Gaming Board of Tanzania to use trade fair to spotlight gambling sector’s economic growth
The regulator will use the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair to highlight rising gaming revenue, job creation and stronger compliance as Tanzania positions gambling as a formal economic sector.
Tanzania.- The Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) is set to use the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Sabasaba 2026) to highlight the gambling sector’s role as a formal contributor to revenue, jobs and economic development across Tanzania.
Known locally as “Saba Saba”, meaning “seven seven” in Swahili, the fair is linked to July 7, the traditional peak day of the event and a public holiday closely associated with trade promotion and national economic development in Tanzania.
Running from June 28 to July 13 at the Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere Trade Fair Grounds in Dar es Salaam, the 2026 Golden Jubilee edition of the trade fair brings together government institutions, private companies and international exhibitors, making it one of the most high-profile editions in the event’s history.
Organised by the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), the fair is widely viewed as the country’s main trade “shop window”. Previous editions have attracted more than 3,500 local companies, nearly 200 foreign exhibitors and participants from 26 countries, reinforcing its importance as a regional business hub.
The 2026 edition carries the theme “Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, Tanzania’s Pride”, with stronger emphasis on digitalisation, innovation, export growth and investment attraction.
Against that backdrop, GBT has officially listed SABASABA 2026 on its calendar, stating that it will use the platform to highlight the achievements of the gaming sector and its contribution to national revenue.
The GBT said: “The 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Sabasaba 2026) provides an important platform for various government institutions and private sector stakeholders to showcase their contributions to the country’s economic development.”
The GBT added: “At the exhibition, GBT is expected to utilise this opportunity to highlight the achievements and contribution of the gaming sector in boosting revenue and the overall economy.”
The GBT will use the exhibition to demonstrate how licensed casinos, sports betting operators, lotteries and slot businesses contribute through taxation, licence fees, compliance payments and formal employment across Tanzania’s gambling market.
Revenue compliance growth
During a recent Ministry of Finance meeting, Gaming Board chairman Modest Mero said the sector’s contribution to national revenue had increased from TSh130bn ($48.6m) in the 2021/22 financial year to TSh260bn ($97.2m) in 2024/25, adding that the industry currently supports more than 30,000 jobs nationwide.
GBT also continues strengthening oversight across the sector, particularly around unlicensed slot machine operations, unregistered devices, unauthorised betting premises and illegal “madubwi” machines operating outside formal licensing structures.
GBT is positioning gambling as a regulated economic sector built on tax revenue, compliance and investment confidence rather than informal betting activity. Through its presence at SABASABA 2026, the regulator is reinforcing the industry’s role in supporting national revenue, formal employment and long-term economic growth.
For casino operators, sports betting companies and lottery firms, SABASABA is also a key compliance platform, helping them strengthen relationships with regulators, demonstrate credibility and improve their position for future licensing opportunities as oversight across Tanzania’s gambling market continues to tighten.
