Zambia’s revised budget sharpens compliance oversight for betting and lottery operators
Cabinet’s approval of revisions to the 2026 National Budget has strengthened revenue accountability, placing betting, casino and lottery operators under closer regulatory scrutiny as government tightens domestic revenue collection in 2026.
Zambia.- Zambia’s betting and lottery operators are facing closer regulatory oversight after Cabinet approved revisions to the 2026 National Budget on April 11, reinforcing government efforts to tighten domestic revenue collection and strengthen fiscal accountability during a period of heightened fiscal pressure in 2026.
The budget revisions strengthened government efforts to improve tax compliance and revenue collection across licensed industries, with betting, casinos and lottery operators included alongside sectors such as mining, telecommunications, alcohol and tobacco within the wider revenue accountability framework, as authorities sought to protect public revenues during a period of increased fiscal pressure.
According to Zambia’s parliamentary budget documents from the National Assembly of Zambia, government will “maintain the withholding tax rate on winnings from gaming, lotteries and betting at 15 percent”, underlining the continued importance of gambling revenues within the country’s domestic revenue strategy.
For Zambia’s lottery and betting regulators, the budget revisions place greater focus on licence enforcement, statutory payments and closer supervision of operator reporting, particularly as mobile betting and online sportsbook activity continue to expand.
Under Zambia’s existing legal framework, regulators already hold broad powers over gambling oversight. The Lotteries Act provides for the control and regulation of lotteries and establishes enforcement responsibilities for lottery supervision, while the Betting Control Act empowers authorities to license bookmakers, approve betting premises and improve control over betting practices.
The April 2026 budget revisions maintained the focus on tax compliance and revenue accountability across the gambling sector, while casino operators remain subject to strict licensing conditions, including valid operating licences and approved limits on gaming tables and machines, reflecting Zambia’s broader compliance-focused regulatory approach.
As government manages spending pressures and wider fiscal accountability in 2026, oversight of betting and lottery revenues remains an important part of Zambia’s broader revenue protection strategy.
