Online bingo in Zimbabwe exists in a regulatory gray area, as it is not explicitly regulated under the current Lotteries and Gaming Act (Chapter 10:26), which was enacted in 1998 and came into effect in 2000 (1). The Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB) serves as the primary regulatory authority for all gambling activities in Zimbabwe, including land-based casinos, lotteries, and sports betting, but online gambling remains largely unaddressed by current legislation (1). While the government has acknowledged the need to update gambling laws to address the growing online gaming sector, no comprehensive regulatory framework for online bingo has been formally implemented to date (2).
Land-based bingo and gaming activities in Zimbabwe require valid licenses from the LGB, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and enforces compliance with strict regulatory standards (2). Operators must meet financial requirements and pass background investigations to obtain licenses (1). The minimum legal age for gambling in Zimbabwe is 18 years across all forms of gambling activities (2). In January 2025, Zimbabwe introduced a 10 percent withholding tax on gross sports betting winnings from both land-based and virtual sports betting platforms, affecting the broader gambling sector (1).
"Online gambling is quite a new field in the Zimbabwean market, but the government has already appreciated its great potential. At the same time, an online casino should be licensed and adhere to all the local regulations, just like its land-based counterpart."
Many Zimbabwean residents access offshore online bingo platforms despite their legal status remaining unclear under local law, exposing players to unregulated operators without consumer protections (2). The Zimbabwean government has committed to amending the Lotteries and Gaming Act to provide explicit provisions for regulated online gambling, including online bingo, to enhance revenue collection and reduce money laundering (1). The LGB conducts regular compliance checks and enforcement actions against unlicensed gambling operations, working with law enforcement agencies to block access to unauthorized offshore sites, though implementation challenges persist in the rapidly evolving digital gambling environment (2).
Source:
https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-africa/zimbabwe
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-zimbabwe/
Last updated: 01-11-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
