Zimbabwe, Senegal, Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria introduce sweeping fiscal and legislative changes, signalling a challenging year ahead for operators and players.
A wave of major tax reforms is reshaping Africa’s gambling landscape as multiple countries move to tighten regulations, increase government revenue and reshape industry operations. Zimbabwe and Senegal are the latest nations to significantly elevate their tax frameworks, joining a broader continental trend that is likely to define the sector’s trajectory heading into 2026.
In Zimbabwe, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube used the country’s national budget announcement to confirm steep tax hikes aimed at capturing more value from the booming online gambling market. Gambling taxes for operators will rise dramatically from 3% to 20%, while taxes on player winnings will jump from 10% to 25%. The shift represents one of the most substantial regulatory tightenings in the region. Once considered one of Africa’s highest-potential growth markets, Zimbabwe’s gambling sector now faces a markedly tougher operating environment. Ncube has framed the increases as measures to ensure fairness and strengthen economic returns for the state.
Senegal is adopting a similar stance, introducing a 20% tax on player winnings as part of its own move to reinforce regulatory control. This alignment with Zimbabwe reflects a broader push across Africa to recalibrate gambling taxation structures.
Zambia and Kenya are also undergoing significant changes, particularly around excise duty. In Zambia, heated opposition emerged following government plans to introduce a 10% excise tax on all betting stakes. Operators BetPawa and Betway sought to halt implementation through legal action, but the Constitutional Court dismissed the attempt. The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has emphasised that the tax is directed at bettor consumption rather than operator revenue. Attempts to secure an interim injunction were rejected, cementing the excise duty’s future.
Kenya, meanwhile, has taken a different approach under the Finance Act 2025. The government abolished the previous 20% withholding tax on winnings and replaced it with a 5% tax on withdrawals made from betting accounts. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates this change will more than double revenue collection, rising from Ksh 5.4 billion to Ksh 11.4 billion. Finance Committee Chairman Kimani Kuria stated the new structure ensures excise duty is captured at the point of transferring money from mobile wallets to betting accounts, targeting virtual operators who previously evaded taxation.
Nigeria may soon join these reforming markets, though its path remains contentious. A proposed bill to harmonise gambling laws across all 36 states has triggered intense backlash, with critics calling it “legislative provocation” and an overreach of federal authority. As Nigeria stands at a crossroads, the future of its gambling framework remains uncertain.
Collectively, these sweeping reforms signal a tougher landscape for operators across Africa, with taxation and regulatory overhaul now central to the continent’s gambling agenda.
