t condone them as they introduce massive security risks for your real money.
As for Benin, you already know that all forms of gambling are legal in the country. It’s the 2002 Gambling Act that oversees the paradigm. When writing, the government doesn’t have any regulatory bodies that can grant licenses to local operators.
Hence, there are no operators based within the country. All of the online casinos in Benin you see on our list are offshore operators.
One important clarification is that the 2002 Gambling Act doesn’t mention online gambling anywhere in the legislation. However, the national lottery has an online presence that automatically carries over to online casinos.
One of the main reasons the government hasn’t bothered mentioning the online industry is the lack of internet penetration.
Land-Based Casinos in Benin
According to multiple sources, there is only one land-based gambling organization in Benin. And it’s state-owned. We’re referring to none other than the Benin Marina Hotel and Casino, located in Cotonou, the financial heart of Benin.
It’s fascinating how a country that legalized gambling over 50 years ago has only one gambling facility in the entire country. If we have to guess, we must go with the overall economic status. Also, Benin is not a tourist hotspot in Africa.
The Future of Gambling in Benin
As sad as it may sound, we don’t think the overall gambling status of the West African country is changing anytime soon. There are several reasons behind our thoughts. The first is the lack of tourism. Most countries where casinos are commonly found rely on tourists for revenue.
If that’s not an option, the locals must be interested in betting and willing to spend real money. This is not the case in Benin; you don’t have to be a financial expert to understand it.
This leaves us with online gambling. As it’s a legal country, offshore operators accept players. In the last few years, the number of active operators in the country has increased. So, it’s safe to assume a potential future for online gambling in Benin.
Banking Options Available
For the most part, Benin has all the major online payment methods you can ask for. Most international names service the country, with a few exceptions. But having access to local payment methods is the best thing to happen to Beninese casino players.
Benin Casinos by Category
With many casinos in Benin to choose from, we have ranked 10 of the best online casinos according to their best features. The full list is below:
Conclusion
As gambling is legal in Benin, why wouldn't we? We want you to have the most secure casino no deposit experience in the most convenient way possible. That's why we research for you and determine which Benin online casinos are worth your time. This guide is a reflection of our efforts.
FAQs
Before we part ways, let's review Beninese gamblers' most commonly asked questions. Hopefully, you'll find answers here.