Rwanda has begun dismantling thousands of gambling machines that were banned in 2022, converting them into recyclable materials for industrial use.
The Cabinet decision to halt slot machines followed widespread public complaints that they were draining household incomes and fueling domestic disputes.
Investigations also found that many operators were working without licenses, while others violated terms agreed with the government.
Since then, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has partnered with EnviroServe, a recycling company based in the Bugesera Industrial Zone, to collect and process the machines.
More than 7,200 units have been gathered nationwide, with about 3,000 coming from Kigali alone.
At EnviroServe’s facility, the machines are dismantled and sorted into plastics, glass, metals, and electrical components.
Chief Executive Officer Olivier Mbera said toxic substances are safely removed, while valuable materials such as copper and aluminum are extracted and sold back to industries to make cables, construction materials, and other products.
Plastics are shredded and reused in manufacturing.
“By dismantling these machines, we protect communities from hazardous chemicals while giving the raw materials a second life in the economy,” Mbera said.
RDB official Jacques Habyarimana explained that the recycling program was directly linked to the Cabinet’s decision to address gambling-related disorder and ensure compliance with national regulations.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry had announced the ban in October 2022, citing growing illegal operations and misuse of licenses in the gaming sector.
