📋 Online casinos in Mozambique: quick facts

⚖️ Are online casinos in Mozambique legal?

Until 20 November 2026, Mozambique has had no dedicated licence for online casinos. From that date, online casino games can be offered legally, but only by companies holding a state concession under the new decree.

The framework until now

Gambling in Mozambique rests on Law No. 1/2010 on games of chance and its implementing Decree No. 64/2010, with social and entertainment games governed by a separate 2012 law, according to Gambling Maps. Under this framework, the IGJ licenses online sports betting and other products, iGB reported, while casinos have been licensed as land-based concessions. Gambling Maps describes online casino and poker under the old rules as having no licensing path, and notes that sports betting licences have covered crash-style “instant” games such as Aviator.

The new online gambling regulation

• 14 July 2026: the Council of Ministers approved the “Regulation on the Operation and Practice of Games of Chance through Electronic or Computerised Means”, Mozambique’s first dedicated online gambling framework, spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa announced.
• 14 October 2026: the Ministry of Economy announced that the regulation had been published as Decree No. 61/2026 in the Boletim da República, FocusGN reported.
• 20 November 2026: the decree takes effect.

The regulation treats online gambling as an activity separate from land-based casinos, with its own concession regime. Gambling Maps, last updated before the publication was announced, still described the regulation as unpublished and not in force, so you may see older sources saying the rules don’t apply yet.

What the decree requires

Who can’t play

Article 90 of the decree reportedly lists ten categories of people barred from online games of chance, including minors, certain public officials, gambling regulators and operator employees, specified financial-sector workers, and people who have self-excluded, FocusGN reported. The decree also introduces self-exclusion, temporary account suspensions and voluntary deposit limits.

What we still don’t know

As of early November 2026, we found no published concession fees, application window, online gaming tax rate or list of applicants. iGB reported in July that neither the government nor the IGJ had said when the remaining terms would be published. Until concessions are granted, there’s no Mozambican online casino we can point you to.

🔄 Before and after Decree 61/2026

Based on FocusGN’s summary of Decree 61/2026 and Gambling Maps’ description of the earlier framework.

🧭 What the new rules mean for you

The decree’s technical requirements translate into practical protections for players:

• A local company to hold to account: concessionaires must be incorporated in Mozambique, so disputes can go to the IGJ and Mozambican courts.
• No currency surprises: balances and payouts in meticais avoid exchange losses and make it clear what you’re spending.
• Traceable payments: using locally authorised payment providers makes it easier to dispute unauthorised transactions.
• Records: keeping gambling data in Mozambique for ten years means your history can be checked in a dispute.
• Tools to stay in control: self-exclusion, account suspension and deposit limits must be available.

The flip side: offshore sites that don’t meet these rules can be blocked, so keeping money on them becomes riskier.

🏛️ Who the IGJ licenses today

The IGJ maintains the official register of licensees on its website. Gambling Maps reproduced it, checked on 2 November 2026, showing 34 online licence holders: 22 licensed and operating, and 12 licensed but not operating. These licences were issued under the existing framework for products such as online sports betting, not under the new online casino decree.

Source: IGJ register (igj.co.mz) as reproduced by Gambling Maps, checked 2 November 2026. Twelve further licensees, including Sporty Bet, Lda and Port Achia, Lda (Bacela Bet), are listed as licensed but not operating. The register doesn’t publish licence numbers or domains.

Many of these brands show casino or crash-game sections. Because Mozambique’s dedicated online casino concession regime only starts on 20 November 2026, those sections aren’t covered by an online casino concession today. Once the decree is in force, online casino games will need a concession under it, and we’ll check which brands obtain one.

🔎 How to check an operator in Mozambique

1. Find the company name in the site’s footer or terms; Mozambican licensees are local companies such as “Two 11, Lda” (PremierBet) or “General Betting, Lda” (Elephant Bet).
2. Compare it with the IGJ register on the IGJ’s website, which lists licensees as “licensed and operating” or “licensed but not operating”.
3. Check the product: current licences predate the online casino decree. From 20 November 2026, online casino games need a concession under Decree 61/2026.
4. Check the address and currency: under the new rules, licensed online casinos use .mz domains and meticais.
5. Ask the IGJ if anything is unclear. The register doesn’t publish licence numbers or domains, so the company name is the key detail.

