Equatorial Guinea Closes Betting Houses, Probes $4.2M in 1xBet Transfers

The National Gendarmerie presented its preliminary findings on November 5. The government published the details the following day.

Nine gambling businesses were examined. Three were casinos that investigators considered compliant with the law. The five sports betting firms named in the report were 1xBet, Geloto, África Gamme, Forzza and Bettomax. The list also included Lotec.

The 1xBet Allegations Cover Two Periods

The Vice-Presidency put the suspected transfers at approximately $4,234,000, or more than CFA2.409 billion. Investigators described cash movements through Cameroon and cryptocurrency transfers to other countries during 2023-2025 and the first two months of 2026.

The report attributes the transactions to instructions from former local manager Ekaterina Chernova. It also identifies a Malian intermediary, Mamadou Mayga, known as Baba.

A second figure concerns more recent payments. According to the Gendarmerie, current local manager Kakeu Feussi Charles Stephane acknowledged handing CFA505.17 million (approximately $860,000) to the intermediary since May 2026, allegedly for Chernova’s benefit.

The two amounts refer to different periods. The published findings provide no consolidated transfer total. The allegations remain under investigation.

The approximate $860,000 equivalent of CFA505.17 million was calculated using the fixed rate of XAF655.957 per euro (Banque de France) and the November 6, 2026 EUR/USD reference rate of 1.1165 (Banque de France).

Bettomax Loses Its Licence as Betting Houses Close

Investigators reported missing online sports betting authorisations at 1xBet, Geloto, África Gamme and Forzza. They also identified suspected tax and employment violations.

Bettomax had a different problem. Its ten-year permit, issued in 2021, was considered inconsistent with the applicable rules. Authorities cancelled it and instructed the company to seek a new authorisation.

The dispute over online gambling licences predates this investigation. On July 28, 2025, Equatorial Guinea’s government announced a master online gaming licence for Mascott Capital Partners. Eleven days later, on August 8, it declared that licence legally ineffective, saying existing legislation did not provide for such authorisations.

That legal gap remains central to the current review. The government says the existing framework recognises casinos, lotteries and tombolas. Betting houses are to remain closed while investigators examine the companies’ activities and outstanding obligations.