In Zimbabwe, a storm against illegal gambling machines is sweeping across the country, especially those hidden in residential homes and street shops known as "mini casinos." Regulatory authorities and police have joined forces, vowing to comprehensively rectify the increasingly rampant underground gambling chaos.
Recently, the Zimbabwe Lottery and Gambling Commission (ZLC) in conjunction with the Republic of Zimbabwe Police launched a large-scale crackdown, seizing and destroying 84 unlicensed gambling machines. Authorities are angered by the fact that these devices are not only distributed in informal shops but even appear in ordinary family living rooms, with some residents even transforming entire rooms into temporary casinos open to neighbors.
These gambling machines are brightly colored, usually known as "fruit machines," adorned with patterns of cherries, bells, and stars, attracting a large number of teenagers and low-income groups to bet. As these machines proliferate disorderly, legitimate gambling operators suffer losses, national tax revenue is eroded, and social morals also face challenges.
Dr. Misheck Chingozha, the interim secretary of the Zimbabwe Lottery and Gambling Commission, in an interview with The Herald, stated: "Illegal gambling not only threatens the survival of the legal industry but also endangers the economic order and public morals of the nation. We send a clear signal—all gambling devices must be registered and can only be installed in licensed venues, and any violation of regulations will be prosecuted according to law."
Chingozha calls on the public to remain vigilant, not to be tempted by short-term gains to participate in illegal gambling, and to actively report underground operations. He pointed out that participating in illegal gambling is actually contributing to the underground economy, damaging the public interest of the entire society.
"Gambling is an industry that should be strictly regulated. We cannot tolerate individuals setting up casinos in their own garages, bedrooms, or street stalls, which is not only illegal but also destroys our shared living environment," he said.
The phenomenon of illegal gambling has spread in the capital, Harare, and other densely populated areas. Many citizens report seeing minors lingering in front of these machines near their homes, and some landlords even profit by renting out space. These "home casinos" are gradually evolving into sources of community chaos.
Chingozha emphasizes that the public must realize the significance of legal gambling. "Legal operations not only protect the rights of players but also provide significant tax revenue for the government, which is used for education, healthcare, and infrastructure construction. Only by the whole society jointly resisting illegal gambling can the industry develop healthily."
The decisive action by the Zimbabwean regulatory authorities shows the government's firm determination to regulate the gambling market and curb illegal economic activities. Next, the authorities plan to strengthen public legal education, enhance public awareness of gambling laws, and curb the spread of illegal gambling in homes and communities.
This chaos of "mini casinos" is forcing Zimbabwe towards a more regulated, transparent new phase in the gambling industry.
