Betting and gaming businesses are considered higher-risk merchants. To onboard with PayChangu, the following additional documentation and compliance measures are required:
You must hold a valid licence issued by the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA).
The licence must be current, verifiable, and issued in the name of the applying entity.
The licence must cover the specific betting or gaming activities offered.
Foreign licences, including Curaçao licences, are not accepted for operations targeting Malawi.
Applications without a valid MAGLA licence will not be approved.
You must comply with the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 2022 and all applicable regulations.
You must confirm that all activities processed through PayChangu are lawful and licensed.
You bear full responsibility for compliance with all applicable laws.
You must submit the following documents and evidence:
A formal policy document covering:
Customer Due Diligence and verification procedures
Enhanced Due Diligence for high-risk customers
Ongoing transaction monitoring
Suspicious transaction identification and reporting
Record keeping requirements
Internal controls and compliance oversight
Step-by-step onboarding process
Identity verification methods and documents collected
Customer risk profiling and classification
Description of monitoring systems and controls
Rules or scenarios used to detect unusual or suspicious activity
Escalation and review procedures
Internal reporting workflow
Designated compliance officer or responsible person
Ability to report suspicious transactions to relevant authorities
You must submit a Responsible Gaming Policy that includes:
Age verification and prevention of underage gambling
Player protection measures
Deposit, betting, and loss limits
Self-exclusion mechanisms
Identification and management of problem gambling behavior
Provide a clear overview of your business:
Description of betting services and platform
Customer journey from registration to payment and withdrawal
Payment flows, including deposits and payouts
Full disclosure of any third-party processors, aggregators, or sub-merchants
Use of PayChangu for undisclosed third-party processing is not permitted.
Provide realistic estimates of:
Monthly transaction volumes and values
Average transaction size
Customer activity patterns
Geographic location of users
This information will be used to configure monitoring thresholds and risk controls.
Full disclosure of beneficial owners
Details of directors and senior management
Identification documents for key persons
Declaration of any politically exposed persons
Proof of domain ownership and control
Description of platform and integration method
Confirmation of secure integration with PayChangu systems
Controls to prevent misuse of your account
Policies alone are not sufficient. You must demonstrate that controls are operational:
Screenshots or system evidence of KYC and monitoring controls
Sample customer onboarding journey
Examples of limits, alerts, or restrictions applied
PayChangu will apply enhanced due diligence to all betting operators.
Additional documentation or clarification may be requested at any stage.
Independent verification of operations may be conducted.
Once onboarded, you must:
Maintain a valid MAGLA licence at all times
Notify PayChangu of any material changes in operations or ownership
Comply with ongoing monitoring and review requirements
PayChangu reserves the right to:
Request additional documentation at any stage
Decline onboarding where risk is assessed as unacceptable
Suspend or terminate services in cases of non-compliance, misrepresentation, or suspicious activity
Meeting these requirements ensures efficient onboarding and alignment with Malawi’s legal and regulatory framework.