Gambling and online casinos in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is one of the most prominent countries in Africa, where gambling is legal and under strict state control.

The gambling industry plays an important economic role here: it supports tourism, creates jobs and attracts investment.

Although online gambling is still in active development, the country is already considered a promising market for casino and betting operators.

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Historical context

Gambling in Zimbabwe began to develop in the middle of the 20th century -

the first casinos appeared in Victoria Falls and Harare during the British colonial administration.

After independence in 1980, the gambling industry received official recognition, and in the 2000s, legislation was created to regulate all forms of gambling, including the online segment.

In 2010, the government established the Gaming Board of Zimbabwe (GBZ) -

the central authority responsible for licensing, control and tax reporting of operators.

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Legislation and regulation

Gambling is regulated by the Lotteries and Gaming Act (Chapter 10:26).

This document defines the licensing procedure for casinos, bookmakers, bingo halls and lotteries.

The regulator is the Gaming Board of Zimbabwe (GBZ), subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior and Cultural Heritage.

The main provisions of the law:

• gambling is allowed with a GBZ licence;
• license term - 5 years;
• gross income tax (GGR) - 15-20%;
• the minimum age of a player is 18 years;
• gambling advertising requires GBZ permission;
• online gambling is only allowed through licensed operators.

The state actively uses income from the gambling business for the development of tourism, sports and infrastructure.

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Legal forms of gambling

Zimbabwe offers a wide range of legal gambling entertainment:

• land-based casinos and gaming clubs;
• bookmakers (including online betting);
• the Zimbabwe Lottery;
• bingo halls and clubs;
• virtual and live games.

Major operators:

• Casinos of Zimbabwe Group - a chain of casinos throughout the country;
• Monomotapa Casino Harare is a popular urban casino;
• Kingdom Casino Victoria Falls is one of the tourist attractions;
• Premier Bet Zimbabwe and BetLion are leading online bookmakers;
• ZimLotto is a national lottery.

Tourism plays a key role, with many casinos located near Victoria Falls and geared towards international visitors.

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Online gambling

Online gambling is not prohibited in Zimbabwe, but requires a separate license.

The government sees the digital sector as a new direction for economic growth, so it is working to create uniform legislation for Internet operators.

Today, the following are actively developing:

• online sports and esports betting;
• Internet casinos with slots and board games;
• mobile lotteries and virtual leagues.

Popular payment systems:

• EcoCash, Telecash, OneMoney - mobile wallets;
• bank cards (CBZ Bank, Stanbic, ZB Bank);
• cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT) - not regulated, but used by players.

According to the Africa Gaming Market Review 2024, there are more than 400,000 active online players in Zimbabwe, and the market is estimated at $100 million per year.

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Economic role

Gambling is one of the stable sources of tax revenue for Zimbabwe's economy.

The sector generates income not only through casinos, but also through tourism, hospitality and advertising partnerships.

Key indicators (2024):

• total market volume - about $250 million;
• tax revenues - $20 million;
• contribution to GDP - about 1%;
• about 4,000 jobs in casinos, lotteries and IT.

GBZ also oversees responsible gambling programs and funds educational initiatives aimed at preventing addiction.

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Social and cultural context

Zimbabwe is a country with a Christian culture, so public perception of gambling is low-key but neutral.

The government emphasizes that gambling should remain entertainment, not risk.

The regulator requires operators to implement:

• rate and deposit limits;
• self-exclusion tools;
• informing about addiction risks.

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Prospects

Zimbabwe is slowly emerging as a new growth point for African online gambling.

The state is developing amendments that should legalize and structure the market for online games.

Key areas of development:

• creation of a national eGaming Zimbabwe license;
• implementation of digital transaction control and KYC checks;
• the development of gambling tourism in Victoria Falls and Harare;
• involvement of international operators and fintech companies.

Forecast: by 2030, the gambling market in Zimbabwe could reach $400 million, and the online segment will occupy up to 65% of the entire industry.

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Zimbabwe is one of the more mature African gambling jurisdictions.

It combines strict control, legal transparency and high tourist attractiveness.

Online games are becoming a natural continuation of the traditional industry, and the state sees this as a source of development for the digital economy.