Morocco

Morocco is a predominantly Islamic country where gambling is viewed with a certain scepticism. Despite this, the gambling sector is active here and attracts an increasing number of residents.

According to a report by the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies, now for one Moroccan who bets with a state operator or buys a national lottery ticket, there are ten users who turn to offshore platforms.

The Moroccan government has already started talking about passing laws for online casinos (the industry is currently unregulated and only the national lottery and sports betting by state-owned gambling companies are legal). However, the number of players participating in online gambling has steadily continued to grow.

Population

The country has a population of 38 million, of which about 11 million Moroccans live in rural areas.

Arabs make up about 60 per cent of Morocco's population, while Berbers (the common name for the indigenous inhabitants of North Africa who converted to Islam in the 7th century) are the second largest with about 40 per cent.

In addition, the country is home to a small percentage of Europeans, mostly Spanish and French, numbering about 70,000. There are also several thousand Jews.

In 2024, the population of Morocco will increase by 529,170 people and at the end of the year will be just over 39 million. The average age is 27 years.

About 72.33% of people over the age of 15 can read and write in a language.

Language: The official language is Arabic. French and Spanish are also spoken in the country, and Berber is spoken among the Berbers.

Religion: 99% of the country's inhabitants profess Islam, 0.8% - Christianity, 0.2% - Judaism.

Morocco is headed by the king, who is not only the official head of state, but also the spiritual leader of the believing population of the country.

Major cities: Casablanca, Rabat (capital), Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier.

Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD). 100 MAD = $10.11.

Financial opportunities

The country's multidimensional poverty rate (the index takes into account the level of health, education, and access to basic goods, medicine, and other) has decreased significantly from 40% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2014 and finally to 5.7% in 2022.

In 2024, the projected poverty rate in Morocco is 6 per cent.

The unemployment rate in 2022 is 11.8% and increases to 13% in 2023, especially among the youth. The unemployment rate in 2024 is projected to be 12%.

Minimum wage is $345 in the public sector, $295 in the private sector, and $205 for agricultural workers.

Average wage is about $400 (in 2023, the national median income was about $320).

Mentality

Morocco is a country in northern Africa, and exclusive power here is concentrated in the hands of the king and his Council of Ministers. Respect for the king is unquestionable, with his portrait hanging in every room.

One of the national passions of the inhabitants is football. This sport is actively promoted: matches of various championships are broadcast daily in cafes all over the country.

The mourning colour is white, while red symbolises bravery, strength and valour - qualities that are highly valued in Moroccan culture.

The inhabitants of the state do not accept tactile communication. When greeting people of different sexes usually only nod or occasionally shake hands.

Status of gambling

Gambling has been legal in Morocco since 1930. The first form of gambling to be legalised was betting on horse races at the country's first racecourse, Casa Anfa, in Casablanca. Lotteries followed.

Today, the gambling sector is controlled by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Royal Society for the Promotion of Horse Breeding. The entire gambling regulatory framework is based on French legislation due to Morocco's shared history with France.

Lotteries and betting, including online betting, are strictly state monopolies:

1. Société des Courses de Lévriers du Maroc (SCLM) has had a monopoly on dog racing betting since 1950
2. The Marocaine des Jeux & des Sports (MDJS) has had a monopoly on lotteries, lottery-like games and sports betting since 1972.
3. Société Royale d'Encouragement du Cheval (SOREC) has had a monopoly on horse racing betting since 2003

The largest of these gambling companies is MDJS, which was authorised in 2009 to sell lottery tickets and conduct online sports betting on the National Lottery website and mobile app. There are over a thousand sports betting outlets in Morocco that are franchises of the MDJS brand.

Land-based gambling establishments are permitted. The Koran strictly forbids Muslims to visit casinos, but state laws allow, as a result - most of the players are locals.

The country has a gambling licence for land-based establishments only. There are no laws and licensing system for online gambling, so the sector remains unregulated and is in the ‘grey zone’.

Volume of the iGaming market

In 2021, 3.3 million Moroccans participated in iGaming, with 40 per cent of them categorised as high-risk players. The online gambling market is expected to reach over 5.5 million users by 2029.

The revenue in the iGaming market is projected to be $47.22 million in 2024 and is expected to reach over $50 million by 2029.

41.9% of people who bet on sports are driven by the desire to ‘win money’, while 29.21% like the excitement/experience of betting on sports. Also, 35.56% stated that they are more interested in watching/watching the game after betting.

Internet accessibility

As of 2024, internet penetration has reached 90.7%, up from 88.1% a year earlier. Morocco is among the African countries with the highest number of internet users.

The proportion of the population with access to mobile internet will steadily increase, reaching 88.68% between 2024 and 2029.

The average speed of a fixed internet connection is 29.96 Mbps. The average speed of a mobile internet connection is 41.40 Mbps.

The volume of device usage:

• mobile - 81.2%
• desktop - 16.5%
• tablet - 2.3%

Popular web apps: WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Jumia (one of the most popular marketplaces on the African continent).

In 2023, WhatsApp was used by more than 80% of the country's population, YouTube by 60%, Facebook by 50%, Instagram by 30% (mostly young people), and Jumia by 30%.

Player preferences

Despite the religious taboo, the desire for entertainment and the opportunity to earn money attract more and more Moroccans to iGaming. Therefore, the gambling industry is gaining momentum beyond the traditional authorised forms such as betting on horse racing and sports and lotteries.

Online betting on sporting events, especially football, is gaining significant popularity among Moroccans. Many residents actively follow international and local sports leagues, betting on football clubs (Vidad Casablanca, Real Betis and Maghreb Athletic Tetouan, etc.).

Blackjack, roulette, bridge and other card games are popular at online casinos. In addition, local players often favour games with strategy and skill elements, such as poker. As it is not only a game of chance, but also an opportunity to demonstrate personal skills.

The country also has a relatively low inequality index, which allows a wide audience to participate in gambling regardless of their socio-economic status.