TLDR Zimbabwe lawmakers want to raise the levy on licensed bookmakers from 2% to 4% to fund public projects like clinics and schools. The proposal follows a parliamentary review of community projects funded by the Lotteries and Gaming Board in several districts. Zimbabwe already raised bookmaker tax from 3% to 20% and tax on bettors’ winnings from 10% to 25% in January 2026. The new bookmaker tax acts as a final tax, replacing Corporate Income Tax for betting companies and casinos. Zimbabwe’s betting industry generated about $120 million in 2023, with over 300,000 active online bettors by 2024.
Zimbabwe’s Parliament is pushing to double the levy on licensed bookmakers from 2% to at least 4%. The move is designed to give the Lotteries and Gaming Board more money for community development projects across the country.
The recommendation came after legislators reviewed LGB-funded work in several districts, including Mutasa, Gutu, Zaka, Lupane, and Kadoma. Lawmakers said the revenue from regulated gaming has already helped improve healthcare and education access in underserved areas.
“The committee recommended that the levy collected from licensed bookmakers be increased from 2 per cent to at least 4 per cent to strengthen the Board’s resource base,” the parliamentary report said, according to NewsDay.
Under the current system, bookmakers pay a 2% levy. Of that, 1.8% goes directly to community projects.
This levy is separate from gambling taxes and other operator obligations. Parliament stressed that the board has expanded beyond its regulatory role and now plays a direct part in reducing travel distances for patients and improving school enrollment.
Gambling Tax Reform Already Underway
The proposed levy increase comes on top of a broader gambling tax overhaul that took effect in January 2026. That reform raised the bookmaker tax from 3% to 20% and increased