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Located in central Africa, Rwanda is known for its majestic mountains and is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination. But behind its growing tourism, Rwanda has also developed a prosperous betting industry. Sports and sports betting in Rwanda is a big deal, and with a long history of gambling, Rwanda has, unsurprisingly, one of Africa's most developed gambling industries.
But there are a few things every bettor should know about online betting in Rwanda, and this article has all the answers, including:
- Where to find the best betting sites in Rwanda?
- What can you bet on with the best betting sites in Rwanda?
- What is the current situation of the betting industry in Rwanda & expectations for the future?
Full List of the Best Rwanda Betting Sites
Rwanda has yet to fully regulate its online betting sector, which has its positives, mainly the availability of dozens of international sportsbooks. No law prohibits the entry of any betting company in Rwanda, meaning that local bettors have access to many international sportsbooks, including Bet365, N1 Bet, and more.
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Daily promotionsEsports market24/7 supportSome prefer a few local licensed sports gambling sites, such as Gorilla Game Bet; however, there is no clear advantage of using licensed sportsbooks since even non-licensed bookmakers are legal to use. Ultimately, picking the best Rwandan bookmakers falls to a few important factors.
The best betting sites in Rwanda must be safe; they don't necessarily need a local betting license. But it helps to check if the sportsbook you want to use to bet in Rwanda has a good reputation, often unveiling whether it is safe.
Competitive odds and enough betting markets are other important factors differentiating bad and the best betting sites in Rwanda. Typically, international bookmakers offer better odds and more generous betting bonus offers, but that's only sometimes the case.
And then there are other bonus features such as generous promotions, the availability of betting apps in Rwanda, a stable website, enough deposit and withdrawal options, and good customer support.
Since Rwanda doesn't limit which bookmakers can offer their service to Rwandan bettors, the list of available Rwanda betting sites offers enough options for anyone to find the bookmaker which suits him. But it's important to check if a sportsbook checks all the marks.
Popular Bonuses & Promotions
Nowadays, it's expected that all sportsbooks have some bonuses and promotions available for their customers, and the vast majority do. Yet there is a major difference between bookmakers who do a good job and those who don't.
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For Rwandan bettors, finding bookmakers with great bonuses comes down to finding a bookmaker with good bonus offers since there are no restrictions on what kind of promotions the bookmakers can have available. Typically, bettors after good bonuses prefer international bookmakers with the most generous selection of promotions.
The most common betting bonuses found on betting sites in Rwanda are welcome bonuses, designed to attract new customers to the website, and are, therefore, usually the most generous. The most popular welcome bonus is the deposit match bonus, with which the sportsbook matches the bettor's first deposit up to a certain amount with free wagering cash.
For example, a 100000 RWF deposit on a bookmaker with a 100% matched deposit welcome bonus will earn a punter 100000 RWF bonus wagering money.
With free bets are, as the name suggests, bookmakers give punters free wagering cash – typically of the same size as their average bet with the sportsbook. So if you regularly bet with 6000 RWF, the bookmaker will likely award you a 6000 RWF free bet.
Popular Bookmakers in Rwanda with the Greatest Bonuses
All bookmakers in Rwanda will have some betting bonuses and promotions, yet some Rwanda betting sites stand out as sportsbooks with the most generous offers. It's important to note that no best bookmaker will have the best bonuses, as it depends entirely on the bettor and which bonuses he's after.
Bet365 is one of the best choices for those after generous promotions for existing customers. Bet365 regularly offers free bets, special promotions, and enhanced odds on various sports, and it also has a solid welcome bonus offer, but its strongest offer is better.
For great welcome promotions, Mostbet, Freshbet, Lucky Bet, and Forzza Bet are better choices since they offer great welcome deposit bonuses with high limits. However, unlike Bet365 they have fewer enhanced odds or free bet promotions.
Rwanda Sports Betting Market Overview
| ⚖️ Is betting legal: | Yes |
| 📅 Sports Betting Legal Since: | 2008 |
| 🏢 Regulatory Body: | Ministry Of Trade And Industry |
| 🧾 Taxation: | 15% (tax on players’ winnings) |
| ⚽ Favorite Sports to Bet on: | Football, cricket, basketball |
| 🎰 Other Popular Gambling Markets: | Casinos, lotteries, bingo, poker |
| ⭐ Most Popular Sportsbooks: | BetWinner, 22Bet, SpinBetter |
| 🔞 Legal gambling age: | 18 |
Bet of the Day in Rwanda
Online sports betting in Rwanda is in an excellent spot, and the sportsbooks do an excellent job with their market coverage. Especially on the best betting sites in Rwanda will have markets on all sports and competitions imaginable, which includes betting markets on local leagues.
WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?
For those who prefer betting on local competitions, using any domestic legal bookies is a wise choice since they do a much better job covering Rwandan sports competitions than international bookmakers. For anything else, international sportsbooks are better.
Bet on Sports
Sports betting is very popular in Rwanda and easily accessible. Every bookmaker will have sports betting markets, and as long as punters use the best betting sites in Rwanda, they won't be limited on what sport they can bet on.
Since football is the most popular sport in Rwanda, it shouldn't be surprising to learn that all bookmakers in the country have very good football market coverage. But even sports that aren't as popular in the country – such as ice hockey, swimming, chess, or even Esports – are easily accessible.
How to Bet on Football in Rwanda
Football is by far the most popular sport in Rwanda and, naturally, a very popular sport among bettors. Since football is also the most popular in the world, it shouldn't be surprising to learn that all betting sites in Rwanda offer excellent football betting markets.
Football bettors don't pay much attention to which bookmaker they choose to bet on football. However, there are significant advantages to using the best bookmakers, with competitive odds, great bonuses, a betting app, and other features.
Rwanda Esports Betting
Esports betting has become increasingly popular worldwide over the last decade, and even Rwanda has yet to be immune to the trend. The increased demand for Esports betting has also forced bookmakers to start offering Esports betting markets.
The Esports betting market offer could be better than sports, but it depends on which Esports we're talking about. The three biggest Esports – League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2 – are easily accessible on all bookmakers, while some lesser Esports might only get coverage for bigger events.
Bet on Competitions
All Rwandans like to bet on football, not only on the world's biggest football leagues but also on the local Rwanda Premier League. The Rwanda Premier League is the biggest sports competition in Rwanda which has excellent coverage from the local bookmakers, some of whom even offer special promotions and bonuses for important matches.
The same applies to Rwanda Basketball League and any African international tournaments featuring Rwandan national teams.
Bet on Tournaments
Sports are very important in Rwanda, which has national football and basketball teams that have achieved reasonable international success. And since Rwandans are very proud of their national teams, it's not shocking to learn that people also bet on them.
World Cup and other major sporting events are still the most popular tournaments among Rwandan bettors; however, every time Rwanda national teams compete in CECAFA Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, or AfroBasket, these tournaments are at the center of attention.
Bet on Rwandan Teams
Rwanda's national football and basketball teams regularly compete in international events, and naturally, local bettors like to bet on them. It is made possible because the betting sites in Rwanda do an excellent job of covering all tournaments, which include Rwandan teams,
Likewise, due to the excellent coverage of local sports leagues, it's also easy to bet on any Rwandan sports club, such as REG or APR, and often, the bookmakers will have various promotions ready for those who bet on local clubs.
Bet on Rwandan Players
Rwanda has no world-star athlete, but that doesn't mean the country lacks athletic stars. On the contrary, many of Rwanda's sports players compete in some of the biggest leagues, and dozens of elite-tier athletes hail from the country.
So whether it's a regional event or a major international event, there is bound to be at least one Rwandan athlete competing, and the local bookmakers make sure that Rwandan bettors can bet on the local stars.
How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Rwanda
Rwanda has no laws preventing bookmakers from operating in the country without a local betting license, which is good for all local punters, who have a long list of betting companies in Rwanda to choose from. However, while there is a huge selection of bookmakers, it's important to know which betting sites are good and which are better left alone.
There are very few betting sites in Rwanda, which should be avoided, but just as few can be considered the best betting sites in Rwanda. Here are some of the most important things to check before registering with a bookmaker.
- Safety – a good betting site has to be safe and legit. It doesn't necessarily mean that a bookmaker has to have a local betting license since most of the best betting sites in Rwanda don't have it, but it definitely should have a valid gambling license in other countries.
- Reputation – just as important as safety is the site's reputation. Some bookmakers can be licensed but have a bad reputation for many reasons, so it's wise to check what other bettors say about a sportsbook before registering.
- Quality Betting Odds – the best sportsbook has competitive betting odds, so punters can place bet online at favourable prices and set themselves up for success.
- Enough Betting Market – a good sportsbook has to have quality odds and solid betting market coverage, so punters can bet on whatever they like and however they desire.
