The act of living in Zimbabwe is somewhat of a gamble at the current time, so you could envision that there might be very little affinity for going to Zimbabwe’s gambling dens. Actually, it appears to be functioning the opposite way around, with the atrocious market conditions creating a greater ambition to bet, to attempt to find a quick win, a way out of the problems.
For many of the locals surviving on the meager local money, there are 2 popular types of betting, the national lottery and Zimbet. Just as with practically everywhere else in the world, there is a state lotto where the probabilities of succeeding are remarkably low, but then the jackpots are also remarkably big. It’s been said by market analysts who study the subject that many do not buy a ticket with the rational assumption of winning. Zimbet is founded on either the domestic or the United Kingston soccer leagues and involves determining the results of future matches.
Zimbabwe’s gambling halls, on the other shoe, cater to the exceedingly rich of the state and tourists. Up until a short time ago, there was a very substantial vacationing business, built on nature trips and trips to Victoria Falls. The market collapse and associated conflict have carved into this market.
Amongst Zimbabwe’s casinos, there are two in the capital, Harare, the Carribea Bay Resort and Casino, which has five gaming tables and slot machines, and the Plumtree gambling hall, which has only slot machines. The Zambesi Valley Hotel and Entertainment Center in Kariba also has only one armed bandits. Mutare has the Monclair Hotel and Casino and the Leopard Rock Hotel and Casino, the two of which have table games, slot machines and electronic poker machines, and Victoria Falls houses the Elephant Hills Hotel and Casino and the Makasa Sun Hotel and Casino, both of which has slot machines and tables.
In addition to Zimbabwe’s gambling dens and the aforestated mentioned lottery and Zimbet (which is quite like a parimutuel betting system), there is a total of 2 horse racing complexes in the state: the Matabeleland Turf Club in Bulawayo (the 2nd city) and the Borrowdale Park in Harare.
Since the economy has diminished by more than 40% in recent years and with the associated poverty and conflict that has resulted, it is not well-known how well the vacationing industry which supports Zimbabwe’s gambling dens will do in the next few years. How many of them will be alive till conditions get better is simply unknown.