Best Real Money Online Casinos in Zimbabwe 2021

Gambling is considered as a vice and frowned upon in many societies – in the past, Zimbabwe belonged to this category. The small landlocked country is located close to South Africa, a gambling powerhouse in Africa.

Compared to its neighbours, Zimbabwe does not have a big gambling market. Economic instability and underdevelopment played a huge part in that, as did traditional disapproval of gambling. But things are changing for Zimbabweans, and fast.

Thanks to the rise of internet connectivity, Zimbabwe punters have access to a whole new world of gambling. Online casinos, sportsbooks, and other betting platforms are accepting Zimbabwe players in a big way. This is on top of the offline gambling market already available in big cities like Harare.

That said, these are good times for gambling enthusiasts in Zimbabwe. If you want to try out the thrill of gambling in Zimbabwe online casinos, read this guide from start to end. For a safe and enjoyable playing experience, you have to keep in mind several aspects.

To begin with, make sure that you are not breaking any laws in your country! Is gambling legal in Zimbabwe? Do the authorities allow online casinos to operate in Zimbabwe? Is it safe to play at offshore casinos?

You will find clear answers to all these important questions in this guide. For more information on other African countries, legalities check out our guide. The topic is a bit complicated, as Zimbabwe does not have any laws related to online casino gambling. But the good thing is playing at Zimbabwe online casinos is NOT illegal.

But is it safe to play real money casino games online? That is an entirely different matter – you need to be able to identify good casinos and tell them apart from scam sites. And to help you with that, the experts here at Playcasino.co.za have created in-depth guides.

Our beginners guide to Zimbabwe online casinos 2021 will teach you all the basics – best online casinos, where to find them, important features, best Zimbabwe withdrawal methods, casino bonuses, mobile gaming and much more.

After reading this guide, you will know how to find the best online casinos for Zimbabweans. We will also give you quick links to some of the safest sites, handpicked by our team of experts for your convenience. You will learn how to use the best casino bonuses and win money. And most important;y, we will also tell you the best way to withdraw that money!

Internet is a relatively new arrival in the country, compared to other parts of the world. Only around 60% of the population have access to the internet in Zimbabwe. But online casinos is a major global business, active since at least the mid-1990s.

There are thousands of active online casinos in the market these days, and new ones seem to launch almost every week. Finding a safe and trustworthy casino online is important – in such a crowded market, you are certain to find some “rotten apples.”

The vast majority of the sites are legit – but their names are tarnished by these scam sites. Some casinos will cheat you using many different methods – illegal software, unfair terms, refusing to pay your winnings, that sort of thing.

Thankfully, there are ways in which you can spot a great casino by certain features it has – conversely, casinos that do not have these features are not worth your time or money. Here at Playcasino.co.za, we use the following factors to identify the safest Zimbabwe online casinos:

Licensed & Regulated by a Gaming Authority

The best online casino is one that has a license from your local gambling authority. Unfortunately, this is only available to players who live in certain countries/regions – UK and Europe are examples. These places have fully legalized and regulated gambling.

Casinos have to pay registration fees and get a license approved by government authorities like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and a few others. To get these licenses, casinos have to follow certain rules and regulations regarding player safety, fairness, and online security.

Now, Zimbabwe gambling laws do not regulate online casinos. There is no licensing system in place to ensure the safety of Zimbabwe players. So you have to rely on the next best thing to ensure safe gambling – pick offshore casinos that are licensed by authorities in the UK, Malta, Gibraltar, Curacao, Isle of Man, or others.

In general, you can trust a licensed online casino – they tend to be operated by experienced businesses. Scam sites do not bother to spend the huge fees required to gain a license. UK and other Europe based licenses are the best, as they offer maximum player-friendly features.

Player Safety & Security

Like banks, online casinos are considered high-value targets by cybercriminals. These are sites that have a lot of cash transactions, banking details of players, and other secret data about customers. You should always pick casinos that maintain the highest standards in online security.

Look for websites that use “HTTPS” on all its pages – most of them advertise it as “SSL” or “TSL” encryptions. At the bare minimum, the website should have 128-bit SSL encryption – this will ensure that any information you send or receive from the casino is in code to prevent theft.

Also, look for pages dedicated to “Privacy Settings,” and “Responsible Gambling” at the casino. These are features designed to protect your data privacy and personal wellbeing. Scam sites do not care about these things, but real casinos do.

