The number of Moroccan citizens turning to offshore gambling websites is on the rise, says a recent report by the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies.
These unregulated platforms are attracting ten times more visitors than the country’s legal gambling operators, such as MDJS, the National Lottery, SOREC, and casinos.
The report said that there is a regulatory loophole that allows foreign gambling companies to offer their services to Moroccan residents without being subject to the country’s gambling laws.
As a result, individuals who participate in these offshore activities face numerous risks, including the potential compromise of their personal data.
The report also criticized the lack of attention given to gambling addiction as a public health issue.
While social protection institutions recognize addictive behaviors as a medical condition requiring treatment, Morocco’s national strategy to combat addiction for the period 2018-2022 did not adequately address gambling addiction.
This oversight is particularly concerning given that an estimated 3.3 million Moroccans participated in gambling activities in 2021, with 40% of them classified as high-risk gamblers.
To address this growing problem, the report recommends a comprehensive approach that includes stricter regulations on online gambling, increased efforts to combat addiction, and robust public awareness campaigns about the risks associated with gambling.
The survey also noted the need for a more proactive stance in protecting vulnerable individuals, especially minors, from the harmful effects of gambling.
The report revealed that the global expansion of the online sports betting market is expected to reach $109 billion by 2028.
Morocco has been increasing its efforts to curb the growing problem of illegal online sports betting. In 2023, the state-owned Moroccan Gaming and Sports Company filed a formal complaint with the public prosecutor against the company “1xbet.”
1xBet, a Cyprus-based company, has been operating illegally in Morocco through mobile applications and a website, offering sports betting services.
The Council of Europe estimates the size of the illegal gambling market worldwide at around one trillion euros in terms of the value of bets placed.
As a result, gambling causes governments to lose huge amounts of money from their budgets and poses a challenge due to the risks of money laundering and financing criminal activities.
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