1 July 2025 | Insight
Tanzania’s Gamble on Youth: Tightening Laws and Policies to Safeguard Children By Cuthbert Kazora, Managing Partner, Theodore Attorneys

Tanzania’s gambling laws are clear in their intent: children must be kept away from all forms of gambling. The Gaming Act (Cap. 41, R.E. 2019) sets the minimum legal age for participation at 18 and imposes strict penalties on operators who allow minors to engage in betting or even be present near gambling activity. From land-based casinos to amusement machines, the law prohibits access by underage individuals and places an affirmative obligation on licensees to maintain clear boundaries.

These legal protections are reinforced by the 2003 Gaming Regulations, which stipulate rigorous licensing requirements, including the physical location of gaming establishments. Operators are prohibited from setting up near schools, places of worship, hospitals, or areas likely to attract minors. Violations of these requirements carry criminal sanctions ranging from fines to custodial sentences. On paper, the regulatory regime leaves little ambiguity — gambling in Tanzania is, by law, strictly for adults.

Yet despite this firm legal stance, underage gambling is a growing concern.

Recent reports from civil society groups, local media, and community stakeholders paint a troubling picture. Children are frequently observed accessing betting shops, placing wagers, and interacting with gambling environments that should be off-limits. In many cases, enforcement appears weak or inconsistent, revealing a significant gap between legal frameworks and real-world compliance.

This disconnect has only been amplified by the rapid rise of online gambling platforms. While the Cybercrimes Act (2015) is primarily geared toward data protection, fraud prevention, and online abuse, its broad mandate to safeguard children from online harm positions it as a potentially powerful tool for addressing digital gambling risks. The Act does not currently contain provisions specifically banning online gambling by minors, but amendments to Tanzania’s child protection laws in 2024 suggest an expanding regulatory focus on internet-based threats, including those posed by gaming and betting platforms.

The shift to digital has brought new complexities. With increasing smartphone penetration and mobile money services, young people — often unsupervised — can now access online betting apps and websites with relative ease. These platforms often lack robust age-verification mechanisms, allowing minors to navigate gambling content without meaningful barriers. Without urgent intervention, digital gambling risks outpacing the existing safeguards designed for physical premises.

To address these challenges, Tanzania must adopt a more dynamic and enforcement-focused strategy  one that prioritizes technology, compliance, and inter-agency coordination. The first step is the adoption of effective age-verification systems, both offline and online. Physical venues should be mandated to conduct identity checks at the point of entry, with clear obligations tied to license conditions. In the digital realm, platforms must be required to implement age-gating mechanisms, integrate with national ID systems, and — where feasible — deploy biometric verification to ensure users meet the age threshold.

Enforcement at the licensing level is also critical. Regulation 19 of the 2003 framework already prohibits proximity to sensitive areas such as schools and youth centres, but this provision must be more assertively applied. Licensing authorities, led by the Gaming Board of Tanzania, should conduct unannounced inspections and swiftly sanction operators found in violation. Licences should be suspended or revoked for repeated non-compliance.

Advertising, too, is a key area in need of reform. The Advertising Code of Practice issued in 2023 by the Gaming Board provides a strong foundation, including restrictions on child-friendly imagery, bans during children’s television hours, and mandatory responsible gambling messages. These standards, however, must be backed by real penalties. Violators should face fines, public naming, and possible restrictions on future marketing.

In the digital sphere, a whole-of-government approach is required. Regulators should work hand-in-hand with telecommunication companies, internet service providers, and mobile payment operators to restrict access to online betting platforms by underage users. Gambling operators should be required to monitor user behaviour and report suspicious activity, while cybersecurity and law enforcement agencies collaborate on identifying and prosecuting platforms that knowingly target or admit minors.

“Tanzania is at a crossroads,” notes Kazora. “The legal intent is strong, but the enforcement mechanisms must catch up with the reality of how children access and interact with gambling platforms, especially online.”

Indeed, without a more proactive and integrated strategy, the protective barrier around children will continue to erode. Left unchecked, underage exposure to gambling carries far-reaching implications from addiction and financial harm to negative effects on mental health and academic performance.

Still, the path forward is clear. Tanzania already has the legal tools it needs. What’s required now is a shift from passive regulation to active protection. With the right investment in enforcement, public awareness, and digital oversight, the country can close the gap between policy and practice — and honour its legislative promise to protect the next generation.