Online poker is not regulated in Guinea-Bissau, as the country is categorized as a white-level online gambling jurisdiction with no form of gambling regulated and no legal framework for the gambling industry (1). The Law Library of Congress provides comprehensive resources regarding Guinea-Bissau's legislative framework, including links to government and non-government websites that offer access to free online legal resources related to the country's legal system (2). Guinea-Bissau, officially referred to as the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and located in West Africa, has no regulatory institution in charge of issuing licenses to gambling operators (1).
A governmental order from 2019 suspended the legal status of various gambling games, including poker, making online poker effectively illegal in Guinea-Bissau (1). The iGaming industry of Guinea-Bissau remains unregulated, meaning the country has no laws, regulations, or a regulatory body responsible for overseeing gambling activities, and consequently has no land-based casinos or locally-certified online casinos (1). The Law Library of Congress maintains an annotated collection of links to free online legal materials and pertinent resources for Guinea-Bissau, focusing on the country's constitution, executive, legislative and judicial branches, legal guides, and general sources (2).
"Guinea-Bissau is categorized as white-level online gambling jurisdiction as no form of gambling is regulated nor there's a legal framework for this branch of the entertainment industry."
Despite the lack of domestic regulation and the 2019 governmental suspension of gambling activities, some international companies accept Guinea-Bissauan poker players through their licensed subsidiaries from other countries (1). However, players in Guinea-Bissau should be aware that online poker laws have not been issued as of 2020, and it appears unlikely that regulatory frameworks will be established in the near future given the government's position on gambling (1). The absence of legal protections and regulatory oversight means that residents engaging with offshore gambling platforms do so without the safeguards typically provided in regulated jurisdictions.
Source:
https://lcb.org/restrictions/guinea-bissau
https://guides.loc.gov/law-guinea-bissau/legislative
Last updated: 03-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
