Rwanda regulator suspends Forzza for offering casino-style games outside its sports betting licence

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has suspended Baron Sports Gaming Ltd, trading as Forzza, after finding that it repeatedly offered casino-style games outside the scope of its licence. For high-risk operators, the message is simple: Rwanda is opening the market, but it is also showing it will police licence boundaries.

1. The suspension was announced on Thursday by the RDB. Forzza must cease all operations in Rwanda immediately and remove all associated advertising and promotional materials.
2. The regulator told iGB that Forzza’s existing licence only permitted sports betting. The RDB said the operator had repeatedly offered casino-style games outside that permission, which triggered the enforcement action.
3. The RDB also warned Forzza that it could face further enforcement action if it continues to operate during the suspension period. In a statement shared with The New Times, the company said it was surprised by the decision and claimed it had not received an explanation from the RDB for the suspension.
4. Serge Nyombayire, COO of the RDB, told iGB last week that there were 15 licensees in the Rwanda gambling market, including a national lottery operator. With Forzza’s licence now suspended, that total falls to 14.
5. Rwanda has also been adding new operators. After the licensing process opened up, three new operators were authorised earlier this month: ForteBet and Super Group’s Betway brand received licences for online sports betting and casino, while ElephantBet was authorised to offer online sports betting.

Nyombayire said attracting operators of the calibre of Super Group’s Betway was “key” to Rwanda’s approach, adding that international operators can help benchmark the next gambling law. That matters because the market is still emerging, and this suspension shows that the regulator expects licence terms to be followed literally, not creatively interpreted.