Zambia is located in the southern part of the African continent and it is a land locked country sharing its borders with Tanzania in the North East, Malawi in the East, Mozambique in the South East, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia in the South and Angola in the West. The history of gambling in Zambia is filled with many legal acts and regulations that have been adopted in the course of time. In this paper, an overview of the Zambia gambling laws and legislations is done with focus on the Zambia bookmakers and sports betting.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Gambling in Zambia
Key Milestones
- 1957: Although gambling was made legal in Zambia by the Lotteries Act of 1957, the state owned National Lottery known as Lotto Zambia was created.
- 1958: The Betting Control Act of 1958 legalised sports betting making it the second form of betting to be legalised in Zambia.
- 1964: Zambia got its independence from Britain and after that formed the Republic of Zambia.
- 1992: Casinos have been allowed by the government as from the year 1992 through the Casinos Act.
- 1994: The update on the regulation in the sphere of sports betting was provided by the Betting Act of 1994.
- 2007: The tourism and hospitality act of 2007 was enacted putting into effect some of the provisions of the previous gambling laws, making it the main piece of gambling legislation.
- 2012: Zambia has recently enacted a law regulating online gambling through which companies have to get a gambling license.
Bookmakers Regulatory Agencies
The regulation of gambling in Zambia involves several agencies:
- The ministry of finance and national planning
- The Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
- The Betting Control and Licensing Board of Zambia.
- Ministry of Tourism ( overseeing casinos and casino games).
Types of Gaming Licenses
The following are the different licenses in Zambia in relation to the games and services that the applicants wants to offer. The licenses include:
- Online Casinos
- Sports Betting
- Lotteries
- Slots
It is allowed to get several licenses if the company operates in several areas. They have to follow all the local laws and rules and should fulfill all the conditions for obtaining such permits. The consequence of the violations can result in the revocation of the license by the Gambling Board.
Licensing and Fees of Zambia Bookmakers
Licensing in Zambia is not fully centralized and the information on fees and the regulations is rather scarce on the Internet. However, the term of issuing local permission is generally five years in most of the cases. This gives the companies a time of operation without the need of having to go through the process of renewal every year.
Taxation
According to the 2023 national budget, the gambling tax rates in Zambia are as follows:
- Gambling Tax (Presumptive Tax): 15 percent of the gross gambling revenue was to be paid as tax.
- Online Gambling Tax: As for the gross gambling revenue, 15% of it has to be given to the Commission.
- Sports Betting Tax: This amount is fifteen percent of the gross gambling revenue.
Online Sports Betting Tax:
- Lottery Tax: This contribution is calculated on the basis of gross gambling revenue where 15% has to be contributed.
For players, a 15% withholding tax is applicable on the gambling winnings which is deducted by the companies from the winnings themselves.
Recent Tax Changes
To enhance the participation in the industry, Government shall cut the presumptive tax rate from 25% to 15% for land-based betting firms for the charge year 2023 and 2024. Also, the taxes on the winnings from bets and gaming will be decreased from 20% to 15%.
Detailed Description of Sports Betting
Allowed and Prohibited Bets
Betting Control Act applies to sports betting in Zambia. This federal law was first enacted in 1958 and has been slightly updated several times with the last update happening in 1994. The law sets out rules for sports betting, the kinds of bets that are allowed and the ones that are not allowed. Commonly, the public is allowed to place bets on sports and horses races following the existing laws and regulations.
License and Charges Which Bookmakers Pay
The Betting Control and Licensing Board is an entity of the government that has the responsibility of issuing licenses to persons and companies dealing in bookmakers and betting firms. Such licenses have to be renewed every year by the payment of taxes and fees as may be stipulated.
Famous sports event glory milestone
This paper seeks to outline historical achievements in sports in Zambia. Here are some notable milestones:
- 1988: Kalusha Bwalya became the Africa Footballer of the Year.
- 1996: Samuel Matete got the silver medal in the 400 meter hurdles at the Olympic Games.
- 1989: Joshua “The Black Panther” Mwale has become the new WBC Super Middleweight Champion in the boxing ring.
- 2000: Chileshe Chileshe is a swimmer who clinched a gold medal in the 200m freestyle event at the Olympic Games.
- 2003: Chisamba Lungu was able to clinch the African Basketball Championship.
Conclusion
The gambling laws in Zambia have been changing from time to time to provide a specific format for Zambia bookmakers and sports betting. The country has different types of licenses, and it is evident that there is a clear regulation of gambling in Zambia. The cut down in taxes also adds to the market’s appeal in the current global economy.
FAQ about Zambia Bookmakers
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