⚽ Online sports betting vs online casino

For most Mozambican players, online gambling has meant sports betting sites with extra games. Afrik-Foot’s reviews, updated in February 2026, describe Aviator and JetX tournaments at Elephant Bet, daily Aviator free bets and a 2,000,000 MT “Jackpot Blaze” at 888bets, Aviator and Skyward at Hollywoodbets, and crash and virtual games at Bantu Bets, which launched in 2023. Gambling Maps says sports betting licences have covered such crash-style “instant” games.

Full casino games, such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker and virtual slot machines, are exactly what Decree 61/2026 brings into a dedicated concession regime. Once it’s in force, operators wanting to offer these games will need an online casino concession, not just their existing licence. That’s the line to watch as the first concessions are granted.

🏨 Land-based casinos in Mozambique

Land-based casinos operate under concessions in Maputo, Matola, Beira, Tete, Nampula and Pemba, with private investment of around US$36 million, Lusa reported. Casino concessionaires need at least US$2.7 million in share capital and must invest at least US$5.5 million in their first five years. They pay a Special Tax on Gambling of 20% to 35% of gross revenue, depending on the length of the concession, plus stamp duty equal to 50% of the casino entry ticket price.

Land-based casinos are under pressure. They paid 359.5 million meticais in tax in 2025, 54% of the 666.1 million budgeted and 7.3% less than in 2024; in 2024, the government collected only 34% of its 1,235 million meticais target. The Ministry of Finance blamed a “significant increase in online games” that drew players away from casinos, Lusa and RTP reported. That decline is a key reason the government created a separate online regime.

🌍 Offshore online casinos in Mozambique: the risks

Many casino sites available to Mozambican players are run from abroad, often under licences from Curaçao or Malta. Afrik-Foot notes that such sites aren’t directly supervised by the IGJ, which can make disputes harder to resolve. After 20 November 2026, the risks grow:

• Blocking: under the new decree, the authorities can order unlicensed platforms blocked, and telecoms operators and internet providers must comply within 48 hours. A blocked site may take your balance with it.
• Payments: licensed online gambling must use meticais and locally authorised payment providers. Payments to unlicensed sites may be refused or end up going through unofficial channels.
• No IGJ complaints route: the IGJ handles complaints only about operators it licenses.
• No player protections: self-exclusion, deposit limits and age checks under the decree don’t bind unlicensed sites.
• Industry pressure: the Mozambican Association of Online Games and Betting said it would press the national ICT institute (INTIC) to block offshore sites, iGB reported.

🚩 Red flags at any casino site

1. No .mz domain for a site claiming to be a licensed Mozambican online casino after 20 November 2026.
2. Balances in dollars, euros or crypto instead of meticais.
3. The operator isn’t on the IGJ register, or doesn’t name a Mozambican company.
4. Deposits through personal agents on WhatsApp or Telegram.
5. No age check before you can play.
6. Fees demanded upfront to release winnings.
7. APK files shared in group chats rather than from the operator’s website or an app store.

💰 Taxes on online casinos in Mozambique and on gambling winnings

Tax on players’ winnings

The rules for players are less clear than in many neighbouring countries:

• Gambling Maps: lists a 10% withholding tax on player winnings.
• RSM’s 2026 tax guide: lists a 10% withholding rate on prizes from games of chance, contests and raffles paid by a Mozambican resident to a non-resident, but doesn’t describe a withholding rate for resident players.
• Afrik-Foot: says practice varies by operator, with some deducting tax from winnings and others not.

Check your bet slip or account statement for any deduction, and ask the operator how it treats winnings.

Illustration only. Whether and how tax is withheld depends on the operator and your circumstances.

Tax on operators

• Land-based casinos: a Special Tax on Gambling of 20% to 35% of gross revenue, depending on concession length (Gambling Maps gives 20% up to 14 years, 25% for 14–19 years, 30% for 20–24 years and 35% for 25–30 years), plus 50% stamp duty on entry tickets.
• Online operators: no online-specific tax rate had been published for the new concessions when we checked. Gambling Maps notes conflicting figures for online sports betting, including a press-reported 20% gross gaming revenue charge it couldn’t trace to a gazetted instrument.
• VAT on digital services: from January 2026, games of chance bought from non-resident digital providers are subject to VAT at 16%, according to RSM, and non-resident operators must file monthly VAT declarations, according to Gambling Maps.