- Betting App – although not as important for those who don't bet from their phones, the availability of a mobile betting app in Rwanda is a big plus.
- Live Betting & Streaming – all of the best sports gambling websites will have live betting markets and live streaming options, essential for anyone who wants to live bet in Rwanda.
- Good Bonuses – although not as important as quality betting odds, good betting bonuses offer much value to bettors.
- Customer Support – quality customer support with live chat available and a competent support agent is essential for any good bookmaker. Even though most bettors won’t ever need to contact customer support agents, it’s nice to know that the bookmaker can provide quality assistance once needed.
Popular Deposit Methods
Betting sites in Rwanda do a fine job with their banking options by offering many deposit methods for bettors. And since online betting in the country isn't illegal (even though it's not fully regulated), punters can also use bank transfers without issues on most sportsbooks.
However, while some bettors will deposit money via a bank transfer, this is not the most popular or best payment option, mainly because bank transfers tend to be slow. Instead, most punters prefer to use e-wallets such as ecoPayz for their transfers.
Unfortunately, while Rwanda betting sites don't impose any strict limitations on which payment methods punters can use, Skrill and Neteller aren't available in the country. On a more positive note, crypto payments are less popular than in other parts of the world.
Popular Withdrawal Methods
Betting sites in Rwanda also offer many withdrawal options, and there are no limitations. Bettors can use bank transfers, crypto, or one of many e-wallets except for Skrill and Neteller, which don't operate in the country.
Crypto withdrawals are slowly gaining traction, but like deposits, they're less popular than other options. Still, with time, crypto withdrawals are expected to take over as the primary withdrawal option because they allow anonymous withdrawals and because crypto transfers tend to be much faster than any other option.
Until then, ecoPayz and other E-wallet withdrawals will remain the most popular method..
The Best Rwandan Mobile Betting Sites and Apps
Those who want to bet in Rwanda from their phones will be able to find a bookmaker who will give them that option. Every modern betting site, i.e., every online bookmaker, has a mobile version of the platform, which can be used to bet from your phone, but those can't compare to any betting app in Rwanda.
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Apps are far more convenient than a mobile website, work better, are more stable, and are designed to make betting from your phone as simple as possible. Moreover, many betting apps in Rwanda will often have app-specific bonus offers, which will be available only for mobile users. It is another reason why registering with a bookmaker with a mobile app and using an app is advantageous. Still, luckily, many of the betting sites in Rwanda do have dedicated betting apps, especially international bookmakers like Bet365.
Rwanda Betting: The Law Framework
Sports betting and online gambling in Rwanda are legal and regulated, meaning local gamblers can place a Rwanda bet or enjoy one of many online casinos without any issues or fear of legal consequences.
Rwanda is one of the few African countries with a very long history of gambling, but it wasn't until 2008 that its love for gambling was made official with the opening of the first casino. Since then, more casinos opened their doors, and it didn't need long before Rwanda betting companies followed suit.
However, while betting and gambling were and are legal, online betting companies in Rwanda had to deal with the country's lack of regulations for its online sector. That changed in 2012, when Rwanda accepted 58/2011, which has since been amended several times, and is the primary piece of legislation used by betting companies in Rwanda.
As of 2024, the main three bookmakers de Iure can legally offer online betting in Rwanda are the best African betting sites – Africa Bet, Premier Bet, and Gorilla Game Bet. All three hold a local betting licence, mainly because they have land-based bookmakers in the country; however, they're not the only bookmakers on Rwanda's long list of betting companies.
Lucky Bet, Forte Bet, King Bet, Pawa Bet, Forzza Bet, and Power Bet are just some of the many betting sites in Rwanda which can operate in the country despite needing a local betting license. And this will only change once Rwanda adds new laws that would fully regulate its online betting sector.
Popular Legal Bookmakers in Rwanda
Three fully licensed bookmakers, Africa Bet, Premier Bet, and Gorilla Game Bet, are also three of Rwanda's most popular betting sites. However, most people who enjoy online betting in Rwanda prefer international bookmakers such as Bet365, mainly because international sportsbooks offer better odds and more generous betting bonuses.
Even though Bet365 and other international bookmakers don't have a local betting license, anyone can use them to bet online in Rwanda, as no law states that it is illegal. Ultimately, Rwandan bettors get to choose between a few legal bookies and dozens of non-licensed sportsbooks, granted the latter usually come out on top as the go-to platforms for sports betting in Rwanda.
