A higher betting tax landed in January, and search did not step down.
Zimbabwe betting tax rates changed on 1 January 2026 by jumping 6.5 times, but the measure did not cool the Zimbabwean market. Blask Index gained 112.8% from January through September, 137.4% above September 2025.
Blask Metrics
Blask Metrics used in this piece:
- Blask Index: interest in iGaming brands or iGaming in general.
- BAP (Brand’s Accumulated Power): a projected brand’s share in a particular market.
- CEB (Competitive Earning Baseline): projected revenue.
*Figures are shown as they appeared in Blask on 27 October 2026.
Both betting rates more than doubled
From 1 January 2025, tax rates were 3% of a bookmaker’s gross monthly takings and 10% of a player’s gross winnings.
From 1 January 2026, tax rates were changed. From that date, operators must pay 20% of gross monthly takings and withhold 25% of a player’s gross winnings, and the operator charge is a final tax.
| Tax year | Operator | Player |
| From 1 January 2025 | 3% of gross monthly takings | 10% of gross winnings |
| From 1 January 2026 | 20% of gross monthly takings | 25% of gross winnings |
The operator charge is 6.7 times the 2025 rate, and withholding on winnings is 2.5 times its 2025 level.
iGaming demand rose together with the tax
From September 2025 to September 2026, Blask Index rose 137.4%. Search demand kept climbing after the rate change, January 2026 was 2% above December 2025 despite higher taxes. September was the highest month of the year, 15.7% above August and 112.8% above January.
The projected revenue rose with demand
Blask Index and CEB moved differently. Blask Index fell in some months and rose in others, while CEB rose without a break. Projected revenue rose even in July, when demand fell most.
From September 2025 to September 2026, the country’s CEB rose 73.2%.
Read Also: Africa iGaming in September 2026: Blask recap
MWOS kept the lead
MWOS gained 0.09 percentage points of Zimbabwe search between September 2025 and September 2026. Although brand’s BAP rose just slightly (from 42.52% to 42.61%), the country’s iGaming demand rose 137.4% YoY, so the lead held on a larger market.
AfricaBet lost 14.1 percentage points, from 30.05% to 15.92%, but stayed second.
After a year, two new brands, PrideBet and Winbucks, entered the top six. Zanzibet and Bolabet left the top leaderboard.
Bottom line
Zimbabwe’s 20% operator tax and 25% withholding on winnings were in force for the whole stretch in which search more than doubled. The projected revenue rose with that demand, finishing September 73.2% above a year earlier. MWOS kept the lead, AfricaBet lost 14.1 percentage points, and PrideBet and Winbucks entered the top six.
About Blask
Blask is an AI-powered platform for iGaming and gambling market analytics. The company turns fragmented open-source signals into real-time insight on brand visibility, player demand, and baseline revenue metrics, helping teams move first, spend smarter, and reduce risk across global markets
