Gabon has officially launched La Gabonaise des Jeux (GDJ), a state-owned gaming company established to organise, operate and oversee gambling activities across the country. The launch took place in Libreville on 22 October 2026 and included the unveiling of the company’s online gaming platform, GDJBET.COM.
The initiative marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to bring the gambling sector under stronger national control, improve transparency and increase the industry’s contribution to public finances.
The launch ceremony was chaired by Vice-President of the Government Hermann Immongault and attended by Interior Minister Edgard Moukoumbi, alongside other government representatives and stakeholders.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, GDJ was created to address longstanding concerns about opacity and insufficient oversight in gambling activities. The government intends for the public company to play a central role in restructuring the sector and ensuring that its economic benefits contribute more directly to national development.
GDJBET.COM Introduces Six Gaming Categories
Alongside the launch of its operations, GDJ presented GDJBET.COM, its digital gaming platform. The website offers six main categories:
- Sports betting
- Lotteries
- Virtual games
- Scratch cards
- Casino games
- Horse racing
The platform provides the state-owned company with an online channel through which to offer its gaming products. Its presentation also formed part of GDJ’s participation in Gabon Digital Week, held in Libreville from 26 to 30 October, where the company showcased its digital services to government officials and members of the public.
GDJ Director General Roméo Nguema Ondo said the company would operate in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework and emphasised the importance of establishing clear rules governing relationships with partners and other industry participants.
Government Seeks Greater Transparency and Financial Oversight
Interior Minister Edgard Moukoumbi said the state’s decision to take control of gambling activities followed concerns about the lack of transparency and clarity in the sector.
The government expects GDJ to improve supervision of gaming operations, strengthen the monitoring of financial flows and increase the revenue generated for public purposes.
Authorities have linked the restructuring to wider national development objectives, including the financing of social and sporting programmes. However, the government has not announced specific revenue projections, player targets or detailed financial estimates for the new company.
The arrangement also gives GDJ a broad role in the market, combining the operation of gaming products with responsibilities for organising and overseeing gambling activities. How these functions will work in practice will be an important aspect of the company’s development.
Football Funding Included in GDJ’s Wider Objectives
Beyond its commercial activities, GDJ is expected to contribute to initiatives in sport, culture and social development.
National football has emerged as one of its initial priorities. The company’s leadership has indicated its willingness to support Gabon’s first- and second-division football championships through a proposed arrangement with the National Professional Football League, known as Linafp.
The proposed support is intended to provide longer-term assistance to domestic competitions rather than a one-off contribution. However, a formal agreement and implementation timetable have yet to be confirmed.
Responsible Gambling Commitments
GDJ has also identified player protection as one of its stated priorities. The company says participation in its games will be subject to applicable age and access requirements, while efforts will be made to prevent excessive gambling and inform customers about associated risks.
Further details about specific safeguards, such as account limits, self-exclusion arrangements or player-monitoring systems, have not yet been disclosed.
The launch of GDJ and GDJBET.COM therefore represents more than the arrival of another online betting platform. It signals a state-led restructuring of Gabon’s gambling sector, with the government seeking greater control over operations, improved financial transparency and a stronger link between gaming revenues and national priorities.
The effectiveness of the new model will depend on its implementation, the transparency of GDJ’s operations and the practical protections made available to players.