They do not want to hurt you – and gambling will hurt if you don’t do it in a mature, responsible manner. To help players avoid addiction, casinos offer many special tools and options – you may use these to reduce or cut off your gambling activity at the site when you feel things go out of control.

Variety of Games and Quality of Game Software

There are more than half a dozen land-based casinos in Zimbabwe. In these resorts, you can play at best a few dozen table games and hundreds of slot machines. But that is no match for what you get at the best Zimbabwe online casinos in 2020.

It is quite common for online casinos to offer 1000+ video slot games and hundreds of table games. This is possible because in the online casino business there are dozens of companies called software providers.

A casino software provider is a company that creates and leases card games, video slots, and other gambling games to online casinos. Some, like Netent, Microgaming, and Betsoft, have hundreds of games of all categories in their collection.

Then there are smaller brands like Quickspin, Red Tiger, and Booming that focus entirely on releasing video slots and 3D slots. For the best gaming experience, you should pick a casino that has titles from multiple providers/vendors. Or you can also opt for a single-vendor casino powered by an established name like Microgaming, Rival Gaming, or RTG.

You must take a careful look at the software provider – established names are preferred because they offer superb graphics, sound, themes, and fairness. That last part is important – these companies get their games tested by labs to ensure that no rigging is possible (100% fair RNG).

If you play at a casino offering non-branded games, there is a big risk of getting cheated – the casino may be rigging the games in their favour. This does not happen when you play a Netent slot or Microgaming slot – all their games are guaranteed to be fair and deliver completely random results on each bet.

Frequency and Quality of Bonuses & Promotions

One of the main advantages of playing online is the option to claim bonuses. Almost all top Zimbabwe online casinos offer exciting cash bonuses and free spins to players. The aim is simple – attract new players to the casino.

Online gambling is a very competitive business and casinos are desperate for players. This situation is great for players as they get to enjoy very generous bonuses that often double or triple their available betting money. And to take things even further, some casinos even offer 100% free bonuses – no cash deposit needed!

These bonuses are similar to the casino comps you find at land casinos – free drinks, meals, and even hotel accommodation. But there is a big difference – you have to to be a rich gambler to get comps from a land casino. On the other hand, anyone can claim a casino bonus online and increase their chances of winning big money!

Often, all you need to do is create a new player account at a casino to become eligible for a bonus. Some others require cash deposits. The best Zimbabwe online casinos offer a wide range of exciting bonuses to new players as well as loyal regulars. You can find some of the top offers featured here on Playcasino.co.za.

It is also important to note that all bonuses are not equally great – some have features that give you more bang for your buck. The quality of an offer will vary depending on the bonus terms and conditions attached to it. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a casino bonus:

• Look for lower wagering requirements – around 30x or lower
• High cashout limits are better – above $100, or no limits at all
• The bonus should be available on multiple games/slots
• The bonus should have longer validity – more than 24 hours

As you can see, it is important not to jump into a casino just because they offer a 300% bonus or a $10,000 bonus. If the terms are set too high or low as shown above, you will not get much value out of that offer – meaning you may not be able to cash out any winnings. Use the checklist above to get bonuses that actually improve your chances of getting paid.

Popular and Safe Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

As they get players from all over the globe, online casinos accept payments in many different currencies – Euros, Pounds, US Dollars, Canadian Dollars, South African Rands etc. The best casino for Zimbabwe players would be one that accepts ZWL – Zimbabwe Dollars.

But since this is a small country with a small online casino market, most websites do not accept ZWL. That is not a major problem as modern online banking methods allow you to quickly convert your home currency into any major global currency in a matter of seconds.

At all top online casinos accepting Zimbabwe players, all you need to do is register and pick a currency like USD or EUR. When you deposit ZWL, the payment provider will do the currency conversion, for a minor fee.

Popular deposit and withdrawal methods at Zimbabwe online casinos include major credit cards (VISA Mastercard), online wallets like Skrill/Neteller, PayPal, and in some cases, Bitcoin as well. All these are extremely safe and secure payment methods.

Mobile Casino Gaming Experience

An astounding 95% of all internet users in Zimbabwe use mobile phones to connect online. To say that mobile gaming is crucial for this market would be an understatement! Thankfully, online casino gaming in 2021 is fully equipped for mobile users.

