The Malagasy gambling market has enjoyed legal status for more than 50 years. In 1969, the first land-based gambling establishment was launched. Madagascar, however, saw its first slot machines imported in 1988.
The two major cities have seven facilities that are used for gambling activities. Online casinos are the most available type of gambling activity in Madagascar. Only four land-based casinos are operating in Madagascar. These land-based casinos are regulated by the government.
Betting on sports in Madagascar is legal too. In the French colonial days, annual horse racing was the primary form of gambling allowed. This has made horse racing popular even to this day.
In recent years, poker as a gambling activity has gained popularity. The local poker association has made an effort to popularize the game on this beautiful island. The residents of Madagascar saw the first poker room open in 2014.
Gambling in Madagascar Nowadays
Gaming in Madagascar is currently allowed. However, at the moment, most forms of online gambling are unregulated. The government of Madagascar states that there are plans to review and update their gambling laws so as to accommodate the popular online casino wave. New casino sites are yet to set their base in Madagascar. Having no clear guidelines of how to obtain gambling licenses has made it difficult to operate in the country.
On the brighter side, there are no regulations put in place that bar the residents from playing new online casino games on international sites. Although there are no Madagascar-based new online casinos, the government started the national lottery in 2011. The lottery tickets were made available on the internet to all residents of the island.