Mozambique Online Casino Rules Take Effect November 20 with Local Ownership, Capital and Payment Mandates

Mozambique's new online casino gambling rules take effect on 20 November. The regulations fill in ownership, capital, payment and data requirements left unspecified when ministers approved the framework in July. Decree No. 61/2026 of 21 September enters into force 60 days after publication and sets MZN25 million ($391,216) in initial guarantees plus two revenue-based contractual contributions.

Concessions go to public limited companies incorporated under Mozambican law. Eligible applicants include operators already running physical casinos in the country or those licensed for betting and online games that satisfy the new criteria. Where shareholders are legal persons, at least 26% of paid-up share capital must be held by Mozambican-registered entities throughout the concession term. Minimum share capital is MZN100 million or a higher amount fixed by the supervising authority. Applicants must prove liquidity for prizes and operations, financial sustainability, and compliance with tax and social security obligations.

Guarantees, Contributions and Technical Rules

Operators must post MZN15 million to cover legal obligations, player balances and fines, plus MZN10 million to secure the special online gambling tax. These can be bank deposits or autonomous guarantees from Mozambican institutions, subject to review by the General Inspectorate of Games after six months. Two contractual contributions apply at 2.5% each of annual gross revenue less winnings: one for social and public-responsibility purposes, the other for tourism development unrelated to gambling.

Authorised sites must use a .mz domain and redirect all Mozambique-originated or account-linked traffic to the local platform. Payments are restricted to electronic instruments authorised by the Bank of Mozambique and denominated exclusively in meticais. Player balances must be held locally and paid out within 48 hours of request. All gambling data must be stored in Mozambique for at least 10 years, with systems certified and audited annually.

Player limits on deposits and betting are mandatory at registration for daily, weekly and monthly periods. Reductions apply immediately; increases are delayed 24 hours. Commercial encouragement to raise limits is banned. Under-18s are prohibited, age checks are automatic, and self-exclusion takes immediate effect for a minimum of three months.

Unresolved Timelines and Fiscal Detail

The regulation contains no numerical rate for the special gambling tax, referring instead to separate fiscal legislation. Licensing and concession fees are also left to other instruments. No date has been set for the opening of applications or a confirmed commercial launch, even as casino-tax receipts declined to MZN161 million in the first half of 2026 from MZN175.2 million a year earlier, according to iGaming Business.

These gaps mean the 20 November entry into force establishes the legal framework but does not yet open a licensed operational market. Operators face concrete local-incorporation and infrastructure costs with uncertain timing for revenue generation.