Special gambling tax revenue

Special gambling tax revenue was 161 million meticais in the first half of 2026, down about 8.1% from 175.2 million meticais in the same period of 2025, FocusGN reported. The government hopes the new online concession regime will bring more online activity into the tax net.

💳 Paying at online casinos in Mozambique: M-Pesa and e-Mola

Mobile money is the everyday way to pay for online gambling in Mozambique. Afrik-Foot’s reviews list M-Pesa and e-Mola at operators such as Elephant Bet (deposits from 1 MT) and Bantu Bets, and e-Mola at 888bets. Under the new decree, licensed online gambling must be in meticais, through financial institutions and payment providers authorised in Mozambique.

• Use your own account: deposit only from an M-Pesa or e-Mola account in your own name.
• Use the official cashier: never pay through an “agent”.
• Keep records: screenshots of deposits, withdrawals and any deductions help in a dispute.
• Watch the currency: a site that holds your balance in dollars or crypto isn’t operating under the new Mozambican rules.
• Crypto: Law No. 15/2026 on payment systems, in force from August 2026, requires prior Banco de Moçambique authorisation for distributed-ledger accounts, which affects crypto-funded gambling payments, according to Gambling Maps.

📈 Mozambique’s gambling market

• Online licensees: 34 on the IGJ register, 22 operating (Gambling Maps, 2 November 2026).
• Land-based casinos: concessions in six cities with around US$36 million of private investment.
• Casino tax: 359.5 million meticais in 2025, down 7.3% on 2024 and 54% of target.
• Special gambling tax: 161 million meticais in the first half of 2026, down about 8.1% year on year.
• Industry body: the Mozambican Association of Online Games and Betting, whose president Danilo Mussá called the new regulation an important step for the sector’s structured growth, Lusa reported.
• Government view: at GRAF 2026 in Maputo in September, Secretary of State for the Treasury and Budget Amílcar Tivane said the state should be “not against economic activity”, FocusGN reported.

🎰 How games at online casinos in Mozambique work

The new decree covers roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, bingo, keno and virtual gaming machines. Whatever the game, it’s designed so the house wins over time.

RTP and house edge

Return to player (RTP) is the share of stakes a game pays back over a very large number of plays. A slot with 96% RTP keeps an average of 4%, its house edge. RTP doesn’t predict a single session, but the longer you play, the closer your results drift towards the house edge.

Casino myths

• “The machine is due to pay.” Each spin is independent.
• “I can predict Aviator.” Crash points are random; “signal” groups are scams.
• “Bonuses are free money.” Wagering requirements and the house edge apply.
• “Doubling after a loss always wins.” The Martingale quickly hits your budget or table limits.

🧮 How casino bonuses really work

A wagering requirement is how many times you must bet a bonus before withdrawing it:

Illustration: expected loss = total wagered × 4% house edge. Short-term results vary widely.

At 35x or more, the house edge is expected to consume the whole bonus. Also check maximum bets, game contributions, time limits and caps on winnings.

💡 Playing smarter

• Set a budget in meticais before every session and stop when it’s gone.
• Use the decree’s tools once licensed sites launch: voluntary deposit limits, temporary suspension and self-exclusion.
• Choose volatility carefully: high-volatility games can drain a small budget quickly.
• Watch the clock: fast games can play hundreds of rounds an hour.
• Never chase losses.

🔜 What changes for players after 20 November 2026

When Decree 61/2026 takes effect, here’s what a licensed Mozambican online casino should look like:

1. A .mz web address.
2. A Mozambican company holding a state concession for online games of chance.
3. Everything in meticais: deposits, bets, prizes and withdrawals.
4. Local payment providers only, such as authorised banks and mobile money services.
5. Age and identity checks, with under-18s and other barred categories refused.
6. Responsible gambling tools: self-exclusion, temporary suspension and voluntary deposit limits.

Sites that don’t meet these conditions can be blocked within 48 hours of an order. Concessions take time to grant, so the first licensed online casinos may not be live on day one; don’t assume a site is licensed just because it’s still accessible.

⏳ Tips for the transition period

The weeks and months after 20 November 2026 may be confusing, with concessions still being processed and offshore sites still reachable. To protect yourself:

• Keep balances small on any site that isn’t yet confirmed as a concessionaire, and withdraw winnings promptly.
• Watch for official announcements from the Ministry of Economy and the IGJ naming the first online casino concessionaires.
• Be sceptical of “licensed” claims that don’t name a Mozambican company, a .mz domain and meticais.
• Don’t move money through unofficial channels to keep playing at a blocked site.
• Download your transaction history from any account you use, in case a site becomes unreachable.

