Tanzania's licensed gambling sector roughly doubled its revenue to about TSh260 billion in the most recent reporting period — and mobile betting is the reason.
Tanzania Gambling Revenue Doubles to TSh260 Billion
The number, around €86 million, comes from industry reports published in April 2026 and covers the most recent reporting period available. One important qualifier: it reflects licensed activity only, meaning operators regulated by the Gaming Board of Tanzania. Illegal betting machines sit outside that total, so the true size of the market is likely larger than the headline suggests. More background sits in our Tanzania gambling news coverage.
What Is Driving Growth in Tanzania's Gambling Revenue?
Mobile money is the engine. M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa and Airtel Money let Tanzanians deposit and withdraw without a bank account, while affordable smartphones have put betting apps within reach of far more people. Operators built their local products around that behaviour — low minimum stakes and instant payouts to mobile wallets. Compare how that plays out across mobile casinos that run on these rails. The friction that once kept small-stake betting marginal has largely gone.
How Regulators Are Responding to the Growth
The Gaming Board of Tanzania has kept its freeze on new slot-machine licences in place and signed an agreement with local government authorities to share inspection data and act against unlicensed premises. On tax, the 2026/27 budget proposals introduce a 5% excise duty on betting stakes, expected to raise roughly TZS 74.5 billion. Gross gaming revenue is taxed at 25%, with a 15% rate applying to casinos following the 2021 change. All tax figures are as reported by industry press — confirm current rates with the Gaming Board or the Tanzania Revenue Authority, since rules change often. See how gambling winnings are taxed in Tanzania for the player-side view.
The Sh300 Billion Target and the Illegal Machine Problem
Against this growth, the sector has set its sights on a Sh300 billion revenue target. The Citizen reported in September 2026 that unlicensed betting machines are the main obstacle: they pay no tax, offer no consumer protection, and winnings on them may not be honoured. The Tanzania Gaming Association, which speaks for licensed operators, has argued for a stable, predictable framework rather than one that pushes bettors toward unlicensed premises.
What the Revenue Growth Means for Tanzanian Players
Growth is a reason to prefer licensed, taxed operators — the ones you can verify on the Gaming Board's public register. They carry the licence, the tax and the responsible-gambling rules. Use deposit limits and self-exclusion if play stops feeling like entertainment. 18+ only, and bet within a budget you can afford to lose.