The entire process of living in Zimbabwe is something of a risk at the moment, so you might envision that there would be little desire for going to Zimbabwe’s gambling halls. Actually, it seems to be working the opposite way, with the critical economic circumstances leading to a larger eagerness to bet, to try and discover a quick win, a way out of the situation.
For most of the locals surviving on the abysmal local money, there are two dominant forms of gambling, the national lotto and Zimbet. As with almost everywhere else in the world, there is a state lotto where the chances of succeeding are unbelievably small, but then the jackpots are also very high. It’s been said by economists who understand the situation that the majority do not purchase a card with a real expectation of winning. Zimbet is centered on either the local or the British football leagues and involves predicting the outcomes of future matches.
Zimbabwe’s gambling halls, on the other hand, cater to the extremely rich of the nation and sightseers. Up till a short while ago, there was a considerably large tourist industry, based on nature trips and trips to Victoria Falls. The market collapse and connected crime have carved into this market.
Amongst Zimbabwe’s casinos, there are 2 in the capital, Harare, the Carribea Bay Resort and Casino, which has five gaming tables and one armed bandits, and the Plumtree gambling hall, which has only slot machines. The Zambesi Valley Hotel and Entertainment Center in Kariba also has just slot machines. Mutare has the Monclair Hotel and Casino and the Leopard Rock Hotel and Casino, the pair of which contain table games, one armed bandits and video poker machines, and Victoria Falls has the Elephant Hills Hotel and Casino and the Makasa Sun Hotel and Casino, the two of which offer gaming machines and table games.
In addition to Zimbabwe’s gambling halls and the above mentioned lottery and Zimbet (which is quite like a parimutuel betting system), there are a total of 2 horse racing tracks in the state: the Matabeleland Turf Club in Bulawayo (the 2nd municipality) and the Borrowdale Park in Harare.
Since the economy has diminished by beyond 40 percent in recent years and with the associated poverty and conflict that has cropped up, it isn’t understood how healthy the sightseeing business which is the foundation for Zimbabwe’s gambling dens will do in the near future. How many of them will carry on until conditions improve is simply unknown.