All top casinos use HTML5-based software platforms – they run extremely well on all major mobile brands. You don’t need an expensive gaming phone or iPhone to play online casino games. The best casinos offer native support for affordable budget phones and midrange Android smartphones alike.

Though all casinos offer mobile gaming by default, the quality may vary. We look at different factors – user-friendly layouts, loading times, design and looks, touch controls, and more before selecting the best Zimbabwe mobile casinos on our list.

Reliable & Responsive Customer Support

Online gaming can feel complicated, especially if you are a new player. This is why customer support is an important aspect of a good online casino. Ideally, you need a casino that offers live chat, email, and phone support.

As Zimbabwe is not a major casino market and all casinos are based in far off locations like Europe or West Indies (Curacao), phone support is usually not available to Zimbabwe players. But still, you should consider fast and responsive email and chat support available 24×7 as a minimum these days.

In addition, the casino should have a user-friendly website filled with important information. Look for sites that offer pages like casino terms and conditions, bonus terms, game rules, FAQ pages, banking information, privacy policy and more. The site should be available in simple and easy to read English.

At our recommended Zimbabwe online casinos 2021, you can claim a wide range of different bonuses. Here is a quick guide to some of the goodies that you can expect when you join an online casino:

No Deposit Bonuses

Casino bonuses are not “free” – most require you to make a cash deposit, except one kind. And that is a no deposit bonus – they are usually awarded to new players at a casino. All you need to do to claim one of these is to register and create a new player account.

No deposit bonuses can either be cash or free spins. Usually, the bonus is quite small -designed to give you a quick taste of real money gaming. They are incredibly popular among players as you can get them 100% free!

But there are some limitations – for starters, any no deposit cash bonus cannot be withdrawn straight away! You have to use it as betting money. Also, a casino will only give you this bonus once in your lifetime – when you join that casino for the first time.

Welcome Bonuses

These are like no deposit bonuses, but much larger and tied to your first deposit as a new player at the casino. Unlike no deposit offers which are less common, you can find welcome bonuses at most online casinos.

A welcome bonus can come with a single deposit or spread across multiple deposits. The casino will give you a percentage of your first deposit as extra money. This percentage is usually quite high, like 100-200% or more.

And to sweeten the deal even further, the casino will also offer extra free spins in the welcome package. It is not uncommon to see welcome packages worth US$ 5000 or more at online casinos in 2021. Like no deposit bonuses, you can only claim a welcome once at any online casino.

Regular Match Bonuses

These are similar to welcome bonuses – you get a percentage of your deposit as bonus cash. The key difference is that regular bonuses tend to be recurring offers – you can claim them multiple times at the casino. The size of the offer tends to be smaller as well – usually a few hundred dollars or more. Casinos offer them as daily, weekly, or seasonal bonuses to players.

Free Spins (with Cash Deposit)

Sometimes, a casino may offer a free spin deposit bonus – instead of bonus cash, you get anywhere from 10 to 100 free spins or more. These are real cash bets available at certain slots at the casino. Such offers are very popular among online casino players since most of them prefer playing video slots.

Cashback

Losing money is also a part of gambling. When it happens a lot, players are discouraged from making bets. This is something a casino wants to avoid, so they offer a special type of bonus called cashback. At online casinos, cashback is usually available as a monthly or weekly offer.

For example, if you lose 100,000 ZWL in a week, the casino will return a percentage of that as cashback into your account. Usually, 10% is the minimum you get, but it can go as high as 30% depending on factors like your VIP level. The bonus is real cash that is deposited into your bank account.

VIP Bonuses

Many online casinos for Zimbabwe players maintain VIP clubs – a system that rewards you when you play more. Each cash bet or deposit at the casino gives you VIP points – collect these and use them to improve your rank.

Clubs usually have anywhere from 5 to 8 levels. At higher levels, you get better VIP bonuses and perks. These rewards include free spins, bonus cash, exclusive VIP deposit bonuses, faster withdrawals, higher withdrawal limits, special tournaments, and so on.

Slots

Slots, short for video slots, are the online equivalent of slot machines you find at land-based casinos. With thousands of unique games, slots are the most common casino game you will find online. At times, they account for 90 or even 100% of all games at an online casino.

