Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa, and neighbors Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, South Africa. and Eswatini to the south, has rapidly grown its gambling industry after legalizing it in 1994. This article introduces Mozambique bookmakers and the legal framework for sports betting, focusing on the historical background of betting legislation, regulatory bodies, legal and prohibited activities and types of bets.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Gambling Laws in Mozambique
Independence and Early Years
- 1975: Mozambique, which had been a Portuguese colony finally got its independence. Unfortunately, the Portuguese gambling laws were not passed, which made games of chance practically devoid of regulation.
- 1994: The year in which the gambling was legalized and this was made possible following the passing of the 1994 Gambling Act (Lei n. ° 8/94, de 14 de Setembro). This act enforced very stringent rules on the conventional casino houses and excluded online casinos which continued to be prohibited.
Modernization of Gambling Laws
- 2010: The Decree number 64/2010 paved the way for legalizing the online gambling. This reform of the legislation was to update the gambling environment and permit physical as well as online-based bookmakers and casinos.
- 2017: The 2017 gaming and gambling law (Decreto n. º 4/20177) repealed the 2010 decree and removed many prior limitations and set quite a liberal and business-friendly regime.
Mozambique Gaming Regulatory Authority
The gambling industry in Mozambique is regulated by multiple agencies to ensure compliance and fair play:
- Mozambican General Gaming Inspectorate (Inspecção-Geral de Jogos): It is a department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance which deals with the licensing of gambling and ensuring that all the standards are met.
- General Gaming Inspection: The Minister of Finance in the supervision of regulation, monitoring and overseeing all gambling activities with or without social and amusement games.
- Minister of Tourism: It is with the National Gaming Commission that this office is involved in the provision of public tenders for the award of casino operations and licenses.
Licensing and Charges for Mozambique Bookmakers
Gambling licences in Mozambique are awarded by the Mozambican General Gaming Inspectorate. Even though online gambling was approved in 2010, there is not much information about certain permit requirements and charges. However, several key points about licensing and fees include:
- Casino Licensing: At the beginning the casinos were allowed to be built only in conjunction with 250 room hotels. This was later changed to mean that casinos could be constructed on the premises of 4+ star hotels regardless of their area size.
- Investment Requirements: The minimum investment for a casino was set at $15 million but was cut down to $8 million while for the slot halls and some areas outside Maputo it was even less.
- Slot Halls: Before, these were prohibited; however, slot halls are allowed to work with a license, and it is not necessary for them to be based in hotels.
The Analysis of the Taxation on Gambling in Mozambique
Gambling establishments in Mozambique are charged with a special tax on gambling; this tax rate is not fixed and depends with the license or concession agreement that has been issued to the gambling business and this depends with size and location of the business. There is also the corporate tax which is at 32% and other taxes applicable.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
Mozambique’s gambling laws allow a variety of betting types, although some restrictions apply:
- Allowed Bets: Comprises of the casino games, slot machines, sports betting, virtual games, lotteries, bingo and mutual betting.
- Prohibited Bets: Some of the bet types that encourage unethical practices or are considered as predatory are prohibited, however, there are detailed rules that explain such prohibitions depending on the situation.
- Mozambique Sports Betting: Mozambique sports betting is still relatively new, although it is rapidly growing because of the relaxed legal environment and growing interest.
Social and Amusement Games
Mozambique has also legal provisions on social and amusement games which are set by the Social Games and Amusement Law (Law no. 9/2012 of 8 February) and the relevant decrees (Decree no. 17/2012 of 5 July). These games include:
- Bingo
- Lotteries (totobola, totoloto, lotto)
- Raffles
- Mutual betting
- Contests
- Virtual games
- Billiards and table football
- Giveways and fun games
The activities of these games are permitted by the Minister of Finance and the licensing is done by the General Gaming Inspection.
Regulatory Framework and Milestones
It has to be noted that the overhaul in the year 2010 and 2017 defined the future of sports betting in Mozambique.
- 2010 Decree 64/2010: The legislation of online sports betting, which created new business prospects for both home-grown and foreign investors.
- 2017 Gaming and Gambling Law: Introduce new rules that made the business environment better and lifted many earlier imposed restrictions.
- Sporting Event Glory Milestones:
- 2010: Online sports betting; its legalization
- 2017: Expansion of the liberal gambling laws
- Entry of several international betting operators in to Mozambique.
- High levels of turnout in the population with regard to sports betting activities.
Famous Sports to Place a Bet On
Football is the most popular sport that people use to place their bets in Mozambique and this is followed by basketball and volleyball. Some of the focal events that draw big stakes include; domestic leagues, international championships, and world sporting events.
Conclusion
In this paper, the analysis of the Mozambique’s gambling environment with a specific focus on the bookmakers and sports betting will be discussed with an emphasis on the changes that have taken place since 1994. This evolution from a slow, traditional, and confined gambling sector into a more open and online-based structure shows the country’s intent towards the development of the gambling industry. Thus, with the growth of Mozambique, it presents potential for the high net worth individuals and business ventures to invest in the country’s market.
FAQ of Mozambique Bookmakers
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