[ English ]

The prospect of living in Zimbabwe is something of a gamble at the moment, so you may imagine that there might be very little desire for patronizing Zimbabwe’s casinos. Actually, it appears to be operating the other way, with the desperate economic circumstances creating a larger ambition to gamble, to try and find a quick win, a way out of the crisis.

For the majority of the locals subsisting on the tiny nearby wages, there are 2 established types of gambling, the state lotto and Zimbet. Just as with practically everywhere else on the planet, there is a state lottery where the chances of succeeding are remarkably low, but then the winnings are also unbelievably large. It’s been said by economists who understand the idea that the lion’s share do not purchase a card with a real expectation of hitting. Zimbet is founded on one of the national or the UK soccer divisions and involves predicting the results of future games.

Zimbabwe’s gambling dens, on the other foot, cater to the considerably rich of the state and sightseers. Up until a short while ago, there was a very big sightseeing industry, based on nature trips and trips to Victoria Falls. The economic woes and connected bloodshed have carved into this trade.

Amongst Zimbabwe’s casinos, there are 2 in the capital, Harare, the Carribea Bay Resort and Casino, which has 5 gaming tables and slots, and the Plumtree gambling den, which has only slots. The Zambesi Valley Hotel and Entertainment Center in Kariba also has just one armed bandits. Mutare has the Monclair Hotel and Casino and the Leopard Rock Hotel and Casino, the pair of which have table games, slot machines and video machines, and Victoria Falls has the Elephant Hills Hotel and Casino and the Makasa Sun Hotel and Casino, both of which have gaming machines and tables.

In addition to Zimbabwe’s casinos and the above mentioned lottery and Zimbet (which is considerably like a parimutuel betting system), there is a total of 2 horse racing complexes in the country: the Matabeleland Turf Club in Bulawayo (the second metropolis) and the Borrowdale Park in Harare.

Since the market has shrunk by more than 40% in the past few years and with the associated deprivation and conflict that has arisen, it isn’t understood how healthy the vacationing business which is the foundation for Zimbabwe’s gambling halls will do in the next few years. How many of the casinos will be alive until things get better is basically not known.