Botswana doubles down on responsible gaming amid industry growth
With Botswana’s gaming industry experiencing rapid growth, the country’s regulator is strengthening on its commitment to responsible gaming, ensuring that player protection keeps pace with economic opportunity.
“Generating revenue for the country is important,” Portia Diteko, Responsible Gambling Manager at the Gambling Authority of Botswana, told SiGMA TV, “but before that, human lives matter. We want to be able to keep our players safe.”
Botswana, home to over 2.25 million people, has nine licensed casinos operating under the Gambling Act of 2012. While the country’s laws around land-based gambling are among the most robust in Africa, regulators are facing the dual challenge of sustaining industry expansion while maintaining a fair and responsible gaming environment.
National campaign promotes responsible play
At the forefront of Botswana’s efforts is a nationwide initiative to educate citizens on how to gamble responsibly. “Gambling itself is not wrong,” Diteko explained. “What is not fine is how we play. It really depends on the choices we make.”
Through this campaign, the Gambling Authority travels across the country, providing skills-based education designed to prevent problem gambling. According to Diteko, many individuals who struggle with gambling issues were never taught how to gamble responsibly.
“They don’t know that you shouldn’t take your whole salary and gamble with it. They don’t know that school fees shouldn’t be used for gambling. So, we try to change that mindset.” The initiative also includes free rehabilitation counselling services for those affected by gambling-related harm, including support for family members.
Working with operators to keep the industry sustainable
Striking a balance between industry growth and regulation is one of the core challenges for the Gambling Authority. Diteko noted that collaboration with operators is key.
“We sit down with operators to make sure they understand we’re on the same side,” she said. “If your players are safe, then the industry will be sustainable. If players are driven away because of addiction or family distress, then profits will suffer.”
Responsible gaming, she emphasised, is not anti-gambling. “It actually works for the operators because it keeps their players coming back in a healthy way.”
Combatting illegal gambling through community engagement
While Botswana’s legal gambling industry is well regulated, Diteko said the threat of illegal gambling, both land-based and online, remains a pressing concern. “We’ve seen operators complain that illegal sites are affecting their market share. These unlicensed entities aren’t paying taxes or levies.”
To counter this, the Gambling Authority has launched a community-focused campaign to help identify unlicensed operations. “The players know where they play,” Diteko noted. “We rely on the community to inform us when they see illegal machines or hear of unlicensed casinos.”
Enforcement is also a growing focus, with the Authority aiming to protect licensed operators and uphold the integrity of the system.
Political support key to Botswana’s regulatory success
Botswana’s regulatory framework stands out in the region and Diteko credits this to strong political backing. The Gambling Act of 2012 consolidated previous laws and established the Botswana Gambling Authority as the central licensing and enforcement body.
“One thing that has worked for us has been getting it right with the law,” Diteko said. “We have government buy-in. When we say, ‘This law is not working; it’s not protecting our children or our players,’ they are willing to listen.”
“Our laws are clear, and that makes implementation so much better,” she added.
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