Online poker exists in a legal gray area in Burkina Faso, as the country's gambling laws do not specifically regulate online gaming activities. While most forms of gambling are legal in this West African nation, internet wagering is not regulated, meaning locals are not forbidden by any laws to access foreign poker websites and will not be prosecuted for engaging in such activities (1). The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development is responsible for issuing licenses to gambling establishments, but currently focuses only on land-based operations.
The Burkinabé Gaming and Betting Control Commission (CNJH) oversees all forms of land-based gambling and betting activities, including casinos, sports betting shops, and lotteries, but online gambling falls outside their current regulatory framework. There are currently no formal licensing procedures for online-only operators, though foreign operators wishing to offer services in Burkina Faso are generally required to establish a local company under Burkinabé commercial law (2). Poker is restricted to licensed casinos in land-based venues, with no standalone poker halls permitted.
"Online gambling is not specifically regulated, and there are currently no formal licensing procedures for online-only operators. However, foreign operators wishing to offer services in Burkina Faso are generally required to establish a local company."
The regulatory vacuum means that while international online poker sites freely accept players from Burkina Faso, these operations exist without government oversight or consumer protections. The government has the ability to block unlicensed gambling sites but has not actively pursued such enforcement measures against poker platforms. As younger generations increasingly use mobile devices and tablets, they are more prone to internet gaming, creating a growing online poker market that remains unregulated but legally accessible to Burkinabé players.
Source:
https://lcb.org/restrictions/burkina-faso
https://legalpilot.com/country/burkina-faso/
Last updated: 27-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
