Lottery tickets are legal in Morocco under a state monopoly system established by Dahir No. 1-65-206, enacted in 1966. This foundational legal framework authorizes 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 (1). Unlike many African nations, Morocco lacks a singular national gambling regulator, with regulation divided among three state-run monopolies, each with its own domain.
La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports manages fixed-odds sports betting and scratchcard lotteries, while Loterie Nationale controls draw-based lottery products (1). Lottery operations are not open to private operators, as they remain under exclusive state monopoly control (2). MDJS received permission in 2009 to sell lottery tickets and conduct sports betting online through the national lottery's website and mobile application, though no further licenses have been issued to private entities since then.
"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."
The legal gambling age in Morocco is set at 18 years, and participation in lottery activities is permitted for those who meet this requirement (1). State monopolies established during the 1970s consolidated government control over lottery and sports betting sectors, ensuring revenues support public programs. Morocco's Finance Bill introduced in 2025 implemented a 30 percent withholding tax on winnings from foreign online gambling platforms, marking the first significant regulatory move targeting online gambling activity and demonstrating the government's evolving approach to gambling regulation.
Source:
https://globalgamblingnews.com/morocco-a-unique-approach-to-gambling-regulation/
https://legalpilot.com/country/morocco/
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