History of Sports Betting in Rwanda
Rwanda has a long history of gambling, but it wasn't until 2008 that the first casino – Casino Kingali – was built. Owned by Casino Games Rwanda Ltd, Casino Kingal was the first of many casinos that got built in the following years, and it didn't take long before Rwanda's online betting companies started building their land-based bookmakers.
Four years later, Rwanda accepted law 58/2011, which regulated the betting and gambling industry but does not mention the online betting sector. Even today, the government has yet to accept any law or make any amends to 58/2011 to regulate online betting in Rwanda fully, but that doesn't mean that it's illegal.
On the contrary, even though Rwanda has no laws mentioning online casino or online sports gambling, placing a Rwanda bet on any available online bookmaker is not prohibited. Like many other African countries, online betting in Rwanda falls in the grey area where it's not explicitly legal, but since it's not prohibited, it is legal.
Online Betting In Rwanda: What the Future Holds
Rwanda has been very reluctant to change its law regulating gambling and betting, and even to date, it has no mention of online betting. However, Rwanda's online betting sector is growing rapidly, so it's only a matter of time before the country decides to do something about regulating online sportsbooks.
The country has one of the most developed online betting scenes, as many sportsbooks offer betting online in Rwanda and significantly more than in its neighboring countries.
So the next step is to start considering introducing regulations for online betting, which is also the final missing thing the online betting industry in Rwanda needs.
Rwanda Overview
Before we conclude our article, here are some interesting facts about Rwanda and its online betting industry you might need to learn about.
- Kigali is Rwanda's capital and the most populated city, followed by Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, Butare, and Muhanga.
- Kinyarwanda is the national language of Rwanda and one of the country's official languages, alongside English, Swahili, and French.
- Rwandan Franc is the dominant currency in Rwanda, but local bookmakers also accept deposits with crypto, Euro, or USA Dollars.
- Some of the most popular online payment methods available at Rwanda bookmakers include crypto, ecoPayz, PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard.
- The most popular and legal online bookmakers in Rwanda are Bet365, Gorilla Game, Africa Bet, Winner.rw, and King Bet.
- Football, basketball, Esports, volleyball, and athletics are the most popular sports in Rwanda.
- Rwanda's most popular sports competitions are Rwanda Premier League, Rwanda Basketball League, and Rwanda National League A.
- The most popular sports teams from Rwanda are Rusmo, APR FC, Police FC, and Espoir.
- The most well-known and popular sports athletes from Rwanda are Claudette Mukasakindi, Haruna Niyonzima, Aristide Mugabe, and Mathias Ntawulikura.
- Rwanda has attended 10 Summer Olympic Games but has yet to win a medal.
- Rwanda made its Paraolympics GHames debut at the 2000 Summer Paraolympics in Sydney.
- Jean de Dieu Nkundabera won a bronze medal in Men's 800m dash at the 2004 Paralympic Games and is the only Rwandan athlete with an Olympic medal.
Bottom Line
That concludes our article, which covered everything you need to know about online betting in Rwanda, including the history and the future of sports betting in the country. Now you're ready to register with the best Rwandan bookmakers and start betting – but don't forget about the dangers of gambling addiction and never bet with more than you can afford to lose.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Is online sports betting legal in Rwanda?Yes, online sports betting and all forms of gambling are legal in Rwanda. Despite the noticeable lack of regulation in the online betting sector, online sports betting isn't illegal. Still, it falls into a grey zone where it's not explicitly illegal, making it legal.
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Which is the best betting site in Rwanda?Many of the world's top bookmakers operate in Rwanda, yet out of all available betting sites, Bet365, King Bet, Forte Bet, Africa Bet, and Lucky Bet stand out as the most popular.
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How can I bet on the gorilla games in Rwanda?Gorilla Games is one of the most popular and accessible online gambling sites in Rwanda; therefore, any Rwandan can use Gorilla Games to bet on sports or play in an online casino. To bet on Gorilla Games, visit the official website, register for an account, and deposit money.
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Do I have to pay a gambling tax on winnings in Rwanda?No, punters from Rwanda don't have to pay any gambling tax on their winnings as long as they're using international sportsbooks. Meanwhile, all earnings above 30,000 RWF at local bookies will be subject to a 15% tax.
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Is it safe to place online bets in Rwanda?Betting in Rwanda is fairly safe if bettors use trusted and regulated bookmakers. Since the online betting sector in the country is poorly regulated, it's easy to stumble upon shady bookmakers; however, plenty of safe bookmakers are available.
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