TLDR
- Zimbabwe lawmakers want to raise the levy on licensed bookmakers from 2% to 4% to fund public projects like clinics and schools.
- The proposal follows a parliamentary review of community projects funded by the Lotteries and Gaming Board in several districts.
- Zimbabwe already raised bookmaker tax from 3% to 20% and tax on bettors’ winnings from 10% to 25% in January 2026.
- The new bookmaker tax acts as a final tax, replacing Corporate Income Tax for betting companies and casinos.
- Zimbabwe’s betting industry generated about $120 million in 2023, with over 300,000 active online bettors by 2024.
Zimbabwe’s Parliament is pushing to double the levy on licensed bookmakers from 2% to at least 4%. The move is designed to give the Lotteries and Gaming Board more money for community development projects across the country.
The recommendation came after legislators reviewed LGB-funded work in several districts, including Mutasa, Gutu, Zaka, Lupane, and Kadoma. Lawmakers said the revenue from regulated gaming has already helped improve healthcare and education access in underserved areas.
“The committee recommended that the levy collected from licensed bookmakers be increased from 2 per cent to at least 4 per cent to strengthen the Board’s resource base,” the parliamentary report said, according to NewsDay.
Under the current system, bookmakers pay a 2% levy. Of that, 1.8% goes directly to community projects.
This levy is separate from gambling taxes and other operator obligations. Parliament stressed that the board has expanded beyond its regulatory role and now plays a direct part in reducing travel distances for patients and improving school enrollment.
Gambling Tax Reform Already Underway
The proposed levy increase comes on top of a broader gambling tax overhaul that took effect in January 2026. That reform raised the bookmaker tax from 3% to 20% and increased the tax on bettors’ winnings from 10% to 25%.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced the changes during the 2026 National Budget presentation in Harare. He said the new bookmaker tax would serve as a final tax.
That means betting companies, lotteries, and casino operators no longer pay Corporate Income Tax. The shift represents a 17-percentage-point increase for operators.
“The tax hike is meant to enhance fairness and ensure that the beneficiaries of the sector’s growth also contribute meaningfully to public revenue,” Ncube said at the time.
The reforms reflect a government effort to capture more revenue from a fast-growing industry. Lawmakers appear focused on channeling that money into public services.
Rapid Growth in Zimbabwe’s Betting Market
Zimbabwe’s betting industry has been expanding quickly in recent years. In 2023, the sector generated about $120 million in revenue.
Online platforms accounted for $45 million of that total. By 2024, more than 300,000 people were active online bettors in the country.
Most of those bettors are between 18 and 35 years old. This demographic has driven annual growth of nearly 10% in the sector.
Online betting is now the fastest-growing segment of Zimbabwe’s gambling industry. The shift toward digital play has been a key factor behind the government’s push for higher taxes and levies.
The parliamentary committee noted that LGB-funded projects have improved maternal healthcare and expanded service delivery in communities that previously had limited access. Legislators see the higher levy as a way to scale up those efforts.
The 4% levy proposal still needs to go through the full legislative process before it can take effect. No timeline has been set for a final vote on the measure.
Zimbabwe’s betting market currently has over 300,000 active online users, with the industry posting nearly 10% annual growth driven largely by bettors aged 18 to 35.
