Zimbabwe’s National Arts Council and the Lotteries and Gaming Board have launched a Responsible Gambling Skit Challenge that asks creators to use short social-media videos to promote betting limits and self-control.
The competition calls on skit makers and other content creators to produce one- to two-minute videos under the theme “Responsible Gambling — Know When to Stop!”. Participants must publish their entries on Facebook and Instagram, tag NACZ and Lotteries and Gaming Board, and use the hashtag #ResponsibleGambling2026. The challenge remains open until 31 August, and the top entry by views and engagement will win US$1,000.
According to SiGMA News, the campaign is meant to communicate responsible gambling messages through short-form content and to encourage a cautious approach to betting. It asks entrants to address four themes: knowing when to stop, gambling for fun rather than income, setting personal limits and helping friends gamble responsibly. The campaign also says gambling should not be treated as a guaranteed source of income, a way to recover losses, or a solution to financial difficulties.
The launch fits into a broader effort by the regulator to tighten oversight of Zimbabwe’s gambling sector. At its most recent annual general meeting in Harare, chief executive Godfrey Mutobaya reported that the board generated revenue of ZiG47.97 million, or US$1.89 million, in 2025, and posted an operational surplus of ZiG2.48 million, or US$97,800.
He also said joint operations with law enforcement led to 29 arrests and the seizure of 94 illegal gaming machines, which were later destroyed under court orders. The board recruited 10 new staff across compliance, finance, procurement and human resources during the year.
Board chair Eugenia Chidhakwa said the regulator had achieved full compliance with corporate governance requirements, appointed a substantive chief executive and established seven committees. She said the board is preparing to roll out a real-time Gaming Management System to monitor operators and improve revenue reporting, as part of a wider modernisation programme.
The legal backdrop is also shifting. Amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act are being processed by the government, amid concern about illegal online gambling and the risks tied to unlicensed activity, particularly for young people. The board’s website says the minimum legal gambling age in Zimbabwe is 18 and that operators must have procedures to prevent underage gambling, while the CMS expert guide says the Lotteries and Gaming Act regulates lottery and gaming activity in the country and that online gambling is not a regulated activity.
The wider enforcement push has already included outreach on the ground. The board visited betting outlets in Mutare and Marondera to speak directly with punters about safer play, spending limits and the dangers of chasing losses.
