In Morocco, gambling is acknowledged as a legitimate economic activity but is subject to stringent regulation under the Dahir No. 1-65-206, established in 1966.
This foundational legal framework authorises land-based casinos, lotteries and parimutuel betting, while granting the state the authority to determine the specifics of where, when and to whom gambling activities can be offered.
Despite its longstanding history, the Dahir remains the cornerstone of Morocco’s gambling legal structure, supplemented by additional ministerial decrees.
Unlike many African nations, Morocco lacks a singular national gambling regulator. Instead, regulation is divided among three state-run monopolies, each with its own domain.
SOREC, founded by decree in 2003, oversees horse race betting and parimutuel pools. La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports (MDJS) manages fixed-odds sports betting and scratchcard lotteries, while Loterie Nationale controls draw-based lottery products.
This state-monopolised structure, established by ministerial decree, presents a barrier to private firms wishing to enter the market without collaborating with these monopolies.
Land-based casinos in Morocco, housed within hotels in tourist-centric cities like Marrakech, Agadir and El Jadida, primarily serve foreign tourists. Although Moroccan citizens are not explicitly prohibited, casinos enforce ID checks and retain the right to deny entry based on specific regulations. The legal gambling age is set at 18.
In stark contrast to its land-based counterparts, online gambling in Morocco remains entirely unregulated. The absence of a licensing process for iGaming operators and the lack of technical and compliance standards results in Moroccan residents frequently turning to offshore platforms for online gambling.
This unregulated status results in missed opportunities for tax revenue, which could otherwise support social and infrastructure projects, as seen in other jurisdictions.
