Liberia’s NLA sets $80,000 online casino and prediction market licence fees

Liberia has overhauled its gambling rules under Regulation No. 005 of 2026, which the National Lottery Authority (NLA) adopted. Online casino operators must now pay $80,000 for a licence, and prediction market operators owe the same sum for theirs. Adoption came on 29 April 2026, and the rules took effect once they appeared in Liberia's Official Gazette on 1 October 2026 and were signed into handbills by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The framework sets minimum capital levels, adds a central system for watching gambling activity, and brings in fresh responsible gambling measures. Through the Central Lottery Management System (CLMS), the NLA will be able to track gaming transactions as they happen. Prediction market products are permitted only via a dedicated licence or a partnership the National Lottery Authority approves. Such a licence costs $80,000 and requires at least $500,000 in paid-up capital. Contracts tied to the death of a named individual, to criminal activity, or to Liberian elections are prohibited.

Marketing faces stricter limits too. No medium may be used where the expected audience is more than 30% under 18, and age checks must come before a digital ad leads anyone to register or buy. Each advertisement has to carry responsible gambling messaging and details of player support services. Influencers who are paid must reveal their promotional ties, and operators have to aim advertising mainly at adults.

Peter L. Solo, Director General of the NLA, said, “The gaming sector is changing rapidly, with digital platforms, online lottery services, and mobile-money ecosystems reshaping how people play.” He described the regulation as a bid to build “a modern, transparent, and enforceable framework” for the industry. In the regulator's view, the changes mirror how much digital gambling products and mobile technology now matter in Liberia.