Best Sports betting Casinos in Zambia: Top 10 Casino Websites 2024

Everything you need to know about betting in Zambia

Zambia has a population of just above 18 million, with a sizeable number having a love for sports. Besides, most Zambians have internet-enabled mobile devices, which they use to place bets on sports online. Most Zambians also like the convenience of betting via mobile apps, which enable them to complete all steps just like on the operator's website.

Mobile apps also make deposits and withdrawals from betting accounts easier. And for Zambians who enjoy live betting, a mobile app will provide the best experience. All these factors combined make sports betting a popular form of gambling in the country.

Zambian Players' Favorite Sports to bet on

Zambian bettors like sports and are never afraid of risking their money to exhibit their passion for the sport. While the number of sporting events covered by Zambian betting sites can be enormous, a few sports usually top the betting charts. Here are some standout favorites among Zambian sports bettors:

Football

Football is the most prominent sport in Zambian. In 2012, Chipolopolo, the national football team of Zambia, won the Africa Cup of Nations, an indication that the sport is prevalent in the country, with the majority of Zambians wagering on it. In football, bettors get all the major common markets like Handicaps, Points Spread, Over/Under, and Outright. At the same time, football offers many exclusive markets, including the Highest Goal Scorer, First to Score, and many more.

When it comes to famous tournaments, there are many high-voltage tournaments for Zambians to bet on. For example, while the English Premier League may be England's domestic league, it enjoys a massive following in Zambia, just as in other parts of the world.

Football Teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City enjoy a massive fanbase in Zambia thanks to their mesmerizing performances. Consequently, the league has become a prime target for Zambian punters.

Basketball

Zambians are also avid basketball punters. While the sport is very near and dear to Americans, it is played worldwide, offering enormous opportunities for the best basketball bookmakers in Zambia to take bets.

In addition, tournaments like Basketball World Cup and National Basketball Association (NBA) are excellent sources of entertainment for punters and viewers in the country. Examples of markets exclusive to basketball include NBA totals, Alternate Points Spread, and Game Props.

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey betting does not enjoy as much traction as football or basketball. However, this doesn't mean it is not a great sport for betting in Zambia. On top of the common markets already discussed, hockey offers Puck Line, Props, and many more in various tournaments, including KHL and NHL.

Best Odds for Zambian Players

The best bookmakers in Zambia will always go the extra mile to maintain high fairness levels. One way of doing this is by offering the best odds, which provide the highest value for money. Now that odds on sports events are not the same across sportsbooks in Zambia, bettors have to find sites that offer high-value odds. That said, there is good evidence that big international sites offer better odds than local or regional ones.

Biggest Local Tournaments and Events in Zambia

Among the biggest local tournaments and sporting events to bet on in Zambia include:

Zambia Open
Zambia Super League
Zambia National Division One
Zambia Basketball League
Zambia RFU National League

Biggest Sporting Events in Zambia

Football is among the popular events that offer the best betting opportunities. And while Zambians love betting on local football matches, the best online bookmakers offer markets on international football clubs and competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, Europe League, and the English Premier League.

Top-tier football leagues in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany are also big football events with excellent betting opportunities. Other big sporting events for betting in Zambia include Major League Soccer, Formula One, NBA, Olympics, and Tour de France,

Are Bonuses Popular in Zambia

Zambians get a welcome bonus when they open a new betting account with an online bookmaker that offers the same. While not every online bookie will offer this bonus, most bookies in Zambia offer a welcome bonus. Most welcome bonuses come as a first deposit bonus.

This means the reward is pegged on the first deposit Zambian punters make. However, welcome bonuses can also be in the form of bet credits or free bets. Players may need to place the first bet to claim in this case. Other bonuses offered to Zambian bettors include VIP Loyalty Schemes and Money-back specials.

Sports betting Payment Methods in Zambia

The lack of restrictions practically gives Zambians total power of choice when it comes to topping up their player accounts and withdrawing winnings from those accounts. For many sportsbooks in Zambia, payment methods vary. However, specific payment solutions are so widespread that every gambling site supports them.

Examples of these include VISA and Mastercard. These cards act as payment network processors. To use any of these cards for deposits, Zambian bettors need to have a bank account with a financial institution that partners with them. But what are other payment options available to Zambian bettors?

E-wallets

An e-wallet is a platform service through which Zambian punters can electronically top up their accounts and withdraw winnings. It typically allows users to work in different currencies. Popular e-wallets in Zambia include Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal.

Mobile Wallets

Mobile money is the most utilized payment option in Zambia today. This cashless payment solution allows Zambians to load their betting account from, for instance, their MTN Mobile Money account. The system also works for withdrawals. Other local mobile payment solutions punters in Zambia include Zanaco Xpress, Airtel Tigo Money, and Zamtel Money.

