What happens when a country obsessed with betting ditches the betting slip for a smartphone? Tanzania found out fast. The neighbourhood betting shop, once the town gathering spot where everyone congregated, has moved online, and now you can place a bet from anywhere, anytime, as long as you got an internet connection. Mobile money made it easy. Cheap data made it irresistible. Live odds made it instant. But here’s the thing: when betting gets this easy, this personal, how do you keep it from going too far in a country where the game has always been part of the culture?
Technology is moving at an absolutely breakneck speed, and it’s sometimes hard to keep up with new developments. And the primary driver behind that rapid development? The answer: entertainment. People want to be entertained, and the leisure market is massive. And as with just about everything in life, entertainment went first digital, then personal. Everything is on an app on a device in the palm of your hand. The corner shop which used to be the hub of betting has turned online. Behviour has changed, and thanks to tech, the buzz is still the same.
The Evolution of Betting in Tanzania
Walk through Dar es Salaam ten years ago, and you’d find clusters of betting shops on just about every block. They were as much social spaces as they were business premises. The people debated line-ups, argued odds, placed their bets, and celebrated wins. That physical model is still there, but smartphones and mobile data have upended the landscape.
The convenience of mobile betting has turned what was once a destination activity into something people do at home, at work, on a bus, anywhere you can connect to the web. Platforms such as Betway place the same buzz directly on a user’s screen, allowing instant wagers on football, live matches, and virtual casino games. The idea of queuing to place a bet has become outdated, replaced by tap-and-go simplicity that suits the modern mobile-first lifestyle.
Measuring the Shift
Digital gaming has grown to represent the majority of all wagers placed nationwide. Industry estimates show that sports betting accounts for around 63 percent of Tanzania’s gaming market, and more than 70 percent of those bets now take place online.
The numbers tell a story about progress and infrastructure. Internet penetration is almost universal and mobile-money use has become ubiquitous. Smartphone affordability continues to improve, making them more accessible to just about everyone.
This trend is expected to continue. Research and Markets projects the Tanzanian gaming industry will expand steadily through 2029, fuelled by mobile access and flexible payment systems. What once was a niche market in shopfronts is now a nationwide digital network.
Drivers Behind the Digital Boom
Several forces have accelerated the migration from shops to screens.
First is mobile connectivity. Tanzania’s telecom sector has expanded coverage to rural regions, offering low-cost data bundles that keep users online. Betting thrives in that environment.
Second, mobile money has replaced the cash counter. Services such as M-Pesa and Tigo Pesa make it simple to deposit, withdraw, and manage winnings without ever touching physical currency. That convenience is a game-changer.
Third, innovation from licensed operators has made the experience more engaging. Live betting, instant odds updates, and in-app analytics replicate the excitement of in-person play while removing logistical friction. Add in formal regulation from the Gaming Board of Tanzania, and you have a market that’s fast becoming a benchmark for East African digital gaming.
What It Means for Players and Platforms
For players, it means accessibility. The same smartphone used for banking or news now doubles as a betting slip. That convenience, however, also calls for informed choices: reliable platforms, secure transactions, and awareness of spending habits.
For platforms, the migration raises the stakes. They must build trust, comply with strict regulations, and invest in technology that keeps pace with both bandwidth and consumer expectations. Reliability, transparent payouts, and seamless mobile integration have become non-negotiable. Those who fail on any of these fronts risk losing customers to competitors who understand that user experience is as critical as odds or bonuses.
The Future Outlook
Retail shops will likely survive in areas with limited connectivity, but the trajectory is clear: online is the new normal. Mobile infrastructure is strengthening and regulatory oversight is deepening, and growth will depend on maintaining credibility and protecting players’ confidence.
The next few years could also see diversification. Casino-style games and live dealers are gaining ground, but success will depend on how responsibly the industry handles its reach. Players want convenience, but they also want assurance that their money — and data — are safe.
The transformation from shops to screens shows no sign of slowing. Tanzania’s betting evolution demonstrates how technology and consumer demand can reshape an entire industry, one mobile transaction at a time.