• Taxes are in line with the prevailing circumstances pertaining to gambling and betting business.
• Zambia has become a fertile centre in terms of the gambling industry in the Southern region.
• Government benefits from the taxes.

Zambia Gaming Association (ZGA) says proposed tax changes in the 2024 national budget are in favor of the gambling and betting business in the country.
Association General Secretary Darius Sinkamba told Money FM News that in an interview that Zambia has become a fertile centre in terms of the gambling industry in the Southern region because it is a stable and healthy investment destination.
Mr. Sinkamba said this therefore speaks volumes in terms of the people that are investing in Zambia for business, hence government benefits from the taxes.
He emphasized that paying tax is important as it is the only source where government can realize revenue quickly and sort out the pressure of the budget.
“When it comes to taxes in every nation, no one wants to be paying the tax and I think it’s the phobia worldwide. But again we forget that this is the only source where every government can realize money quickly and sort out the pressure of the budget into the social sector, whether infrastructure development or health facilities.”
“Even the taxes that government has proposed in the 2024 budget are in line with the prevailing circumstances pertaining to the gambling and betting business because we have seen that on the African continent especially when we talk about Southern region, Zambia has become a fertile centre in terms of the gambling industry,” Mr. Sinkamba stated.
Mr. Sinkamba said the Association has embarked on a strategic plan to sensitize members on tax compliance because for any operator to do any business in Zambia, they have to go in line with the set regulations.
He further stated that government has revised the entry requirements for the gambling and gaming business to encourage many Zambians to participate in the industry.
“So now government also in the gambling and gaming business has revised the entry issues to encourage many Zambians to participate in the industry and also the sources of finance that are coming in from other foreign investors.”
“Government is trying to streamline and put controls in terms of curtailing externalization of funds, becomes when most people make profit from the Zambian economy, the money will easily find itself outside the country without indigenous citizens benefiting,” he said.
One of the proposed tax changes in 2024 include increased tax concession for businesses in a rural area from 14.2% to 20% of the applicable corporate income tax rate for the first five years of operations, which will apply to all sectors, except mining.