The State collected 175.2 million meticais (2.3 million dollars) in taxes from casino activities during the first six months of 2025, representing a 22.5% drop compared to the same period in 2024.
According to budget execution data from January to June, released by the Ministry of Finance, this amount represents only 26.3% of the annual target set for this year through the Special Gaming Tax, which is levied on gross revenues from the activity. In total State fiscal revenue, this contribution amounts to just 0.1%.
In the same period of 2024, revenue from casinos had reached 226 million meticais (3 million dollars), reflecting a stronger performance compared to the current result. Still, the Government set a target for 2025 of collecting 500 million meticais (6.6 million dollars), an increase of 29% compared to the amount effectively collected in the previous year.
In 2024, the State had projected to obtain 1.2 billion meticais (16.4 million dollars) from overall gaming-related revenues, but managed to achieve only 31.4% of that target — a trend also observed in 2023.
The National Directorate of Games of Chance of Mozambique establishes that casino operations in the country require a minimum share capital equivalent to 2.7 million dollars (216 million meticais) from the concessionaire, as well as a mandatory investment of at least 5.5 million dollars (440 million meticais) within a maximum period of five years. For actual operation, concessionaires must pay the Special Gaming Tax, with rates ranging between 20% and 35%, depending on the duration of the concession: 20% up to 14 years, 25% up to 19 years, 30% between 20 and 24 years, and 35% for concessions between 25 and 30 years.
Additionally, companies must pay Stamp Duty, corresponding to 50% of the value of entrance tickets. Concessionaires, however, benefit from exemptions on other taxes levied on operating profits, as well as from import duties on equipment and materials intended exclusively for gaming activities.
In August 2024, then-President Filipe Nyusi revealed that five ventures in the sector, supported by private investment, had mobilized 36 million dollars (2.9 billion meticais), with casino and slot machine concessions in the cities of Maputo, Beira, Tete, Nampula, Matola, and Pemba standing out as part of the national tourism value chain.
Source: Lusa
