Zimbabwe: Gambling laws, betting and lotteries

Legal overview

Legal overview

Zimbabwe regulates casinos, bookmakers and lotteries through the Lotteries and Gaming Board under the Lotteries and Gaming Act. The Board also presents online gambling as an activity subject to its age and operator controls.

Regulatory developments

Finance Act 2025 introduced express definitions for virtual casinos and virtual lotteries. Because the accessible consolidated gaming Act is older, individual remote licences should still be verified directly with the Board.

Responsible gambling

Responsible gambling

The Board states that the minimum age is 18 for casinos, betting shops, horse racing and online gambling and recommends limits and self-exclusion.

Regulated

Casino

Current position

Zimbabwe's Board licenses casino operations under the Lotteries and Gaming Act. Recent legislation also recognises the concept of a virtual casino, but that tax definition should not be mistaken for proof that every online casino is authorised. A Zimbabwe casino page should verify the operator directly with the Board and distinguish a premises licence from remote permission. The accessible consolidated Act is older than the 2025 change, so the database retains a medium-confidence flag for online scope.

Licensing

Casino premises require a licence from the Lotteries and Gaming Board.

Online availability

The Board applies its under-age controls to online gambling, while 2025 legislation now recognises virtual casinos; individual authorisation still requires verification.

Advertising and commercial links

Only Board-authorised operators should be presented as legal.

Responsible gambling

Casino coverage should state 18+, advise readers to verify the licence and reproduce the Board's practical messages on limits, self-exclusion and not chasing losses.

Regulated

Sports betting

Current position

Sports bookmakers in Zimbabwe require Lotteries and Gaming Board approval. For an online comparison, a statement on an operator's own footer is useful evidence but not the final check; the licence and permitted channel should be confirmed with the Board. Zimbabwe's recent statutory treatment of virtual gambling shows that the remote market is evolving, which makes review dates particularly important. Rankings should not mix shops, websites and casino products under a single bookmaker label.

Licensing

Bookmakers and sports-betting activity are licensed by the Board.

Online availability

The Board includes online gambling in its age-control guidance; the operator's remote authority should be checked individually.

Advertising and commercial links

Licence claims should be traceable to the Board and promotions must exclude minors.

Responsible gambling

Betting pages should enforce 18+, warn that gambling is not a way to make money, and present spending limits and self-exclusion before high-frequency offers.

Restricted

Predictions

Current position

Zimbabwe-facing predictions should be structured as analysis, not as a hidden gambling product. A free forecast can discuss form and probability, but accepting money on the outcome, running a prize pool or routing readers into an unverified operator changes the legal and consumer-risk context. The page should identify sponsorship, avoid absolute claims and record the Board evidence for every betting destination. This is especially important while the statutory treatment of virtual gambling continues to develop.

Licensing

Independent free commentary is distinct from accepting bets, while paid pools or prize forecasts can fall within betting or lottery controls.

Online availability

Commercial prediction products connected to remote wagering require licence verification.

Advertising and commercial links

Affiliate relationships and paid placement should be disclosed and limited to authorised activity.

Responsible gambling

Prediction pages should say plainly that forecasts can be wrong, restrict betting-linked sections to adults and never frame recovery betting as a rational strategy.

Regulated

Lotteries

Current position

Zimbabwe's Lotteries and Gaming Act created a dedicated Board and fund and provides the framework for lottery licensing. Finance Act 2025 now also defines a virtual lottery, covering online ticket buying or electronic draws. That recognition does not make an unidentified website lawful. A Zimbabwe lottery page should verify the organiser with the Board, specify whether the product is physical or virtual, and publish the entry, draw and prize-claim rules in a form readers can check.

Licensing

The Board regulates and licenses national and other lottery operations.

Online availability

Virtual lotteries are recognised in 2025 legislation, but each operator still needs verifiable authority.

Advertising and commercial links

A lottery should not be promoted without identifying the organiser, licence and prize rules.

Responsible gambling

Lottery content should be 18+, avoid describing tickets as savings or income and repeat the Board's advice to set a spending limit and never chase losses.

Regulators and contacts

Regulators and contacts

Primary sources

Primary sources

• Lotteries and Gaming Act Chapter 10:26 — Zimbabwe Legal Information Institute
• Board mandate, services and contact information — Lotteries and Gaming Board of Zimbabwe
• Finance Act 2025 — Parliament of Zimbabwe via Veritas
• Underage and responsible gambling guidance — Lotteries and Gaming Board of Zimbabwe