MINAT licences and supervises gambling operators in Cameroon
Brands
Actions
Disputes
Key Takeaway The Quick Take
MINAT issues operator licences after consultation with the ARJ. Online operators must be locally incorporated and run a .cm domain.
Defining the Authority
What is the
MINAT?
MINAT is the Cameroonian government ministry that issues authorisations to gambling operators and supervises day-to-day compliance. The current minister is Paul Atanga Nji.
The regulatory framework was set by Law n 2015/012 of 16 July 2015 and implemented by Decree n 2019/2300/PM of 18 July 2019. The decree also created the Agence de Regulation des Jeux (ARJ, Gaming Regulatory Agency) under the Services du Premier Ministre. The ARJ advises on policy and regulation; MINAT signs concession contracts and enforces them.
Jurisdiction covers all games of chance: casinos, sportsbook, lottery, gaming machines, both online and retail. Online operators face an additional layer: they must hold a separate MINAT authorisation, be locally incorporated, and run a .cm domain.
Licence duration cited by industry sources is 5 years for online operations (renewable) and 10 years for retail operations per the 2019 decree text. A bank guarantee in the range of XAF 200 million is cited by industry trackers but not confirmed against the primary decree PDF in our research, so the figure should be verified directly with MINAT before any commercial planning.
How to Verify a License Verify a license in 4 steps
Don't take their word for it. Use the official portal to confirm an operator's standing.
Find the licence number on the operator site
Match the entity name
Check the domain extension
Verify payment routing through InTouch
Find the licence number on the operator site
Match the entity name
Check the domain extension
Verify payment routing through InTouch
Your Legal Rights Your Rights as a Player
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Right to a written response from the operator within a reasonable timeframe (no statutory deadline cited in primary text)
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Right to self-exclusion via the operator's account tools (operators are required to offer self-exclusion under the 2015 law)
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Right to escalate unresolved complaints to MINAT in writing
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Right to full identification disclosure: the licensed entity name, RC number, and MINAT licence number must be public
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Right to KYC documentation transparency: you can request a copy of what the operator holds on you
Operator Obligations
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Hold a current MINAT authorisation (5-year renewable for online, per industry sources)
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Operate a .cm domain as the primary brand site for Cameroonian players
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Be locally incorporated as a Cameroonian Sarl or SA
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Route all deposits and withdrawals through InTouch Cameroun (from 30 January 2025)
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Publish licence number, entity name, and RC number on every site page
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Provide self-exclusion tools and responsible-gaming information
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Pay 15% on gross gaming revenue for casino activities, plus a 10% supplementary tax; gaming machines XAF 20,000 to 100,000 per machine annually; offshore operators serving Cameroonian players pay 3% turnover tax from 1 January 2026
Filing a Complaint How to file a complaint
Write to the operator
Wait for written response
Escalate to MINAT
Consider ARJ
Public-record route
Write to the operator
Wait for written response
Escalate to MINAT
Consider ARJ
Public-record route
Recent Enforcement Recent Enforcement Registry
| Date | Operator | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-30 | |||
| 2026-01-01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who actually regulates gambling in Cameroon, MINAT or ARJ?
Both, in different roles. The ARJ (Agence de Regulation des Jeux) is the regulatory advisory body, sitting under the Prime Minister's Office. MINAT (Ministry of Territorial Administration) is the day-to-day licensing authority that signs concession contracts and enforces compliance. Operators interact primarily with MINAT, but policy comes via the ARJ.
Is online gambling legal in Cameroon?
Yes, provided the operator holds a MINAT authorisation, is locally incorporated, runs a .cm domain, and routes payments through InTouch Cameroun. Offshore operators without local authorisation became subject to a 3% turnover tax from 1 January 2026 and to ongoing enforcement scrutiny.
How do I verify if a gambling site is really licensed?
Look for a MINAT licence number on the operator's .cm site footer, in the format n XXXXXX/A/MINAT/SG/DAP/SDLP/SJ. Match the entity name on the licence to the entity named on your deposit receipt. There is no consolidated public MINAT operator registry, so primary verification is via the operator's published footer.
Why did my betting deposit fail in early 2025?
On 30 January 2025 MINAT enforced an exclusive payments contract with InTouch Cameroun. Deposits routed via Orange Money or MTN MoMo to operator wallets that did not go through InTouch were blocked. Most major operators integrated InTouch within days and deposits resumed.
Is there a national gambling addiction helpline in Cameroon?
No national helpline is currently published. Operators are required to offer self-exclusion tools under the 2015 law. If you or someone you know is struggling, the operator's responsible-gaming page is the documented first step. Be cautious of any phone number published as a helpline that you cannot trace back to an official ministry or registered NGO.
Who actually regulates gambling in Cameroon, MINAT or ARJ?
Both, in different roles. The ARJ (Agence de Regulation des Jeux) is the regulatory advisory body, sitting under the Prime Minister's Office. MINAT (Ministry of Territorial Administration) is the day-to-day licensing authority that signs concession contracts and enforces compliance. Operators interact primarily with MINAT, but policy comes via the ARJ.
Is online gambling legal in Cameroon?
Yes, provided the operator holds a MINAT authorisation, is locally incorporated, runs a .cm domain, and routes payments through InTouch Cameroun. Offshore operators without local authorisation became subject to a 3% turnover tax from 1 January 2026 and to ongoing enforcement scrutiny.
How do I verify if a gambling site is really licensed?
Look for a MINAT licence number on the operator's .cm site footer, in the format n XXXXXX/A/MINAT/SG/DAP/SDLP/SJ. Match the entity name on the licence to the entity named on your deposit receipt. There is no consolidated public MINAT operator registry, so primary verification is via the operator's published footer.
Why did my betting deposit fail in early 2025?
On 30 January 2025 MINAT enforced an exclusive payments contract with InTouch Cameroun. Deposits routed via Orange Money or MTN MoMo to operator wallets that did not go through InTouch were blocked. Most major operators integrated InTouch within days and deposits resumed.
Is there a national gambling addiction helpline in Cameroon?
No national helpline is currently published. Operators are required to offer self-exclusion tools under the 2015 law. If you or someone you know is struggling, the operator's responsible-gaming page is the documented first step. Be cautious of any phone number published as a helpline that you cannot trace back to an official ministry or registered NGO.
Deep Dives
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Disclaimer: Afroduma is an independent editorial platform. We are not a betting operator. Information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.