Zimbabwe Regulator Reports $1.89m Revenue in 2025 Amid Modernization Plans

Zimbabwe’s Lotteries and Gaming Board has reported revenue of ZiG47.97 million (US$1.89 million) for 2025, alongside an operational surplus of ZiG2.48 million (US$97,800).

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Chief executive Godfrey Mutobaya announced the figures at the regulator’s Fifth Annual General Meeting in Harare on August 4, where the Board presented its annual performance and outlined reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of the gambling sector.

The year was marked by both financial growth and enforcement activity. Mutobaya revealed that joint operations with law enforcement led to 29 arrests and the seizure of 94 illegal gaming machines, which were later destroyed under court orders.

He also highlighted institutional changes, including the recruitment of ten new staff across compliance, finance, procurement, and human resources to support the regulator’s expanding mandate.

Board chairperson Eugenia Chidhakwa added that the regulator had reached full compliance with corporate governance requirements, appointed a substantive chief executive, and established seven committees to improve accountability. These steps, she said, were part of a broader modernization plan designed to bring Zimbabwe’s gambling regulation in line with international standards.

Real-time gaming monitoring also in the works

The Zimbabwean regulator is also preparing to strengthen its oversight with new technology. Chidhakwa said the regulator plans to roll out a real-time Gaming Management System that will allow closer monitoring of operators and improve the accuracy of revenue reporting.

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The system is part of a wider modernization effort that includes amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act, which are currently being processed by government to update the legal framework governing the sector.

These reforms are being driven by concerns over the rise of illegal online gambling and the risks it poses, particularly to young people.

Chidhakwa explained that stronger technological controls, combined with cooperation among stakeholders, would help reduce gambling-related harm and keep unlicensed operators in check.

At the same meeting, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe urged operators to comply fully with existing laws and to prioritize consumer protection. He warned that illegal gambling undermines state revenue and exposes players to exploitation.

Kazembe also called for stronger responsible-gambling measures, stressing that vulnerable customers must be shielded from harm as the industry expands under new rules.

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Source: Focus Gaming News