In March 2024, Ivorian punters logged into 1xBet and found the platform dark — not because of a government crackdown on gambling, but because the local operator had fallen behind on payments owed to LONACI, the state lottery that holds the exclusive legal concession over all betting in Côte d’Ivoire. The site stayed offline for a 12-day suspension in March 2024 before access was restored once Ludus SAS, the company running 1xBet locally, settled its obligations.
That episode says more about how betting actually works in Côte d’Ivoire than any homepage banner does: every international brand you can legally use here operates as a licensee of LONACI, not as an independent company holding its own standalone gambling licence. This guide to the best betting sites in Côte d’Ivoire for 2026 covers LONACI’s own platform plus the international brands operating under its concession — focused on three things worth checking before you sign up: whether a licence claim actually holds up, whether Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money or Wave work at checkout, and whether a usable mobile app exists.
How Betting Is Regulated in Côte d’Ivoire
LONACI’s monopoly over lotteries and gambling dates back to a 1970 founding law, but the framework that governs today’s online market is newer. a government decree effective January 2024 confirmed that lotteries, sports betting, horse-race betting, virtual betting and online casino games are an exclusive concession held by LONACI — any platform operating in the country without a LONACI agreement is, by that decree, illegal.
In practice, this means private brands like the ones below never apply for their own Ivorian gambling licence. They sign a commercial agreement with LONACI, which supervises day-to-day compliance alongside the ARJH (Autorité de Régulation des Jeux de Hasard), the regulator that can order illegal sites blocked. There is no single public online registry listing every approved brand, which is exactly why a 12-day suspension in March 2024 made headlines — it was one of the few moments the concession model became visible in public.
Best Betting Sites in Côte d’Ivoire 2026: The Full Comparison
Below are the national operator and the international brands most commonly used by Ivorian punters, with what we could independently confirm about each one’s licence status, mobile money support, and app.
LONACI / SportCash — The National Operator
LONACI is the baseline reference for the entire market: it is the concession holder, not just another licensed brand. Its digital arm, LONACI Online, launched in May 2021 and is reachable both on the web and through the USSD code *590#, which works on any phone without an internet connection — a genuinely distinctive feature for players outside Abidjan’s main connectivity zones. A dedicated app, Sportcash.CIV, is listed on the Apple App Store. Deposits run through a mix of local mobile money wallets and LONACI’s own LonaciPay wallet; we could not independently confirm which specific mobile money networks LonaciPay supports beyond this general mobile money coverage.
1xBet — Licensed, Despite a Rocky 2024
1xBet is one of the brands LONACI’s Directorate General has publicly named as an authorised partner, operated locally by Ludus SAS. The March 2024 suspension was a contractual payment dispute between Ludus and LONACI, not a sign the brand was operating illegally — it resumed service once the dispute was settled. For payments, Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money and Wave are all supported, and the platform has both an Android and an iOS app.
Betclic — Licensed for Sports Betting
Betclic is the second brand explicitly confirmed as a LONACI partner, operating under a convention signed in 2022 and registered in Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial registry. Its LONACI agreement currently covers sports betting specifically, not online casino games. Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money, Moov Money and Wave are all supported at deposit, and the app is available on both Android and iOS.
PremierBet — Licensed, But Orange Money and MTN Only
PremierBet rounds out the three brands named directly by LONACI as licensed partners. It also has the strongest physical footprint of the group, with agencies across the country rather than a purely online presence. Where PremierBet falls short for some players: Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money both work, but Wave and Moov Money are not currently supported. Its app is Android-only — there is no iOS version. Our full PremierBet review covers the rest of the platform in more depth.
MelBet — Licence Status Disputed
MelBet is the one entry here where sources genuinely disagree. Some reporting points to a LONACI agreement obtained in July 2024 under the local operator Coastwin SARLU; other, more recent sources describe MelBet operating only under its offshore Curaçao licence and state it does not currently appear among the brands LONACI has named. We could not independently resolve which is accurate as of this writing, so treat MelBet’s local licensing status as unconfirmed rather than settled. On the payment side, Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money, Moov Money and Wave are all listed as supported deposit methods, with an Android app and a more limited iOS experience built around a mobile browser shortcut rather than a native app.
Betway — Not on LONACI’s Named List
Betway markets itself in Côte d’Ivoire as fully licensed and compliant, but it does not appear among the brands LONACI’s Directorate has named publicly, unlike 1xBet, Betclic and PremierBet. That gap doesn’t prove anything is wrong — LONACI simply hasn’t confirmed it either way in the sources we found. What is clear is the payment side: Betway’s Ivorian accounts rely on Visa, Mastercard, Skrill and Payz, with Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money and Wave all unsupported — a real limitation in a market where mobile money dominates. The app itself is available on both Android (via direct APK download) and iOS. See our full Betway review for more on how it compares elsewhere on the continent.
SportyBet — Partial Confirmation
SportyBet is active and widely used in Côte d’Ivoire, but like Betway, it does not appear on LONACI’s short list of named partners in the sources we reviewed. Orange Money deposits and withdrawals are confirmed to work; we found no confirmation either way for MTN Mobile Money, and Wave specifically was reported as unsupported by one comparison source. The app follows the regional pattern — an Android file downloaded directly from the operator (not the Play Store) and a native iOS app on the App Store. Our SportyBet review breaks down the rest of the platform.
Quick Comparison: Licence Status, Mobile Money and Apps
| Operator | LONACI Licence | Orange Money | MTN MoMo | Wave | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LONACI / SportCash | National operator (concession holder) | Mobile money (network unconfirmed) | Mobile money (network unconfirmed) | Mobile money (network unconfirmed) | iOS (Sportcash.CIV) |
| 1xBet | Named by LONACI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Android & iOS |
| Betclic | Named by LONACI (sports only) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Android & iOS |
| PremierBet | Named by LONACI | Yes | Yes | No | Android only |
| MelBet | Disputed / unconfirmed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Android (iOS: web shortcut) |
| Betway | Not named by LONACI | No | No | No | Android & iOS |
| SportyBet | Not named by LONACI | Yes | Unconfirmed | No | Android & iOS |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online betting legal in Côte d’Ivoire?
Yes, but only through LONACI or a brand operating under a LONACI agreement. Since the decree took effect in January 2024, any sports betting or online casino platform without that agreement is considered illegal in the country, regardless of what the platform itself claims.
Which betting sites are officially confirmed as licensed in Côte d’Ivoire?
LONACI’s own platform, plus 1xBet, Betclic and PremierBet, are the three international brands LONACI’s Directorate General has publicly named as authorised partners. Other brands active in the market, including MelBet, Betway and SportyBet, could not be confirmed on that named list from the sources available — that doesn’t automatically make them illegal, but it means their licence status isn’t independently verifiable at this time.
Can I use Wave to bet online in Côte d’Ivoire?
It depends on the operator. 1xBet, Betclic and MelBet all support Wave deposits, while PremierBet, Betway and SportyBet currently do not. Check the specific operator before assuming Wave will work.
Does LONACI have its own betting app?
Yes — LONACI’s sports betting app is called Sportcash, listed on the Apple App Store as Sportcash.CIV. LONACI also offers a USSD channel (*590#) that works on any phone without an internet connection, which no international brand in this list currently matches.
Thabo Ndlovu is a passionate sports analyst with extensive knowledge of African football, sports betting trends, and online bookmakers. He covers major leagues, betting tips, match predictions, and responsible betting for sports fans across Africa.