And they are also incredibly popular among players. Slots do not need advanced knowledge of rules or prior gaming experience. Unlike blackjack or poker, you can simply pick a slot game and start playing. Winning money on slots is easy – no skill or strategy required.

There are several types of online slots. Classic slots have three reels, simple themes, and offer quick and easy action. They are modelled after the early designs of slot machines. Players like them for their old-fashioned gameplay and feel.

For a more modern video gaming experience, 3D slots/video slots are better suited. They have more reels – 5 is the most common, though it can go as high as 8. These slots have stunning themes like Ancient Egypt, Vampires, Wild Animals, Greek Myths, Pirates, and movies.

They also offer a more varied gameplay experience. Bonus rounds will award you random free spins, while other features scatter and wild symbols appear and increase your chances of winning around.

These are some of the latest video slots you can play at the top Zimbabwe online casinos real money in 2021:

• Western Gold Megaways
• Book of Dead
• Rage of the Seas
• Big Buffalo
• Star Bounty
• Wild Safari

Table Games

Table games refer to classic casino card and board games like blackjack, poker, baccarat, poker, and roulette. These games have advanced rules and strategies – they are preferred by more hardcore players. If slots are for beginners and casual players, table games are the realm of more experienced players. They also have an advantage over slots – the winning chance in card games are much higher, at 98%. The following are some of the table games that you can play at the best Zimbabwe online casinos:

• American Roulette
• European Blackjack
• Pai Gow Poker
• American Blackjack
• Dragon Tiger

Live Casino Games

In table games, you are playing against a faceless computer, using virtual cards and dice. You can’t compare this to an actual casino experience, where you play against a human dealer. Live casino games were developed to fill this void.

These are real live gaming sessions, hosted at studios owned by the games providers. They use actual human dealers, shuffling real card decks. The game is broadcast live to your PC/mobile using online streaming technologies.

You can place bets and even chat with the hosts using buttons on the screen. This is as close to a real casino you can get from the comfort of your home. Live games are available 24×7 at top Zimbabwe casinos. Some common Games include:

• VIP Blackjack
• VIP Roulette
• French Roulette
• American Blackjack
• Dreamcatcher

Video Poker

This is a fast-paced game that mixes poker rules with video slots. You win money when you get any of the winning card combinations. There are many different variants of video poker available at online casinos. They include:

• Aces and Faces Poker
• Joker Poker
• Jacks or Better
• Deuces Wild

Jackpot Games

If you want to become rich beyond your wildest dreams, play a few rounds of progressive jackpot games! They are available at most online casinos in the form of video slots. The top prizes can vary from ten thousand dollars for local jackpots, to millions (US dollars) for progressive jackpots.

In progressive jackpots, there is a network of these games running at different casinos. As more players place bets, the prize pool keeps increasing. In local jackpots, the prize money is often fixed in advance. Some of the biggest progressive jackpots are:

• Divine Fortune
• Mega Moolah
• Mega Moolah ISIS
• King Cashalot

Bingo, Lotto, Scratchcards

Casinos often have a section dedicated to different bingo, keno, and scratchcard games. These games offer players a different gaming experience. Once in a while, when you want a change from slots or card, you might end up trying games like:

• Rainforest Magic Bingo
• Keno
• Candy Prize
• Hot Safari
• Foxin Wins Scratch

As already mentioned, over 95% of internet users in Zimbabwe are on mobile. They use mobile networks like Econet, Africom, and Telecel to access 4G networks. Econet leads the market with 65% of all consumers. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe has one of the most expensive mobile data costs on the planet. And costs are rising in recent years, leading to a dip in internet users in 2019.

iOS

With just around 10% of the userbase, iPhones are pretty rare in Zimbabwe. But if you belong to the minority of Apple owners in the country, don’t worry – online casinos are fully compatible with all modern iPhones and iPads.

Devices ranging from the newer iPhone 12, 11, X series, to older ones like 7, 6, and SE can play all modern zimbabwe online casinos on the browser. The same is also true for iPads.

Android

Users prefer Android phones with Samsung dominating at nearly 50% market control. Other brands used include Huawei and Intel. The most popular phones belong in the budget category – Galaxy Grand Series and Galaxy A2 Core.

With excellent Android support, modern online casinos are perfect for Zimbabwe players. You can play all your favourite games and slots on any phone launched after 2015. The same also goes for Android tablets.

