Paynow underscores role of reliable payment systems in responsible betting

Tamuka Mukiwa

DIGITAL payments platform Paynow has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a responsible and transparent betting environment in Zimbabwe, following its participation at the recently-held H-Metro National Forum on Responsible Betting.

The forum, which took place at Alex Sports Club in Harare on Saturday, brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from the Government, the gaming industry, regulatory authorities and civil society organisations.

Discussions centred on the need for enhanced player protection, ethical advertising and policy frameworks that ensure the long-term sustainability of the betting sector.

Although Paynow did not feature on the main programme of speakers, the company engaged with key stakeholders on the sidelines of the event, offering insights into how digital payment infrastructure can serve as a critical enabler of responsible gambling practices.

Paynow managing director, Mr Vusi Ndebele, said the company views itself as a key enabler in the betting ecosystem, with a responsibility to support compliance, safety and ethical growth.

“Everyone in the betting ecosystem, including payment providers, shares a responsibility to protect people and support ethical growth. We do not operate betting platforms. Rather, we provide the infrastructure that allows licensed, compliant operators to run responsible and competitive businesses.”

Mr Ndebele said Paynow has invested in building a digital infrastructure that integrates key features required by both operators and regulators.

“These include identity verification to prevent underage gambling, deposit limits, session controls, and suspicious transactions reporting, and self-exclusion tools.“Our goal is to make responsibility a built-in feature of the payments ecosystem, not an afterthought,” he added.

With the growing dominance of mobile transactions in Zimbabwe’s economy, Mr Ndebele noted that financial platforms are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the broader regulatory landscape. He said Paynow was already developing systems that would allow licensed betting operators to detect high-risk behaviours, report irregular activity, and remain. compliant with evolving local and international standards.

“Globally, regulators are recognising the unique position of payment platforms in identifying and mitigating gambling-related harm,” he said. “We are not waiting for legislation to mandate this; we are building solutions now so that local operators can lead responsibly.”

He highlighted several innovations developed by Paynow, including tools for automated tax and levy deductions, integration with national reporting frameworks for suspicious transactions, and systems that enable licensed operators to share compliance-related information such as self-exclusion status and fraud patterns, where legally permissible.

“While we do not interface directly with gamblers, our infrastructure allows operators to serve customers efficiently and ethically,” he said. “This strengthens accountability while allowing businesses to grow within a structured, lawful environment.”

During the forum, Paynow also engaged with licensed operators, civil society partners, and health sector professionals to explore collaborative approaches for embedding player support mechanisms within digital transactions.

“We came to the forum to listen, align, and act,” said Mr Ndebele. “It is essential for all stakeholders to work together in building trust and ensuring the sustainability of this industry.”

Looking ahead, Paynow expressed its readiness to partner with regulators, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector in supporting digital transformation while upholding consumer protection and public health standards.

“In a fast-changing digital economy, trust, access, and accountability must underpin growth,” said Mr Ndebele. “We are proud to be contributing to that foundation.”

The H-Metro National Forum on Responsible Betting was one of the first multi-sectoral efforts to address responsible betting at a national level and organisers have called for sustained collaboration across the public and private sectors.