Zimbabwe’s finance minister, Mthuli Ncube, proposed a 10% withholding tax on gross sports betting winnings during the presentation of the 2025 National Budget. The measure is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2025 and would apply to winnings of any size. The government did not provide a revenue estimate.
Operators may need to account for withholding on all sports betting winnings if the proposal takes effect.
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Zimbabwe’s Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture committee has proposed transferring the Lotteries and Gaming Board to the Sports Ministry and directing a statutory share of gaming revenue to sports development. Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda supported the proposal, while Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe opposed it; any transfer would require legal and administrative procedures.
Zimbabwe’s Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture parliamentary committee has proposed placing the Lotteries and Gaming Board under the Sports Ministry and directing a legally mandated portion of gaming proceeds to sports development. Committee head Farai Jere presented the proposal during the 2027 Pre-Budget Seminar.
It was reported that Uganda removed the exemption protecting land-based casinos from a 15% withholding tax on customer winnings. Parliament approved the proposed amendment to bring physical venues into line with online gambling.
The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority said a 5% withholding tax now applies to net winnings on all online platforms licensed in Lagos. Operators must deduct the levy when paying winnings and transfer it to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; the measure has taken effect.
Lagos State has begun deducting 5% withholding tax from qualifying net winnings paid through licensed gaming platforms, the state government said. Operators must deduct the tax at payout and remit it to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; players must provide their National Identification Number under KYC requirements.
Nigeria published its Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations, 2024, in the Official Gazette on 2 October, with the rules due to take effect on 1 January 2025. The source says eligible lottery, gaming and reality-show winnings will face withholding rates of 5% for residents and 15% for non-residents; the Federal Inland Revenue Service may issue implementation guidance.