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Poker in Cameroon

Poker in Cameroon
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Max Streltcoff Editor-In-Chief
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: December 24, 2024 · 3 minutes to read

When you think of countries where poker is popular, Cameroon is unlikely to come to mind. This picturesque country, located near the equator and having access to the Atlantic Ocean, is not yet popular among poker enthusiasts.

But Cameroon is not as far from poker as you might imagine. The country even has its own card game called Kos. The rules of the game are similar to the Italian Briscola (known as Brisca in Spain and Bisca in Portugal). This game uses a deck of 40 cards: all eights, nines, and tens are removed from a standard 52-card deck. The game is played by two to four players.

Poker in Cameroon, like other forms of gambling, is regulated by Law No. 2015/012 of July 16, 2015. Online gambling has been regulated since 2019 (Decree No. 2019/2300/PM). Players can participate in online gambling only through licensed platforms. Illegal gambling is punishable by fines (from 5 to 25 million CFA) and imprisonment (from 6 months to two years). This means that participating in poker on unlicensed platforms is illegal and can lead to legal consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the availability of a local license before choosing a poker room.

Cameroonian legislation focuses on gambling organizers, requiring them to obtain a license and comply with financial guarantees. For players, such clear legislation has not yet been adopted. Currently, poker players must pay a 15% tax on winnings, similar to other gambling participants. In the case of offline play, the casino handles income accounting. Online play should be regulated similarly, i.e., a licensed poker room must deduct a 15% tax at the time of payout, and this information will be transmitted to municipal authorities.

It is important to note the prohibition of gambling for persons under the age of 18.

In 2024, the first legal online poker room is expected to open in Cameroon. Until then, poker enthusiasts could only play in illegal rooms with offshore licenses, which violated the country’s legislation and could result in fines and imprisonment.

An exception could be poker rooms with cryptocurrency play, as local legislation does not regulate virtual goods. For more information about legal online poker in Cameroon, please visit our site.

Famous Poker Players from Cameroon

Among the 29 million inhabitants of Cameroon, it is easy to remember footballers Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o. UFC fans will name Francis Ngannou, and music lovers will undoubtedly recall Manu Dibango thanks to his hit “Soul Makossa.”

But poker enthusiasts from Cameroon have yet to make their mark. By 2024, Cameroonian players had earned $46,900 in the WSOP series, ranking 175th in the all-time winnings list. Cameroonian players have entered the WSOP prize zone six times but have yet to win a bracelet.

Local Casinos in Cameroon

Casinos have been legalized in the country since 2004. Previously, local casinos were located in the luxurious hotels of the country’s capital, Douala. Casinos operated at the Hilton Yaounde and Le Meridien Douala hotels, but by 2024, both casinos had closed their doors. The last operating casino was Treasure Hunter Casino in Douala. The casino closed during the tourism downturn during COVID-19.

It is worth noting that poker can be part of the casino, but separate poker rooms are absent.

The authorities have issued licenses to 21 companies, and their number is slowly growing.

For the 28 million population, there were only 7 casinos, 5 slot machine halls, and 9 companies accepting sports bets.

According to politician and former minister René Emmanuel Sadi, this situation resulted from the illegal work of international operators in the country without a license. The presence of companies with offshore licenses allowed industry participants to avoid paying taxes, and Cameroonian players were not protected from operator abuses. The authorities have imposed a ban on the use of online operators operating without a Cameroonian license.

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