Mozambique will implement a new regulatory framework for online casinos and games of chance from 20 November, establishing capital requirements, financial guarantees, mandatory local shareholding, payment controls, and player protection measures. The framework was approved under Decree No. 61/2026 of 21 September and is designed to strengthen oversight and bring discipline to the digital gaming market.
Among the principal requirements is the incorporation of public limited companies under Mozambican law, with a minimum share capital of 100 million meticais, or a higher amount as may be determined by the supervisory authority. Where shareholders include legal entities, at least 26% of paid-up share capital must be held by Mozambican shareholders domiciled in the country, a participation that must be maintained throughout the duration of the concession.
Operators will also be required to lodge two initial financial guarantees: 15 million meticais to ensure compliance with legal obligations, including player balances and any fines that may be imposed, and a further 10 million meticais to cover payment of the special tax on online games of chance. The guarantees may take the form of deposits or autonomous bank guarantees issued by institutions authorised to operate in Mozambique.
The regulation also establishes two annual contractual contributions, each corresponding to a minimum of 2.5% of gross annual revenue after deducting prizes paid to players. One contribution is directed towards social, institutional, and public responsibility purposes, while the other is intended to support the development of non-gaming tourism. Concession contracts may set higher percentages; these contributions are classified as contractual obligations rather than taxes.
The right to operate will be reserved for concession companies that obtain the requisite authorisation and operating licence. Eligible applicants include companies already operating physical casinos in Mozambique and operators licensed for online betting and gaming that meet the new requirements. Operation of a physical casino will not be a prerequisite for obtaining an online gaming concession. Licences may be valid for up to three years for physical casino operators and up to two years for other categories provided for under the regulation.
On the operational side, authorised platforms must use domain names ending in ".mz" and redirect to the relevant national portals any access originating from Mozambique or from users with accounts registered in the country. Payments must be made exclusively through electronic instruments authorised by the Bank of Mozambique and denominated in meticais; instruments issued abroad or involving currency conversion are expressly excluded. Operators will also be required to transfer player-requested balances within a maximum of 48 hours.
The requirements extend to data localisation and retention. Infrastructure for registration, access, and authentication must be installed in Mozambique, and data related to gaming activity must be stored within the national territory for a minimum of ten years. Gaming systems must be certified, provide secure access to regulatory authorities, and be subject to technical audits at least once a year.
Player protection provisions include mandatory daily, weekly, and monthly deposit and betting limits, which must be defined at the time of registration as a condition for activating accounts. Reductions in limits take immediate effect, while increases or other changes only enter into force after 24 hours. The regulation prohibits commercial practices aimed at encouraging players to raise their limits, bars access by persons under 18 years of age, and establishes self-exclusion mechanisms for a minimum period of three months.
"Among the principal requirements is the incorporation of public limited companies under Mozambican law, with a minimum share capital of 100 million meticais, or a higher amount as may be determined by the supervisory authority. Where shareholders include legal entities, at least 26% of paid-up share capital must be held by Mozambican shareholders domiciled in the country, a participation that must be maintained throughout the duration of the concession."
The new framework also provides for measures against unlicensed platforms. Where illegal services are identified, the Gaming General Inspectorate (Inspecção-Geral de Jogos — IGJ) must order the cessation of activity and removal of the service within 48 hours. In the event of non-compliance, telecommunications operators, internet service providers, and other covered intermediaries may be notified to block the relevant services, also generally within 48 hours.
Although the regulation enters into force on 20 November, that date does not mark the automatic start of commercial online gaming operations. Interested parties must first obtain a concession and an operating licence, and their gaming systems will also be subject to certification and approval. The decree does not establish a date for opening applications nor a definitive timetable for the commencement of operations.
The new regulations come against a backdrop of declining tax revenues from casinos. Budget execution data from the Ministry of Finance, cited by the Lusa news agency, show that collection of the special tax on games of chance totalled 161 million meticais in the first half of 2026, compared with 175.2 million meticais in the same period of 2025. The decree also does not set a specific rate for this tax, deferring its definition to applicable tax legislation, as is the case with the values of licensing and concession fees.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=559366
