Is gambling legal in Tanzania? In short: on Mainland Tanzania, licensed gambling is legal. The Gaming Act (Cap. 41, Revised Edition 2019) puts casinos, sports betting, lotteries, slot machines and internet gaming under a single licensing system run by the Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT). Running a gaming business without a licence is an offence, and players must be at least 18.
If you are moving from China, keep three things apart: what Tanzanian law allows, how winnings are taxed locally, and the fact that Chinese law on organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad still applies when you are overseas. Zanzibar is also not covered by the same law as the mainland, so readers travelling or working there should check separately. This page covers regulation and tax only, does not promote any operator, and is current as of October 2026.
Legal framework: legal on the mainland, Zanzibar handled separately
The Gaming Act dates from 2003. Section 2 states that it “shall apply to all gaming activities in Mainland Tanzania”. Section 13 bars carrying on a gaming business without a licence, and section 77 makes conducting a gaming operation without a valid licence an offence punishable by a fine or up to 12 months in prison.
Zanzibar is semi-autonomous and the mainland Gaming Act does not apply there. We could not verify from official sources which body licenses gambling in Zanzibar or which law applies, so check with the local authorities or your hotel before playing there. For visas, residence and other basics, start with our Tanzania country guide.
Regulator and licensing
Under sections 7 and 16 of the Gaming Act, the GBT grants, suspends, withdraws and amends gaming licences. It is based in Dar es Salaam, and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) collects the tax. The GBT publishes its registers by category. As of October 2026 the casino register lists 13 land-based casinos, in places including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma and Mwanza. The sports betting register lists 8 land-based and 34 online operators. Since 10 April 2026 the GBT has stopped issuing slot machine / route operation licences to new applicants while it finishes an electronic monitoring system, and it has not announced an end date. For land-based venues, see casinos in Tanzania.
| Licence | Annual licence fee (TZS) | Approx. CNY |
|---|---|---|
| Casino (Dar es Salaam) | 110,000,000 | ≈ 279,000 |
| Casino (other regions) | 60,000,000 | ≈ 152,000 |
| Internet casino | 110,000,000 | ≈ 279,000 |
| Internet sports betting | 90,000,000 | ≈ 228,000 |
| Online virtual games | 30,000,000 | ≈ 76,000 |
| National lottery | 140,000,000 | ≈ 355,000 |
Source: GBT licence fee schedule (application fees are extra, mostly TZS 1,000,000). Converted at CNY 1 ≈ TZS 394.9 (fxfeed.io, 28 October 2026), for reference only.
Online gambling: only GBT-licensed sites are legal
Online gambling is governed by the Gaming (Internet Gaming) Regulations, 2022 (GN No. 478T), in force since 1 July 2022. Key requirements:
- The licensee’s primary server must normally be in Mainland Tanzania. If the Board approves hosting abroad, a replica server must be installed on the mainland (reg. 9).
- No wagers may be accepted until the player’s identity is verified, for example with a passport or national ID (reg. 13).
- Players can self-exclude and cannot be reinstated for six months unless the Board approves otherwise (reg. 48).
- Players can set deposit and wager limits. Raising or removing a limit takes effect only after seven calendar days (reg. 50).
Offshore sites without a GBT licence are not bound by these rules, and players have no local regulator to turn to in a dispute. For more on online regulation, see online gambling in Tanzania.
Age limits and what foreigners should know
Section 70 of the Gaming Act prohibits allowing anyone under 18 to linger in gaming premises, play, place wagers or collect winnings. The penalty is a fine of TZS 1–5 million (about CNY 2,500–12,700), up to 12 months in prison, or both. The internet regulations also require platforms to keep minors out.
This matters especially for Chinese readers planning to do business in Tanzania. According to media reports, the Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025 (GN No. 487A), published on 28 July 2025, bars foreigners from operating gaming machines outside casinos. Penalties reportedly include a minimum fine of TZS 10 million (about CNY 25,000), six months in prison and revocation of the visa or residence permit. This comes from trade media, so rely on the gazetted text.
Gambling tax: withholding on winnings and operator rates
Tanzania taxes winnings through a gaming tax that the operator withholds. The TRA publishes the current rates below. According to EY and others, the 13% (land-based casino) and 12% (sports betting) winnings rates were set by the Finance Act, 2025 and have applied since 1 July 2025.
| Activity | Tax on GGR | Tax on winnings (withheld) |
|---|---|---|
| Land-based casino | 18% | 13% |
| Internet casino | 25% | 15% |
| Sports betting | 25% | 12% |
| SMS lottery | 25% | 15% |
| National lottery | 20% | 15% |
| Virtual games | 10% | 15% |
| Slot machines | TZS 100,000 per machine per month | Not listed |
The 2026/27 budget proposed a 5% excise duty on the value of bets. The government withdrew it when it revised the Finance Bill in June 2026, according to Daily News and TanzaniaInvest. The Finance Bill, 2026 published by Parliament contains no changes to the tax on winnings. Separately, the Finance Act, 2025 introduced a 10% withholding tax on commissions from gaming advertising and promotion. For your own tax position, check the latest TRA notices.
