Across Mozambique, online gambling, particularly sports betting, is soaring. Six African operators rank among the world’s top 20 most-visited gambling websites, according to online sports publisher Tribuna.
Their rise is being fuelled almost entirely by mobile users in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and East Africa. Mozambique is also part of this expanding digital betting ecosystem. Nearly a quarter of Mozambique’s population, or about 8 million people, are online. Easy mobile access has transformed gambling into a daily activity for many young people. This access significantly contributes to the industry’s revenue within the country.
Betting platforms pay digital influencers handsome fees to promote their sites. Operators also spend heavily on television advertising and mass text message campaigns. These promotions reach thousands of people daily, often without age or income targeting.
Not all influencers remain comfortable promoting betting products. Influencer Ângelo do Rosário has publicly criticised gambling after previously promoting a betting company. He later decided the activity was penalising the poorest in the country. “The money the state earns does not match the harm that gambling causes,” he said.
He called for regulations to limit the operations of betting companies. His shift reflects growing unease about gambling’s social impact. Many influencers now face scrutiny over their role in normalising betting behaviour. Digital endorsements often mask the risks associated with repeated losses.
The Centre for Community Development in Health and Environment (CEDSA) works with individuals who are addicted to gambling. It helps about 300 people across the country. CEDSA also gives talks at universities and other institutions. The aim is to discourage young people from taking up the habit.
CEDSA encounters severe financial consequences among those it supports. “One of the people we are currently supporting is a woman who worked at a bank and who, since she started gambling in 2020, has already lost more than $31,000 … (and) lost her job,” CEDSA technical director Arlindo Covane said.
Another player fell into a depression after losing more than $1,550 in a single day, he added. The organisation also supports individuals struggling with debt. This includes debt restructuring plans and employment advice.
Mozambique already has rules governing online gambling platforms. Operators must provide player control mechanisms on their websites. They must also display the support organisation contact details. Warnings against excessive gambling are also required.
CEDSA says these rules are not consistently enforced. The organisation wants stronger player protection measures. It proposes automatic exclusion mechanisms for players showing consecutive loss patterns. CEDSA also calls for public awareness campaigns targeting young people.
According to the General Inspectorate of Games (IGJ), Mozambique has 30 betting operators. Of these, 21 are active, and nine are waiting for their licences. IGJ deputy inspector Macário Gusse said most operators were foreign-owned. Some Mozambican participation exists within the sector.
Betting companies paid approximately $17 million in direct tax revenue this year. That compares to around $18 million last year. Sociologist Vasco Adão links gambling to broader structural challenges. He said gambling reflects persistent inequalities and limited social inclusion policies.
“Many young people use family savings, informal income, or even take loans to keep gambling, entering a cycle of loss and attempted recovery,” he said. Clinical psychologist Mario Ngulele highlighted distorted expectations among vulnerable players. He said hope of winning against the odds blinds people to long-term consequences.
Outside betting shops in Maputo, offline access remains common. People without smartphones can place bets online through agents. That was the case for 24-year-old Zacarias Mathe. “I hope to win some money, maybe to start a business, because I have no job and no secure source of income,” he said.
Such stories highlight unemployment’s role in gambling participation. For many, betting appears as an accessible income alternative.
Nigeria offers a regulatory and social response that Mozambique could emulate. GamblePause Initiative Africa promotes responsible gambling practices nationwide.
Its founder, Ladipo Abiose Akolade, grounds the initiative in lived experience. “Yes, the stigma around gambling in Nigeria is very real. I know that not just from observation, but from lived experience,” Ladipo explains. “When I went through my own phase of gambling, I quickly realised how silent the struggle can be.”
GamblePause prioritises early intervention and youth education. Its data shows that 70% of the people they currently treat began gambling very young. “Yes, about 70% of those we treat started gambling very young,” Ladipo notes.
Nigeria’s first free gambling rehabilitation centre operates in Yaba. “Opening Nigeria’s first free gambling rehabilitation centre in Yaba was a major milestone for us,” says Ladipo.
Mozambique is facing a rise in gambling participation alongside limited protections. More vigorous enforcement, early education, and digital safeguards are increasingly urgent.
Nigeria’s experience shows prevention, compassion, and regulation can coexist. For Mozambique, balancing revenue with social protection is becoming unavoidable.
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