The relative lack of, the paucity in the numbers of, Mozambique’s casinos is in one sense rather puzzling, in another not.
In years gone by, the country was a place where many South Africans would visit to get away from the incredibly restrictive rules on gambling (and, it has to be said, mixing with other races) that they had at home. So, you would expect something of a thriving sector to cater to that tourist trade.
On the other hand, perhaps it isn’t all that much of a surprise. The country is one of the poorest in the world, having gone through a horrific civil war (followed by shattering floods) from which it is still, very slowly, recovering. This tends to make a place less of a tourist destination, although there is now a thriving scene along some of the country’s stunning beaches.
It is also true that regionally at least, Mozambique’s casinos have had to compete with others in the newly liberalized South Africa, including the famous Sun City founded by the Kerzner family corporation.
Here’s a list of Mozambique’s casinos:
Maputo: Polana Casino Hotel
There are 78 slot machines and video poker games, five tables of American roulette, four blackjack tables, and one poker table.
Namaacha: Sol Libombos Hotel Casino
There are forty slot machines, American roulette, and two tables for poker and punto banco.
It is thought that over time the entire tourism sector in Mozambique will expand dramatically. While the local languages are, of course, African, there is also the remnant of Portuguese from the old colonial power and the new and increasing introduction of English, both from South Africa and as part of the global phenomenon. The country is very cheap (obviously, as it is so poor) and as above, has some of the most stunning beaches in the world, fronting onto the Indian Ocean. Those are the sorts of things that make tourism officials drool, and as the country climbs up out of its current slump, it is likely that not only will tourism grow, but that the list of Mozambique’s casinos will grow longer as well.
While the country is unlikely to ever regain its reputation as a destination for partying South Africans, as there are now other options closer to home for them to indulge in, the development of a long distance tourism sector is being planned. This would be to cater to Europeans looking for winter sun, as an escape from the dreariness of the Northern Hemisphere winter. Plus, of course, the finest prawns (shrimp) in the world come from just offshore, in the Mozambique Channel.
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