Mozambique collected 257.4 million meticais in taxes paid by casinos between January and September, a decrease of 18.9% compared to the same period in 2024. According to the Government, the decline results from the growing impact of online gambling, which has pulled many players away from physical gaming rooms.
Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that, in the first nine months of 2025, the State collected only 38.6% of the revenue projected from the Special Gaming Tax. During the period under review, this tax accounted for just 0.1% of the State’s total revenue, revealing a performance well below expectations.
“The weak performance of this tax is justified by the significant increase in online gaming, which reduces, to some extent, the frequency of players in casinos,” states the Budget Execution Report. In the same period in 2024, revenues totaled 317.4 million meticais, a substantially higher amount than recorded this year. For 2025, the State expects to collect 666.1 million meticais in taxes from casinos. In 2024, the Government had projected revenues close to 1.235 billion meticais but achieved only 31.4% of the target, repeating a below-forecast performance seen in 2023.
The total fiscal revenue expected by the State throughout 2025 amounts to 339.2 billion meticais. In this context, the gaming sector continues to have limited weight, despite the economic potential associated with casino and gaming machine concessions in the country. The National Directorate of Gambling recalled that the granting of casino licences requires a minimum share capital equivalent to almost USD 2.7 million and an investment of at least USD 5.5 million within five years. These requirements aim to ensure the financial solidity of concessionary companies.
To operate, concessionaires must pay the State the Special Gaming Tax, calculated on gross revenue and ranging between 20% and 35%, depending on the concession period. “Concessionaires must also pay Stamp Tax, equivalent to 50% of casino entrance ticket prices,” determined the National Directorate of Gambling, adding that these companies are exempt from other profit taxes and import duties on equipment intended for gaming activities.
Source: Lusa
