History of Gambling in Zimbabwe
The country has a long and diverse history of gambling. The oldest form of gambling has to be horse racing. And it doesn't just end there. Zimbabwean people go crazy over sports betting. Besides horse racing, you have dog racing and lotteries, which were also widely popular.
Once upon a time, gambling was seen in a negative light. But as the years have progressed, so have the thought process of the people. Zimbabwe now welcomes gambling in all of its forms with open arms.
Zimbabwe is a land of natural wonders. You have the Eastern Highlands, the widely known Zambezi River. And last but most definitely not least, Victoria Falls. So, it makes sense that the country will have many tourists each year. And what do tourists love to do when they're in Africa? That's right, gamble!
Zimbabwe Gambling Law
Since betting and gambling are both similar in popularity, there was always a need to regulate these activities. That's why the Lotteries and Gambling Act was established in 2000. Under this act, all forms of gambling, betting, lotteries, and casinos are legal.
Under this act, the Lotteries and Gambling Board was established. This board controls and regulates all gambling activities in the country. The board also issues licenses to the operators required to operate legally within Zimbabwe.
Online gambling does not fall under this act, and it's not regulated either. So, playing at offshore online casinos is not legal or illegal. Players can always choose to play at any casino that accepts Zimbabwean players.
Land-Based Casinos in Zimbabwe
Since land-based casinos are legalized, you can expect several options. There are over 20 casinos in Zimbabwe, and most of these in the major cities. You can find 5 of these land-based casinos in Harare's capital city. Players can enjoy various games at these land-based casinos in Zimbabwe.
The Future of Online Gambling in Zimbabwe
You can look at the internet penetration rate to better understand online gambling in Zimbabwe. As of 2022, it's currently 30.6%, which is nothing to gloss over. This number tells us that if online gambling were legalized, it would not lack players.
But as of now, online gambling is yet to be regulated. But that hasn't stopped players from visiting offshore casinos. The most money from the gambling sector is due to online gambling. Several operators accept Zimbabwean players, so you should not have a hard time looking for one.
Local Banking Options
Zimbabwean players should also check what kind of payment methods are being supported by the casino. It's best if the casino has payment supported for local payment methods like credit/debit cards or bank transfers. These are the most convenient, and you should always consider a casino that offers these.
If the casino doesn't have them, look for other popular payment methods. For example, e-wallets, e-checks, and payments like pay-by-phone casinos are also very good.
Zimbabwe Casinos by Category
With many casinos in Zimbabwe to choose from, we have ranked 10 of the best online casinos according to their best features. The full list is below:
Conclusion
Now that we've reached the end of this article, do we recommend online casinos in Zimbabwe? Yes, we do. The gambling situation in the country is quite good compared to other countries in the world. And all forms of gambling have a significant player base too. So, you can expect some fun times if you're looking to gamble in Zimbabwe.
As for online casinos, since they are still unregulated, players don't have to feel restricted in accessing the online sites. While no one is officially encouraging this, it remains a major contributing factor to the gambling industry in Zimbabwe.
FAQs
Having questions is understandable, and it's good to have questions too. So here are some answers to the most common questions asked by players.