Gambling and online casinos in Malawi

Malawi is a small but actively developing state in southern Africa, where gambling is legal and regulated by state structures.

Despite the modest size of the economy, the country is showing strong growth in the gambling sector -

from offline casinos to online betting and mobile gaming.

Gambling in Malawi is perceived as part of the legal entertainment industry, with the state focusing on transparency, taxation and protecting gamblers from abuse.

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Historical context

Gambling appeared in Malawi back in the 1970s, when the first casinos were opened in Blantyre and Lilongwe.

After the 1996 reforms, the government adopted

Gaming Act 1996, which legalized gambling and created the Gaming Board of Malawi (GBM) -

public authority responsible for licensing and supervision.

Since then, the industry has gradually developed:

• first offline casinos and lotteries, and then, since 2015, online platforms and mobile bookmakers began to appear.

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Legislation and regulation

The main document is Gaming Act (1996), and regulation is carried out through the Gaming Board of Malawi (GBM)

and the Treasury Department.

The main provisions of the law:

• gambling is allowed if licensed;
• licenses are issued for a period of 5 years;
• the minimum age of a player is 18 years;
• gross income tax (GGR) - 20% for operators;
• online gambling licenses are issued only to companies with local registration;
• gambling advertising and sponsorship require GBM approval.

In recent years, the regulator has been actively introducing digital reporting and online control to prevent tax evasion and protect players.

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Legal forms of gambling

Malawi officially allows:

• casinos and gaming clubs;
• bookmakers and online betting;
• lotteries and instant draws;
• virtual and live games;
• entertainment machines and bingo.

The main operators are:

• Marina Casino Blantyre is the largest casino in the country, operating at the Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel;
• Premier Bet Malawi is a leading online bookmaker with branches across the country;
• World Star Betting, BetYetu Malawi, Hollywoodbets;
• National Lottery Malawi has been a state lottery since 2018.

Casinos in Malawi offer classic games - roulette, blackjack, baccarat and machines, and bookmakers are actively developing live betting and virtual matches.

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Online gambling

Online gambling in Malawi is officially permitted and regulated by GBM.

Local operators are required to undergo licensing, and international platforms are allowed through local partners.

Popular destinations:

• online sports and esports betting;
• slots and live casinos;
• virtual leagues and sweepstakes;
• mobile lotteries.

Payment systems:

• Airtel Money, TNM Mpamba - mobile wallets;
• National Bank of Malawi, FDH Bank bank cards;
• cryptocurrencies (outlawed but used informally via P2P).

According to the Southern Africa Gaming Report 2024, about 250,000 players in Malawi regularly use online platforms, and the annual turnover of the digital segment is estimated at $25-30 million.

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Economic role

Gambling plays a prominent role in the country's economy:

• tax revenues in 2023 - $5 million;
• contribution to GDP - about 0.5%;
• employment - up to 2,000 people in the field of casino, IT and marketing;
• support for sports and social programs.

The Malawi government uses some of the gambling taxes to fund education and youth initiatives, including digital skills projects.

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Social and cultural context

Malawi is a predominantly Christian country where attitudes towards gambling are moderately conservative.

Society perceives gambling as a form of recreation, but at the same time emphasizes the importance of responsible play.

The regulator obliges operators to implement:

• limits on rates and deposits;
• Dependency warnings
• hotlines for players.

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Prospects

Malawi is slowly becoming a regional hub for small online gambling operators.

The country has a stable policy and flexible licensing system.

The plans until 2030:

• launching the eGaming Malawi national online license registry;
• legalization of crypto payments;
• the development of gambling tourism on Lake Nyasa;
• integration of fintech and mobile applications into gambling infrastructure.

Forecast: by 2030, the gambling market in Malawi could reach $60 million, of which 70% will be in the online segment.

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Malawi is an example of a balanced and responsible approach to the development of gambling in South African countries.

Legal casinos, lotteries and online platforms operate under strict supervision, and the state receives stable tax revenues.