Lottery activities are legal in Burundi and operated exclusively by the National Lottery of Burundi, known as LONA, which was established in 1989 under Decree No. 100/231. While the 2008 Penal Code of Burundi states that all forms of gambling including lotteries are illegal, LONA operates the national lottery as a publicly owned enterprise with government authorization (1). The organization oversees the national lottery, sports betting, and the Lydia Ludique Burundi casino in the capital city.
LONA is undergoing a significant transformation from a commercial operator to Burundi's sole gambling regulatory agency as part of the country's 2035 vision. The agency now focuses on regulating existing gambling businesses and licensing new operators rather than engaging in commercial operations such as selling scratch cards (2). Since 2000, LONA has authorized 15 gambling companies, with eight currently operational, and strictly prohibits gambling establishments from operating near schools or areas accessible to minors.
"The implementation of NSoft's technological governance solutions to oversee the gambling sector in Burundi is a key step in our revenue-mobilisation strategy and in the restoration of our digital sovereignty."
LONA utilizes advanced technologies to monitor gambling activities in real-time and ensure compliance with regulations, which contributed to significant revenue of approximately 700 million BIF in 2023. The organization has partnered with technology provider NSoft to build oversight infrastructure for sports betting, lotteries, and online gaming platforms (2). In July 2021, LONA authorized mobile operator Lumitel to offer a mobile lottery to subscribers, expanding lottery access throughout the country while maintaining strict regulatory oversight and contributing to national development initiatives.
Source:
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-burundi/
https://focusgn.com/africa/burundi-accelerates-2035-plan-as-lona-transforms-into-sole-gambling-regulator
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
