Mozambique government sets out implementation plan for new online gambling framework
Economy Minister Basílio Muhate says implementation of the new rules follows the government linking declining casino tax revenue to the growth of online betting.
Mozambique.- Economy Minister Basílio Muhate has outlined how Mozambique intends to implement its new online gambling framework, saying the reforms will strengthen consumer protection, promote responsible gambling and modernise the country’s gambling regulatory framework.
The minister’s remarks provide new insight into how the government intends to implement Mozambique’s first dedicated online gambling framework following the Council of Ministers’ approval on July 14. Approved on the same date, the Regulation on the Operation and Practice of Games of Chance via Electronic or Computerised Media created the country’s first dedicated legal framework for online games of chance and established a standalone licensing regime for remote operators.
Muhate said, in comments carried by Lusa: “We urge the private sector to play its part in promoting responsible gambling. We have also observed that our society, particularly young people, has been feeling the effects.”
The Economy Minister added that the effects of betting platforms have become increasingly visible across public and digital spaces. “This has been visible on social media, in the media, and in the information we receive. We observe behavioural patterns amongst our young people that sometimes stem from gambling,” he said.
Muhate said the regulations approved by the Council of Ministers are intended to address these challenges by balancing the development of a growing economic sector with consumer protection. “These rules, these regulations we are introducing, are precisely designed to prevent and remedy these situations,” he said.
The minister said one of the objectives of the ongoing reforms is to modernise Mozambique’s gambling regulatory framework while ensuring the effective implementation of the new regulations. “What we aim to achieve with this new regulatory structure is, in effect, modernisation, and the next step is also the effective implementation of these instruments that Mozambique’s government is introducing to facilitate this transition,” said Muhate.
The reforms have also received support from the Mozambican Gambling and Betting Association. Its president, Danilo Mussá, said the approval of the new regulations marks an important step towards keeping pace with developments in the national betting market. He added that the framework comes as online gambling continues to expand and should help strengthen the organisation of the sector.
Mussá said: “The approval of these regulations is part of the dynamic development of online gambling and will help to consolidate the growth of this activity.”
The government has previously linked the expansion of online gambling to declining casino tax revenue. According to the Ministry of Finance’s 2025 budget implementation report, previously reported by Lusa, the state collected MZN359.5m (US$5.6m) in taxes paid by casinos during 2025, representing 54 per cent of the MZN666.1m (US$10.4m) forecast for the year.
Muhate’s remarks underscore the government’s focus on responsible gambling, consumer protection and regulatory modernisation as it prepares to implement Mozambique’s new online gambling framework.
