Due to increased state control and mobile accessibility, Mozambique’s sports betting scene has experienced considerable growth. Online platforms have been reaching an increased portion of the population, while Regulators license and monitor operators. The International Telecommunication Union says that in 2024, internet access in Mozambique was 38%, indicating digital growth. This report focuses primarily on the operators in the market, the functioning of the regulations, and the analysis of the available data to predict the industry in 2026.
Mobile betting in Mozambique is no longer a retail-based activity located in urban areas, and has changed to a hybrid model that integrates mobile betting and combines with storefront activities in betting. Wider data coverage and an increase in access to smartphones have facilitated this change. Concurrently, the government has established formal oversight and more rigorous compliance frameworks.
Currently, the sector is in a newly established regulatory environment that determines the operational model of bookmakers and the availability of betting services to users. An understanding of this environment is critical in determining the extent of the current market and the prospects for future growth.
Current Regulatory Framework and Licensing Structure
In Mozambique, the gambling sector is regulated via legislation that places supervisory and licensing authority on the Instituto de Supervisão de Jogos, which is located within the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This body is responsible for licensing, ensuring compliance, and collecting taxes related to gambling.
All operational gambling retailers and betting legal mobile apps focused on the Mozambican market must obtain licenses. Among the requirements of the licenses are demonstrated financial capacity and a commitment to responsible gambling, including the establishment of internal mechanisms for the prevention, management and treatment of gambling problems, with advertising also regulated.
The local market has international companies that are franchised to operate in the country. Betmaster Mozambique operates a compliant betting site that offers its services in Portuguese and is tailored to the local user. It offers localized payment options, optimized for mobile access, and displays betting odds for the most important leagues in football, basketball, and tennis. This is in line with expanded operations to the rest of Africa, while also complying with local regulations.
Rapid digital growth has influenced the regulators’ focus. The International Telecommunication Union reported that Mozambique had an estimated 7.6 million internet users in 2024, approximately 38% of the population. There were also more than 8 million mobile broadband subscriptions. Such growth over this period has underscored the need for effective online supervision. This is in addition to the traditional oversight of retail operations.
The government does not disclose comprehensive annual reports on betting turnover, but supplementary analytical reports provide useful insights. Mozambique’s services sector exceeded 45 per cent of GDP in 2024, as reported by the World Bank. It describes the growing importance of the regulated commercial activities that include gaming services.
Role of the Instituto de Supervisão de Jogos
The Instituto de Supervisão de Jogos is the central gambling enforcement authority. They process licensing, conduct betting venue inspections, and check digital provider compliance.
The authority also monitors compliance with age restrictions and advertising regulations. Licensed bookmakers must establish age verification systems and ensure that children do not enter the betting space. Additionally, they must provide responsible gambling measures such as the option to set deposit limits or to self-exclude.
Taxes are also another big area of work. Gambling operators pay licensing and gaming taxes. With reference to the World Bank, Mozambique is climbing the fiscal consolidation ladder with a 2023 GDP tax collection of about 25 per cent. Even though betting is a small part of the total revenue generated, the authorities see it as a controlled revenue source rather than an informal one.
There are still challenges to oversight, particularly with regard to foreign platforms that may be targeting Mozambican customers without approval. As the Internet has gained popularity, regulators have sought to protect the interests of licensed providers and protect customers from abuse by unlicensed providers.
Legal Status of Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting in Mozambique is only legal if it is done through licensed operators in Mozambique. The government has taken a balanced approach by allowing online betting while insisting that operators comply with local regulations. Therefore, foreign betting sites are illegal.
The rise of online betting coincides with the rise of the Internet. DataReportal’s Digital 2025 Mozambique report estimates there were over 7 million Internet users in Mozambique in early 2025. Internet access is primarily through mobile phones. Over 3 million people in the country use social media. The report also used Internet betting as an example to demonstrate the widespread usage of digital.
The primary interest in betting is football. The most popular football leagues in Mozambique are the English Premier League and the Portuguese Primeira Liga, because of the colonial ties. There is also betting on the local football leagues, but it is much less than the betting on the European leagues.
There is no outright ban on online gambling, but licensing and other compliance requirements impact it. This allows Mozambique to join other African countries that operate regulation over online gambling rather than restriction, although enforcement still remains a work in progress.
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