Ever since 2000, sports betting has been officially legal in Zimbabwe. Offline betting shops are available in most major cities and towns across the country. Among local bookmakers, Zimbet is the industry leader. Horse racing and greyhound racing is popular in the country. Betting on horses in handled by the bookmakers at courses like the Mashonaland Turf Club.

On the other hand, online betting remains an emergent trend. Offshore sportsbooks are accepting Zimbabwe players in recent years. But the government is yet to pass any online specific laws. At the moment, online sports betting is possible in the country as it is not considered illegal.

Betting online is the smartest thing to do anywhere in 2021, including Zimbabwe for the following reasons:

• Accessibility: To be at land casinos, you have to stay in places like Harare. With online casinos, you can bet from anywhere as long as you have internet!
• Choice of games: online wins easily as it offers thousands of games, compared to a few dozen at offline casinos.
• Legal safety: Online gambling is not illegal. It is completely safe for Zimbabwe residents.
• Health safety: With COVID 19, going anywhere outside is not safe, especially if it is a crowded casino. Staying at home and playing online slots is the wiser thing to do.
• Bonuses and jackpots: Anyone can claim a bonus or win a jackpot at an online casino. You have to be a big shot or a tourist to do that at an offline casino in Zimbabwe.

These are the most popular payment methods for online casinos in Zimbabwe:

• VISA/Mastercard
• Paysafecard Prepaid Cards
• Neteller e-Wallet
• Skrill e-Wallet
• PaypalZimbabwe
• WebmoneyZimbabwe
• Bitcoin
• Online Wire Transfer

Zimbabwe gained official independence from colonial rule in 1980. The major gambling laws were passed a full 20 years later in 2000. The Lotteries and Gambling act legalized almost all types of offline gambling activities in Zimbabwe.

As of 2021, Zimbabweans have access to the national lottery, casino resorts, sports betting shops, horse racing, and greyhound racing thanks to the liberal attitude of the government. But traditionally, society has had a negative view of gambling. But attitudes are changing with the arrival of newer generations of players.

Land-Based Gambling

Casino resorts are legal in Zimbabwe, but they are largely restricted to upmarket locations in cities like Harare and Bulawayo. They cater mainly to visiting tourists. For Zimbabweans, the most popular form of gambling is sports betting and betting on horses. The country’s main racecourse is at Borrowdale Park in Harare.

There are several greyhound racing tracks across the country. Sports betting shops are widely available in all major parts of Zimbabwe. Popular sports include football and cricket. In 2015, the Government imposed controls on the number of betting licenses awarded, but existing bookmakers continue to thrive in the country.

Online Gambling

The national gambling laws of Zimbabwe have not been updated since 2000. Back in those days, internet gambling was still in its early stages in Europe and America – it was absent from Africa. As a result, the law remains silent on online casinos and online sportsbooks.

No local businesses are offering online gambling in Zimbabwe. All the operators are offshore, located in industrial centres like Malta, Gibraltar, UK, and Curacao. All forms of online gambling are easily available in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Gambling Laws

The following are the main laws related to gambling and betting in Zimbabwe:

• The Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2000

As of 2021, there are over 20 casino resorts of various sizes and ratings located across Zimbabwe. The capital Harare is home to at least 4 of them, closely followed by the other major city – Bulawayo.

Some smaller casinos are attached to tourist resorts near Victoria Falls, and other smaller cities like Masvingo, Gweru, Mutare, and Kariba. The biggest resorts typically offer 100+ slot machines and anywhere from 6 to 12 table games, including blackjack, roulette and poker.

The top land casinos/resorts in Zimbabwe are:

• Regency Casino Harare & Rainbow Towers Hotel, Harare
• Bulawayo Sun Casino
• Harare Sun Casino
• Caribbea Bay Resort & Casino
• Makasa Sun Casino

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by this flood of information? Don’t worry, we are here to help you find your feet in the wonderful world of online gambling. There is nothing too complicated to it – you just need to know some industry terms, a few important rules, and some tips and tricks. We will ease your way through it all, using our beginners guide to online gambling at Playcasino.co.za. It will teach you the following things:

• How to pick safe and reliable casinos?
• All about casino bonus types
• Important bonus terms and rules
• Best payment methods for Zimbabwe casinos
• Casino game terms like RTP, volatility etc