Advertising rules
The GBT Advertising Code of Practice took effect on approval on 19 June 2023. Key points:
- No gaming ads on radio or TV between 6.00am and 2.00pm, Monday to Friday (including holidays), except on dedicated sports channels.
- No ads just before, during or just after news, live events of national interest or parliamentary sessions.
- Every ad must carry a responsible gaming message, and radio ads must end with the GBT toll-free number.
- Ads may not show children taking part, suggest that winning is certain, or offer credits or vouchers as an inducement.
- Unsolicited promotional calls or texts need the GBT’s prior written approval.
Responsible gambling and where to get help
The GBT’s responsible gaming page states that gaming is “18+ only”. It advises treating gaming as paid entertainment, playing only with money you can afford to lose, and never gambling while intoxicated. The GBT toll-free number is 0800 110 051. In July 2026 the GBT said it can temporarily restrict players who gamble excessively and offer them counselling, and that players can ask to be self-excluded. See the GBT responsible gaming page.
If you or a family member find betting hard to control, set a deposit limit or self-exclude on a licensed platform first, then contact the GBT line or a professional counselling service at home.
For PRC citizens: Chinese law still applies
Amendment XI to the PRC Criminal Law took effect on 1 March 2021 and added a third paragraph to Article 303: organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad, where the amounts are huge or other circumstances are serious, is punished under the rules for running a gambling house (up to ten years in prison plus a fine). The article targets organising or recruiting PRC citizens to gamble abroad and running gambling houses. Under the same Article 303, gathering people to gamble for profit, or making gambling one’s occupation, is also a crime. This page is general information, not legal advice; see our disclaimer. For documents, foreign exchange and other preparation before you go, see Leaving China.
To compare rules elsewhere in East and Southern Africa, see gambling laws in Kenya, gambling laws in Zambia and gambling laws in South Africa.
FAQ
Is gambling legal in Tanzania?
On Mainland Tanzania, GBT-licensed casinos, sports betting, lotteries and online gaming are legal. Unlicensed operation is illegal. Zanzibar is not covered by the mainland Gaming Act.
Can foreign tourists enter casinos?
We found no rule that restricts entry by nationality. You must be 18 or over and may be asked to show your passport for identity registration.
Are winnings taxed?
Yes. The operator withholds the tax: 13% for land-based casinos, 12% for sports betting and 15% for other categories (TRA, as of October 2026).
Does playing in a Tanzanian casino break Chinese law?
Article 303 mainly targets organising or recruiting PRC citizens to gamble abroad and running gambling houses, as well as gambling for profit with others or as an occupation. Individual cases vary, so consult a lawyer licensed in China.
Sources
- Gaming Act, Cap. 41 (R.E. 2019) – TanzLII (accessed October 2026)
- Gaming Board of Tanzania – Licence fees (accessed October 2026)
- Gaming Board of Tanzania – Licensed casino operators (accessed October 2026)
- Gaming Board of Tanzania – Licensed sports betting operators (accessed October 2026)
- GN No. 478T – The Gaming (Internet Gaming) Regulations, 2022 (accessed October 2026)
- Gaming Board of Tanzania – Advertising Code of Practice (2023) (accessed October 2026)
- Gaming Board of Tanzania – Responsible Gaming (accessed October 2026)
- GBT – Suspension on issuance of new slot machine / route operation licences (10 Apr 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority – Gaming Tax (accessed October 2026)
- EY – Tanzanian Finance Act, 2025 analysis (accessed October 2026)
- Parliament of Tanzania – The Finance Bill, 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- Daily News – Govt revises Finance Bill, eases tax burden (25 Jun 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- TanzaniaInvest – Finance Bill 2026 tax changes (26 Jun 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Daily News – Gaming sector contributes 922bn/- in tax revenue over five years (13 Aug 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- Focus Gaming News – Tanzania ban targets foreigners operating slot machines (31 Jul 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- Focus Gaming News – GBT temporary betting restrictions (17 Jul 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- 中国新闻网 – 刑法修正案（十一）3月1日起施行（2021年2月23日） (accessed October 2026)
- fxfeed.io – CNY/TZS exchange rate (28 Oct 2026) (accessed October 2026)
