Mozambique Builds Separate Framework for Online Casino Market
The new framework separates online casino-style gambling from traditional casino operations. It creates a different concession system for games offered through electronic platforms, computer systems and other digital channels.
Digital Gambling Gets Its Own Rules
The Regulation on the Operation and Practice of Games of Chance or Fortune through Electronic or Computerised Means was approved by Mozambique’s Council of Ministers in July.
Mozambique already regulates sports betting, lotteries, raffles and other gaming products under its existing framework. The new rules introduce a separate category for online games of chance, including casino-style products.
The move comes as authorities look for better control over a market that has already expanded beyond physical venues. The government has linked the decline of casino activity with the growth of online gambling.
Falling Casino Revenue Pushes Reform
Official budget execution data showed that gaming tax revenue from physical casinos reached MZN359.5 million ($5.6 million) in 2025. The result was below the government’s target of MZN666.1 million and lower than the MZN387.7 million collected in 2024.
Mozambican officials said increased online gambling activity had affected visits to traditional casinos. The new framework is therefore aimed at bringing digital operators into a regulated system rather than leaving the market outside government oversight.
Economy Minister Basílio Muhate said enforcement against illegal gambling remains a priority. He also called for stronger inspection and greater transparency from operators working in the sector.
Operators Await Licensing Guidelines
The approval provides the legal foundation for the market, but there are still several practical matters that need to be addressed. Information has not been provided on the costs of concessions, the rate of taxation, technical requirements, the licensing procedure, or minimum capital requirements.
Also, the General Inspectorate of Games (IGJ), which is responsible for gambling control, has not announced a timetable for licensing. Representatives of the industry view the system as a potential method of dealing with offshore gambling sites which accept bets from Mozambican players but do not pay local taxes.
Mozambique’s next steps will decide whether the reform leads to an effective regulated market or remains largely a legal framework. For operators, any market-entry decision will depend on the final licensing scheme.