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January 2026 changed the arithmetic for Zimbabwean bettors. The withholding tax on winnings rose from 10% to 25%, and the Bookmakers Tax on operator revenue went from 3% to 20%. Understanding what those numbers mean in practice is the starting point for anything else.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced the changes as part of the 2026 National Budget, effective from 1 January 2026. Two rates moved:
The withholding tax on gross winnings rose from 10% to 25%. Under the new rules, gaming operators must withhold 25% at the point of payout and remit it to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). The Bookmakers Tax on operator gross revenue rose from 3% to 20%.
The gap between licensed and offshore platforms widened sharply as a result. Licensed operators withhold at source; offshore platforms do not withhold anything, which places the full reporting obligation on the player while removing the automatic 25% deduction. That difference is the central fact shaping player behaviour in Zimbabwe this year.
Gambling in Zimbabwe falls under the Lotteries and Gaming Act (Chapter 10:26), administered by the Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB). The Act was drafted in 1998 and ties licensing to physical brick-and-mortar locations. It contains no clear framework for licensing online operations.
As of 2026 no dedicated online betting licence has been issued. The LGB's enforcement activity has focused on unlicensed local businesses rather than on individual players — in April 2026 the Board convened a meeting in Harare to step up action against illegal casinos and unlicensed platforms, citing revenue loss and erosion of public trust in the licensed market.
Players themselves are not the enforcement target. The legal exposure sits with operators.
EcoCash processes an estimated 90% of gambling-related transactions in Zimbabwe, with OneMoney and InnBucks covering most of the remainder. Mobile money withdrawals typically clear in minutes; bank transfers take one to three working days.
One practical caution: EcoCash has periodically restricted gambling-related transactions. That history is worth knowing before funding a full balance — testing with a small deposit first is standard advice among Zimbabwean players for exactly this reason.
The crypto route exists partly because of that friction. USDT on TRC20 settles wallet-to-wallet on-chain, outside the payment rails where restrictions are applied, confirming in one to three minutes for under a dollar in fees. For a market where USD shortages and mobile money restrictions both create real obstacles, that matters more than it does elsewhere.
Deposit limits, loss limits, session timers and self-exclusion are available at most operators covered here, and all of them are switched off until a player switches them on. Where an operator does not verify identity, no external system is monitoring spend against income either — the controls are entirely the player’s to set, and the sensible moment is before a first session rather than after a bad one.
⚠ Support. Gambling carries financial risk and can become compulsive. If gambling is causing financial or personal harm, free and confidential help is available through BeGambleAware.org and GamCare. See our Responsible Gambling Score.
The withholding tax on gambling winnings rose from 10% to 25%, and the Bookmakers Tax on operator gross revenue rose from 3% to 20%. Both took effect 1 January 2026 under the National Budget.
The Lotteries and Gaming Board, under the Lotteries and Gaming Act (Chapter 10:26). The Act dates to 1998 and ties licensing to physical premises, leaving online operations without a clear framework.
Enforcement has consistently targeted unlicensed operators rather than individual players. The LGB's 2026 activity has focused on illegal casinos and unlicensed local businesses.
EcoCash processes the large majority of gambling transactions in Zimbabwe, though it has periodically restricted gambling-related transfers. Testing with a small deposit before funding a full balance is sensible.
A TRC20 transfer settles on-chain rather than through mobile money rails, which sidesteps both transaction restrictions and USD availability issues. Fees stay under a dollar and confirmation takes one to three minutes.