Zambia, a country located on the east coast of Africa, has long been associated with safari parks and Victoria Falls. However, as the country develops as a tourist location, other areas have also started to grow such as the gambling industry. Overall the country has 11 casinos. All but one of them are located in the capital of the country Lusaka, with the odd one out situated in Livingstone, the former capital. With that in mind, let’s look at the gambling landscape in the country.
Online Casinos
Zambia has over six million active internet users which has contributed to the growth of online casinos and betting. A 2019 report by Alexa showed two gambling companies appeared in the top 20 most visited sites in the country, which highlights the level of competition in this area. Sites such as Bwin offer an online casino in Zambia for gamblers to play several different versions of slot games. Users can also play other games like blackjack, table games or roulette. As technology develops in the country, so too will the online gambling industry. But it is not only the online industry that is growing.
In-Person Casinos
Casinos in Lusaka, the capital of over three million people are luxuriously named after some of the most famous global casino destinations: Great Wall, Monte Carlo and Venice to name a few. These casinos offer the usual array of games like poker, baccarat and slots. As with many gambling destinations around the world they are located in hotel chains that have started operations in the country such as the Radisson Blu and Fairmont resorts, hoping to attract tourists with disposable income to spend.
Factors Driving Development
On the online side of things, there are certain factors driving growth. As mentioned, nearly 40% of the population have access to internet services. However, another aspect of technology driving gambling growth in the country is the cashless payment industry. Betting companies have partnered with cashless payment providers to facilitate transfer of money for users from their bank accounts to accounts on gambling sites. This has allowed more users to access online gambling sites.
When considering gambling in southern African countries, it is also important to remember the influence of China. Zambia is reported to have the most Chinese lenders of any other African state. China also owns up to 70% of the country’s construction industry. As Chinese money helps to develop infrastructure in Africa, gambling infrastructure will develop too in a bid to attract Chinese tourists. As Zambia develops as a gambling destination, it will aim to bring more visitors from the Asian country, especially those who want to try something different from Macau.
The digital connectivity of Zambia is increasing as well as its tourism industry. This can only have a positive effect on the gambling industry. While, a spillover effect from neighboring countries such as South Africa, which is well known for its casinos, will also positively affect Zambia’s domestic industry. The same effect has already been witnessed in regard to the safari industry with more visitors coming to Zambia for a different experience.
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