Tanzania collected TZS307.8 billion (US$116.2 million) in gaming tax during the financial year ending June 2026, with smartphones and digital payments helping shift activity online.
Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) director general James Mbalwe told iGaming Business that digital gambling was driving growth, while illegal websites, unlicensed machines and weaknesses in player protection remained priorities for regulatory action.
Smartphones And Digital Payments Reshape The Gaming Revenue Mix
Mbalwe linked expansion to wider smartphone ownership, easier digital payments and changing consumer habits. Customers can access sports betting and casino games without visiting venues, while payment services simplify deposits and withdrawals.
Before 2016, land-based casinos and slot operations generated the largest revenue share. Online games have since become the leading source, he said.
Tanzania’s young population and familiarity with digital entertainment also support demand. Domestic and foreign private investors can participate in the sector, although the national lottery remains government-owned and privately operated.
Machine Seizures And Cross-Border Websites Require Different Enforcement Responses
GBT seized more than 3,000 illegal slot machines during the last financial year. Mbalwe said enforcement had reduced reported incidents, but some operators relocated machines to remote areas where inspections were harder.
Local government authorities could help identify equipment and report violations because of their presence across the country. Online enforcement presents another difficulty, as unlicensed websites can operate across borders.
GBT works with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority and Police Cybersecurity Bureau to investigate and restrict access. Cooperation with mobile companies also helps identify payment aggregators and other service providers involved in gaming transactions.
Planned Central Database Would Replace Manual Self-Exclusion Arrangements
Current self-exclusion relies on circulating individuals’ details and photographs to gambling operators, so access can be refused. Mbalwe described that manual process as inadequate.
GBT plans an electronic central database enabling operators to identify excluded players in real time. Procurement could involve a public-private partnership, but no launch date has been announced.
He also highlighted limited responsible gambling and player-protection provisions in the Gaming Act, Chapter 41. Although minors are prohibited from gambling, the legislation lacks a more comprehensive protection framework.
Electronic Monitoring And Technical Tools Feature In Coming-Year Priorities
Over the next 12 months, GBT intends to introduce electronic monitoring to improve revenue collection and tackle illegal gambling across physical and online channels.
Developing its own technical tools to prevent unregulated platforms from accessing Tanzania’s market is another priority. These plans accompany the proposed self-exclusion database as the regulator responds to a sector increasingly shaped by digital access.
Tanzania’s higher gaming tax receipts demonstrate the importance of effective oversight as activity moves online. A central exclusion database could address a practical weakness, but operators need clear duties and reliable real-time checks. Enforcement should also follow payment channels and local machine networks.
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