Instituto de Supervisão dos Jogos
- Headquarters
- Luanda, Angola
The Instituto de Supervisão de Jogos (ISJ) is Angola’s dedicated gambling regulator, operating under the Ministry of Finance. It oversees licensing, supervision, tax collection, and enforcement across all land‑based and online gambling activities in the country. Based in Luanda with 11–50 staff, the ISJ has driven rapid formalisation of the market: tax revenue grew 60% year‑on‑year in 2025, reaching 7.8 billion kwanzas in the fourth quarter alone. The agency actively combats illegal operations, notably blocking the unlicensed platform PalancaBet in 2025 and running public awareness campaigns with local municipalities. Director‑General Nerethz Tati and Deputy Director‑General Cláudio Paulo lead the institute, which also engages internationally with regulators such as Portugal’s SICAD and attends industry events like iGB L!VE 2026.
Detailed Review
Regulatory Mandate and Core Functions
The Instituto de Supervisão de Jogos (ISJ) serves as the central pillar of gambling governance in Angola, established under the Ministry of Finance to execute the state’s policy on games of chance. Its core responsibilities encompass the entire lifecycle of gambling operations: authorisation and licensing of operators (both land‑based and online), ongoing supervision, fiscal auditing, and enforcement actions against illegal practices. The ISJ operates under Angolan legislation, including the Lei de Bases dos Jogos de Fortuna ou Azar and subsequent regulatory decrees.
Tax Revenue and Market Growth
One of the ISJ’s primary functions is revenue collection. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the institute collected 7.8 billion kwanzas in taxes from the sector, representing a 16.3% quarter‑on‑quarter increase and a full‑year growth of 60% compared to 2024. This fiscal success underscores the formalisation and expansion of the Angolan gambling market under the ISJ’s supervision.
Enforcement and Public Education
The institute actively combats illegal gambling. A notable case in 2025 was the blocking of the PalancaBet online platform, which was operating without authorisation. The ISJ warned users of the platform about significant financial risks and coordinated with internet service providers to shut it down. Additionally, the ISJ conducts public sensitisation campaigns, often in partnership with municipal administrations (e.g., Kilamba Kiaxi), to inform merchants and the public about the legal and health risks of unlicensed slot machines.
International Engagement
On the international stage, the ISJ has worked to align its regulatory practices with global standards. In April 2025, Director‑General Nerethz Tati made official visits to the Portuguese gambling regulator SICAD to strengthen institutional cooperation, share best practices, and combat money laundering and terrorism financing in the sector. The ISJ also participated in the iGB L!VE 2026 exhibition and the Africa Summit, signalling its ambition to integrate Angola into the international gambling regulatory community.
Organisational Structure and Leadership
The ISJ does not own or operate any commercial gambling brands or platforms. Its “products” are regulatory services: licensing, audit, inspection, tax collection, and public education. The institute also publishes quarterly statistical reports (Informativo ISJ) detailing sector performance, tax contributions, and operational data. Despite being a relatively small agency (11–50 employees), the ISJ has demonstrated capacity to enforce compliance and generate substantial government revenue. Its headquarters are located in Luanda, Angola, and the agency falls directly under the country’s Ministry of Finance. Leadership is currently headed by Dr.ª Nerethz Tati (Director‑General) and Cláudio Paulo (Deputy Director‑General).
Key Products
Gaming Licences
Issuance and renewal of licences for casinos, sports betting operators, lotteries, and online gaming platforms.
Supervision & Inspection
On-site inspections, game certification, and compliance audits.
Enforcement
Blocking illegal gambling sites, imposing fines, and revoking licences.
Tax Collection
Collection of gaming taxes and fees, which contribute to state revenue.
Public Education & Warnings
Issuing advisories about unlicensed operators, e.g., the block on 'PalancaBet'.
Informativo ISJ
Quarterly newsletter with market data and regulatory updates.
Licensing
Grants licenses for land-based and online gambling operators, evaluating applications and issuing concessions.
Lotteries
Manages and oversees state-run lottery operations.
Fiscal Oversight
Collects and reports tax revenue from gambling activities, contributing to state coffers.
Licensing & Authorisation
Granting licences for land‑based casinos, slot machines, online gambling platforms, and other games of chance in Angola.
Blocking of Illegal Platforms
Enforcement actions, such as the 2025 blocking of PalancaBet, to shut down unlicensed operators.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Education programmes on responsible gambling and the risks of illegal gaming, often conducted with local municipalities.
Quarterly Statistical Reports (Informativo ISJ)
Publicly available reports on sector performance, including revenue, tax contributions, and market trends.
International Cooperation
Bilateral agreements and knowledge‑sharing with other regulators, e.g., SICAD (Portugal).
Offices & Headcount
30 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
- Dr.ª Nerethz Tati
Director-General
- Cláudio Paulo
Deputy Director-General