Online gambling regulation in Zambia

Not confirmed.

Operating betting without BCLB licence can lead to heavy penalties and immediate shutdown, implying prohibitions on promotion of unlicensed services. Exact advertising provisions not publicly clear.

Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), established under the Betting Control Act

Betting Control Act establishing the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB); Betting Act 2025 introducing betting levy from 1 January 2026.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

There is no public register of licensed operators. Sources highlight lack of formal public registration / whitelist of licensed operators in Zambia’s current framework.

• Licence cancellation and operating shutdown for unlicensed operators
• Tax enforcement and penalties via betting levies and turnover / GGR taxes
• Administrative sanctions by Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB)
• Unconfirmed: ISP or payment blocking for illegal online sites

• Advertising only for BCLB‑licensed brands; operating without a licence risks shutdown and penalties
• Must not target minors; access limited to 18+ players
• Responsible gambling and fair‑play messaging required in marketing materials
• Unconfirmed: specific statutory ad content / watershed rules for gambling marketing

• Betting Act 2025 introduces 5% betting levy on companies, effective 1 January 2026, alongside transaction‑based taxes for online betting.
• Cabinet in 2025 approved a bill to repeal and modernise multiple outdated betting, lotteries and gaming laws, creating a unified modern regulator.
• Reform discussions highlight closing loopholes around online gambling and improving formal registration and oversight of operators.

• Exact statutory section prohibiting advertising of unlicensed / illegal online gambling; laws are dated and reform bill still in development.
• Whether online gambling is expressly regulated in primary legislation; some legal guides state online gambling is not yet a regulated activity.
• Existence of explicit ISP or payment‑blocking powers in current betting and gaming laws.
• Precise advertising code or secondary regulations specific to licensed gambling marketing; publicly accessible detail is limited.
• Online gambling may be taxed and/or partially licensed under newer amendments or operator practices, but the provided sources conflict on whether a formal online licence exists.
• Some sources say online casino and poker are legal in Zambia; others say online gambling is unregulated or only in a grey area.
• No confirmed Zambia-specific rule was found for sweepstakes/social casinos, prediction markets, or loot boxes.

1. parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/Act%20No.%2027%20of%202025,%20The%20Betting%20Act.pdf
2. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/zambia
3. zambiabetting.com/legal/is-betting-legal-zambia/
4. parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/Betting%20Control%20Act.pdf
5. bettingcompanies.africa/zambia/
6. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/zambia/for-operators
7. parliament.gov.zm/node/909
8. parliament.gov.zm/node/12777
9. pokerrankings.eu/go/zambia-en/article/legal-info/
10. cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-africa/zambia
11. zambiabetting.com/legal/
12. legalpilot.com/country/zambia/
13. igamingtoday.com/zambia-igaming-market-research-report/
14. scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812023000100010

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.