🗓️ Mozambique gambling regulation: timeline

🏨 Visiting a land-based casino in Mozambique

1. Choose a concessioned venue in Maputo, Matola, Beira, Tete, Nampula or Pemba.
2. Bring ID: you must be 18 or older.
3. Expect an entry ticket: casinos pay stamp duty equal to 50% of the ticket price, so entry may carry a charge.
4. Bring a fixed amount of cash and stop when it’s gone.
5. Raise disputes with the casino first, then with the IGJ.

👥 Young people and gambling

The government is openly concerned about young people. Economy Minister Basílio Muhate said in August 2026 that young people have been feeling the effects of gambling, and he set consumer protection, responsible gambling and regulatory modernisation as priorities for the new framework, FocusGN reported. The decree bars under-18s from online games of chance, and the planned self-exclusion and deposit-limit tools give families practical options once licensed sites launch.

Parents can help now by keeping M-Pesa and e-Mola PINs private, checking phones for gambling apps or APK files, and talking openly about how casino games are designed so the house wins.

🎟️ Legal alternatives to online casinos in Mozambique today

• Land-based casinos in Maputo, Matola, Beira, Tete, Nampula and Pemba, operating under state concessions.
• Online sports betting with operators on the IGJ register, such as PremierBet, Betway, Elephant Bet, 888 Bet and Placard.
• Licensed online casinos from late 2026 or later, once the first concessions under Decree 61/2026 are granted.

🌍 How Mozambique compares with other African markets

Sources: AffSupreme country research (2026).

🆘 What to do if something goes wrong

1. Contact the operator’s support and keep records of every bet, payment and message.
2. File a formal complaint with the IGJ if it’s a licensed operator and the problem isn’t resolved.
3. Go to court or report fraud to the police if necessary.

The IGJ can’t help with sites it doesn’t license.

📱 Playing on your phone safely

• Download apps only from the operator’s official site or an official app store.
• Never share your M-Pesa or e-Mola PIN, and never type it into a website.
• Ignore Aviator “signal” groups and “sure win” sellers; they’re scams.
• Turn off promotional notifications and log out on shared phones.

🔭 What to watch

• The first online casino concessions under Decree 61/2026, and which brands receive them.
• Concession fees and the online tax rate, not yet published when we checked.
• Blocking of offshore sites under the 48-hour rule.
• IGJ technical standards for digital games, which Gambling Maps described as proposed but not in force.
• Responsible gambling: Economy Minister Basílio Muhate has urged operators to promote responsible gambling, saying young people have been feeling its effects.

📖 Glossary

• IGJ: Inspecção-Geral de Jogos, Mozambique’s gambling inspectorate.
• Concession: a state grant allowing a company to run a gambling activity.
• Decree No. 61/2026: the regulation on online games of chance, in force from 20 November 2026.
• Boletim da República: Mozambique’s official gazette.
• Special Tax on Gambling: the tax on casino concessionaires’ gross revenue (20% to 35%).
• RTP: return to player, the share of stakes a game pays back over time.
• Wagering requirement: how many times you must bet a bonus before withdrawing it.
• Self-exclusion: a voluntary ban from gambling for a set period.

🔍 How we researched this guide

We used FocusGN’s October 2026 report on Decree No. 61/2026, Lusa reporting via Club of Mozambique, RTP and the AMAN Alliance, iGB’s July 2026 analysis, Gambling Maps’ copy of the IGJ register (checked 2 November 2026) and its regulatory summaries, RSM’s 2026 Mozambique tax guide, and Afrik-Foot’s operator reviews. We couldn’t open the IGJ’s website or the decree text directly, so we rely on these reports. Where sources disagree, notably on whether the regulation was in force and on tax on winnings, we set out each view. This page carries no casino affiliate links.

✅ Checklist before you play

• Am I 18 or older, and not in a barred category?
• Is the operator on the IGJ register, and, after 20 November 2026, does it hold an online casino concession?
• Does the site use a .mz domain and meticais?
• Am I paying through the official cashier with my own M-Pesa or e-Mola account?
• Have I set a budget and a time limit?
• Do I know how to self-exclude?