Mozambique Sets 20 November Start for Online Casino Rules
Mozambique's first dedicated rules for online casinos take effect on 20 November 2026 under Decree No. 61/2026. Operators need a state concession and local ownership, and unlicensed sites can be blocked.
Quick Take
- Decree No. 61/2026 sets the framework for online casinos and takes effect on 20 November 2026 (Focus Gaming News, iGamingToday).
- Operators need a state concession, a company incorporated under Mozambican law, at least 26% Mozambican ownership and share capital of 100 million meticais, about US$1.6 million.
- Licensed sites must use .mz domains. Bets, deposits, prizes and withdrawals must be in meticais through authorised Mozambican institutions, and data must be kept in the country for at least 10 years.
- Telecoms operators and ISPs must act on blocking orders within 48 hours. Rules taking effect is not the same as licensed casinos operating, and neither report names the regulator.
What the Decree Sets
Mozambique approved its first dedicated online gambling framework in July 2026, and Decree No. 61/2026 sets the detailed rules for online casinos. They take effect on 20 November 2026 (Focus Gaming News; iGamingToday).
Who Can Operate
Operators need a state concession and must be incorporated under Mozambican law, with at least 26% Mozambican ownership and minimum share capital of 100 million meticais, about US$1.6 million. Both reports agree on these figures; conversions are theirs and move with exchange rates.
Local Domains, Local Money, Local Data
Licensed platforms must use .mz domains. Bets, deposits, prizes and withdrawals must be handled in meticais, through authorised Mozambican banks or payment providers. Gambling data must be kept in Mozambique for at least 10 years. For crypto casinos the payment rule is the important one: as reported, it points to no crypto on licensed sites, although neither report says so in those words.
Blocking Unlicensed Sites
Telecoms operators and internet providers must put blocking orders into effect within 48 hours of being notified, aimed at unlicensed platforms (Focus Gaming News; iGamingToday).
What It Means for Players
From 20 November, the legal route in Mozambique is a locally licensed site paying in meticais. Offshore sites serving Mozambican players would be unlicensed and could be blocked. Neither report names the regulator or explains how applications work, so it is too early to say how quickly licensed sites will appear. To check any site, use the regulator’s own register where one exists: see how to check a casino licence and our safety checklist.
📌 In our view: Mozambique is following a pattern we see elsewhere: local ownership, local currency and local data. For players that mostly means a smaller licensed choice at first and more blocking of everything else. This is information, not legal advice.
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When do Mozambique's online casino rules start?
On 20 November 2026, under Decree No. 61/2026 (Focus Gaming News; iGamingToday).
What do operators need?
A state concession, a company incorporated in Mozambique, at least 26% Mozambican ownership and 100 million meticais of share capital, about US$1.6 million.
Can licensed sites accept crypto?
The reports say bets, deposits and withdrawals must be in meticais through authorised Mozambican institutions, so crypto does not appear to be allowed on licensed sites.
What happens to unlicensed sites?
Telecoms operators and ISPs must act on blocking orders within 48 hours of notification.
Sources
↗ Focus Gaming News — Mozambique sets November start for online casino rules ↗ iGamingToday — Mozambique online casino regulation set to go live in November18+ only. Gambling laws differ by country and change quickly — check the rules where you live. If gambling stops being fun, BeGambleAware and GamCare offer free, confidential support.