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Tanzania’s gambling sector is not just growing, it’s becoming a major driver of the economy. The Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) has revealed that the industry generated TSh260.21bn (€1.07bn) in tax revenue for the 2024/25 financial year, almost double the TSh131.99bn (€544m) collected in 2020/21.
This surge follows sweeping regulatory action, including plans to issue over 14,000 licenses in a single year, as detailed in Tanzania to Issue 14,124 Licences in One Year as It Announces Major Gambling Reforms.
A 97% surge in just four years
Gambling has quickly become one of Tanzania’s most profitable industries.
According to the GBT, tax revenue from gambling has grown by an astonishing 97% in only four years. This achievement was underlined at a recent working session held in partnership with the Office of the Treasury Registrar, where officials discussed how the sector is strengthening Tanzania’s national economic development.
30,000 jobs created nationwide
The industry is becoming a major employer in both formal and informal sectors.
GBT’s director of services, Daniel Sumayan, confirmed that by the end of June 2025, the gambling industry had created around 30,000 jobs across Tanzania. These include positions in casinos, sports betting shops, lottery outlets, and related service sectors. Many of these jobs, he added, are in local communities, helping support families and small businesses.
Investors are backing the boom
Billions of shillings in new capital are flowing into the country.
Sumayan also pointed to strong investor confidence in Tanzania’s regulated gambling market. Over the past two years, more than TSh66.7bn (€275m) in new investments has been injected into the sector. This money is helping to expand operations, upgrade technology, and create even more opportunities for both workers and entrepreneurs.
Government praise and commitment
Authorities say the industry’s growth must go hand-in-hand with strong regulation.
The government has welcomed the industry’s progress. Revocatus Kassimba, from the government spokesperson’s office, praised the GBT for successfully driving both revenue and job creation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to proper regulation, ensuring that gambling’s growth continues to benefit the nation while keeping the industry transparent and accountable.
Tackling illegal operators
Unlicensed gambling machines remain a threat to fair revenue collection.
Despite the strong results, challenges remain. The GBT highlighted the issue of “dubwi” — a local slang term for unlicensed gambling machines found in unauthorised areas. These illegal operators divert significant revenue away from the government and undermine the regulated market. Authorities say they are stepping up enforcement to remove such machines and protect legitimate operators.
From entertainment to economic engine
What began as leisure is now a pillar of Tanzania’s development strategy.
The GBT, established under Act No. 4 of 2003 and operational since 1 July 2003, has watched the sector evolve from a small entertainment market into a serious economic contributor. Today, gambling is driving job creation, attracting investment, and boosting tax income, all while the government looks to balance growth with responsible oversight.
The road ahead
Sustaining growth will depend on keeping the market clean and investor-friendly.
Industry leaders believe Tanzania’s gambling sector will continue to expand if the current balance of growth and regulation is maintained. With revenues surging, jobs multiplying, and foreign capital flowing in, the challenge will be ensuring that illegal activities do not erode these gains.
For now, the numbers tell the story: nearly double the tax revenue in four years, tens of thousands of jobs created, and an industry firmly on the radar of investors at home and abroad.
Source: focusgn.com