By A Correspondent

The financially strained Harare regime is set to impose a tax on sports betting punters, starting January 1, 2025.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube made this announcement during his national budget presentation on Thursday.

“Honourable Members would be aware that betting is popular in nature, as indicated by the proliferation of Sports Betting Houses countrywide,” Ncube said, acknowledging the widespread appeal of sports betting in Zimbabwe.

He further explained that while sports betting punters earn income from their winnings, this income is currently not subject to Personal Income Tax. To address this gap, Ncube proposed the introduction of a 10% withholding tax on gross winnings for sports betting punters, effective from January 1, 2025. “To include punters in the tax base, I propose to introduce a 10% Withholding Tax on gross winnings of Sports Betting Punters,” he stated.