Mozambique's cabinet approved a legal framework for online gambling in mid-July. The new concession regime covers casino-type games delivered through electronic platforms and operates separately from the land-based casino licensing system. Sports betting and lotteries already ran under separate legislation.
The decision follows a sharp drop in tax revenue from physical casinos. In 2025 the budget collected MZN359.5 million ($5.6 million), down 7.3% year-on-year and only 54% of the planned MZN666.1 million. The government attributed the shortfall to growth in online gambling, which cut traffic to land-based halls.
Economy minister Basílio Muhate said after a 31 July meeting with the Online Gaming and Betting Association that authorities would continue fighting illegal operators and strengthen oversight through the General Inspectorate of Games (IGJ). Economist Júlio Saramala called on IGJ to publish inspection criteria and annual reports, warning that social harm from gambling among young people could outweigh tax gains.
Association president Danilo Mussá said the new framework would provide a tool to block foreign sites operating without paying tax. He plans to ask the National Institute of Information Technologies (INTIC) to shut down access to offshore platforms.
But the government and IGJ have yet to publish the cost of a concession, gaming tax rates, capital requirements, the application procedure or technical standards. No timeline for licensing has been announced. The framework exists, but the path to market remains unclear.