History of Betting in Zambia

Zambia had gambling laws in place as early as 1950 when the Lotteries Act came to light. Having been under British rule since 1888, it is safe to assume that the British introduced gambling in Zambia. However, the actual gambling history of Zambia can be traced to 1964, when the country became a republic.

Nevertheless, the industry did not take off as expected, and for a long time, Zambia had been associated with tourism and mining. That said, the technological advancements witnessed in the 21st Century saw many firms in the country start to offer sports betting. Naturally, this attracted many followers, which has since mushroomed into millions of bettors.

The Lotteries Act enacted in 1950 is still in operation, albeit with a few changes. Under this law, a national lottery was established. The law also provided for sports betting by outlining the regulations operators had to follow to offer services in Zambia. In 1958, the Betting Control Act was created to establish the Betting Control and Licensing Board, which issues licenses to betting operators in Zambia. Zambia would amend this law in 1994.

Betting Nowadays in Zambia

Currently, betting in Zambia is at an all-time high. First came betting shops and then online bookmakers sites, which offer hundreds of betting opportunities daily. One thing to note is that betting in Zambia has been shaped by legality. Of course, the Zambian betting sector has experienced modest modifications following legalization.

Thanks to internet connectivity and advanced smartphone technology, more and more Zambians are gaining interest in online sports betting. Sportsbooks have been licensed to serve the citizens who want to bet to meet this increasing demand.

Future of Betting in Zambia

The earlier presence of gambling acts in Zambia was a telltale sign that the country's betting sector and gambling, in general, would have a healthy development. The internet penetration rate in Zambia is about 28% as of 2022. This is a not-so-bad rate when considered vis-a-vis other African countries. And since this has kept increasing every year, all signs point to the fact that online Zambia betting has a bright future.

A draft on how to improve overall gambling in Zambia was advanced in 2019. Although the contents of the draft are yet to be implemented, the Zambian betting industry is already headed in the right direction, and online sports betting in the country may soon become a fully mature industry.

Are Bookmakers Legal in Zambia?

Sports betting is 100% legal in Zambia. So how can one bet in Zambia? Well, the question of how to bet in/from Zambia is vital. Of course, there are a dozen of online bookmakers in Zambia and even more offline. This means Zambians can have their fair share of sports betting online or offline without breaking any law.

With the government of Zambia being the regulator, punters are well protected since every sportsbook must be licensed to operate in the country. However, Zambians need to check the site's license documents to ensure they are legal. Sticking to legitimate sites reduces the risk of getting poor services or scammed.

Betting Legislation in Zambia

The current gambling legislation in Zambia covers both land-based and online betting. As revealed earlier, Zambia had betting laws as early as 1950. Unlike other countries that leave their gambling markets unregulated, Zambia confronted the elephant in the room and enacted relevant legislation to regulate the industry. Of course, betting laws in the country may have been amended severally for purposes of finetuning.

Betting Acts in Zambia

No country can successfully regulate betting without specific Acts and policies in place. Zambian authorities are fully aware of this, and that's why there is the Betting Control Act, the law that governs all matters of betting in the country.

Passed in 1958, this is one of Zambia's oldest pieces of gambling legislation. Rather than leaving this law to become obsolete, the government of Zambia amended it several times over the decades that followed to be in line with the rhythms of the time.

The Betting Control Act governs both land-based and internet sports betting, and it allowed for the creation of the betting regulatory body called the Betting Control and Licensing Board in Zambia. This body sets the terms and conditions of licensing sports bookies. The regulation stipulates that all betting licenses must be renewed annually if the operator wants to continue offering their services to Zambian punters. The body also handles the regulation of the entire Zambian betting market.

Like many countries, Zambia does not allow minors to engage in any form of gambling, let alone sports betting. As such, punters must meet the legal age of 18.

FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Zambia?

Luckily, both online and offline sports betting are legal in Zambia, and so are all forms of gambling, including casinos and lotteries. The Betting Control Act is the primary law regulating the country's gambling industry.

Is it safe to bet online in Zambia?

Yes. There could be no safer way to bet than doing so online. All operators in Zambia must obtain a license, which is renewed every year. Any violations of the set gambling policies and start may result in a license withdrawal. However, that doesn't mean that Zambians are immune to online scammers. Hence, due diligence must be done when choosing any sportsbook in the country.

Can Zambians bettors play with kwacha?

Yes. Many bookies in Zambia, especially local ones, will be happy to take this legal tender.

Can one bet with a sportsbook based outside of Zambia?

Yes. Many foreign sites welcome the membership of Zambians. However, it is advisable for bettors carefully assess every platform for validity before signing up.

Are bettors required to pay tax on winnings?

Bettors at Zambian land-based casinos pay a tax of 10% (non-residents) and 20% (residents) on their winnings. On the other hand, online bettors keep all their winnings.

Top-rated Sports betting gambling sites in Zambia