Legal framework and scope of the ban

The crackdown was legalised under Government Notice No. 487A, dated July 28, under the Business Licensing Act (Cap 101). The order is officially the Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025. According to the notice, “This Order may be cited as the Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this order, ‘non-citizen’ has the meaning ascribed to it under the Tanzania Citizenship Act.” The law clearly articulates that “The business activities specified in the Schedule to this Order shall not be carried out by non-citizens,” including having gambling machines outside licensed casinos and owning or managing micro and small industries.

Operator exemptions and continued licensing

Despite this, the ban does not affect Tanzania’s locally owned and fully licensed casinos. These gaming halls remain protected and unaffected, thriving unburdened by the new law. The interest of the government is primarily in shutting down small-scale and illegal gambling shops that have been linked to foreign operators, particularly those operating slot machines in salons, shops, and bars.

Enforcement and penalties

Since the declaration, Tanzania has initiated a nationwide enforcement campaign to get everybody to fall in line. Dr. Selemani Jafo, the Minister of Industry and Trade, led raids at more than 100 business premises. Under the crackdown, 183 individuals have been apprehended, some of whom have been deported for breaking the rules. A warning has been issued that “heavy fines will be charged on those violating these laws.” The punishment for violating them is stern, with a minimum fine of TSh10 million ($3,800), six months’ imprisonment, and the revocation of visas or residence permits for foreigners. Tanzanians assisting foreigners in these outlawed activities can be fined up to TSh5 million ($1,900) or imprisoned for up to three months.

A message to foreign operators in Tanzania

The crackdown follows growing concern in Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city, where foreign entrepreneurs—most notably China’s merchants—have been found monopolising several industries. An investigation team uncovered pervasive corruption of business licenses, and the government acted firmly. In the process of redefining the gaming industry in Tanzania, the message is unambiguous: casino-form gambling as it is organized and protected continues to be legal as ever, but the extra-legal slot machine industry run by foreigners is being dismantled.