Zambia government seeks dialogue with betting companies over 10% excise tax

The new consultations with the industry aim to find solutions that support both business interests and the well-being of citizens.

Zambia.- The Zambian government has started engaging in direct discussions with betting firms following the introduction of a 10 per cent excise tax on betting stakes, which led some operators to suspend or scale back operations.

The excise duty requires all betting companies to remit 10 per cent of the total amount staked by bettors on their platforms monthly, with payments due by the 15th day of the following month.

The levy was met with significant resistance from the industry. Betway and betPawa jointly challenged the tax in court, arguing that it was excessive, ambiguous and financially unsustainable. They also warned about potential operational shutdowns and widespread job losses. However, their application to block the implementation of the duty was dismissed by the Constitutional Court, which upheld it as a legitimate consumption tax payable by bettors and within the Zambia Revenue Authority’s authority.

Now, the government is extending an olive branch to the betting companies. On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, announced that the administration is keen on resolving concerns raised by the industry regarding the levy. He noted that the excise tax is not meant to harm the gambling industry but to address the rising social and financial problems linked to gambling addiction in Zambia. 

Musokotwane explained that the government’s goal is to balance revenue generation with measures to protect citizens from the negative consequences of addictive betting. He added that the new consultations with the industry aim to find solutions that support both business interests and the well-being of citizens.