Gambling Authority warns that hundreds of millions of pula are being wagered through unlicensed platforms, raising concerns over economic losses, consumer protection and underage gambling
Botswana’s gambling regulator has raised fresh concerns over the scale of illegal betting in the country, estimating that approximately P850 million is spent annually on unlicensed betting platforms operating outside the country’s regulated gambling framework.
Gambling Authority Chief Executive Officer Moruntshi Kemorwale disclosed the figure during the South East Region Staff Excellence Awards 2026 in Gaborone, where he highlighted the financial and social consequences associated with illegal gambling.
According to Kemorwale, the growth of unregulated betting presents a challenge not only for the country’s gambling industry but also for efforts to protect consumers and younger members of society.
Illegal Betting Creates Economic Concerns
The estimated P850 million represents a significant amount of gambling expenditure taking place outside Botswana’s licensed market.
When betting activity occurs through operators that are not authorised by local regulators, the government and regulatory authorities have limited oversight of those transactions. This can make it more difficult to enforce responsible gambling standards, monitor operators and ensure that consumers receive appropriate protection.
Kemorwale therefore urged stakeholders to work together to encourage gamblers to use licensed operators while reducing the reach of illegal platforms.
“Responsible gambling is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, stressing the need to protect young people, support licensed operators and prevent illegal gambling from taking money out of the local economy.
Underage Gambling Remains a Major Concern
Consumer protection is another major issue surrounding Botswana’s illegal betting market.
Unlicensed operators may not follow the same controls and regulatory requirements imposed on authorised gambling businesses. This creates concerns about the ability to effectively prevent minors from accessing gambling products.
The Gambling Authority has consequently placed greater emphasis on public education and responsible gambling as part of its wider efforts to address the problem.
The regulator’s Motshameko O Phepa campaign is designed to increase public awareness of gambling risks while encouraging more responsible participation.
Illegal Online Gambling Has Been a Longstanding Issue
Botswana’s concerns about illegal online betting predate the latest P850 million estimate.
In January 2024, reports indicated that the Gambling Authority had identified approximately 510,000 instances of Batswana participating in illegal online gambling every month.
At the time, Botswana had not yet issued local licences for online gambling operators, creating significant challenges for authorities attempting to monitor and control activity taking place through offshore platforms.
The continued growth of digital betting has made the issue increasingly important as consumers gain easier access to online sportsbooks through smartphones and other connected devices.
Regulated Market Continues to Expand
While illegal betting remains a concern, Botswana’s regulated gambling sector has also experienced substantial growth.
The Gambling Authority issued 10 bookmaker licences in May 2025, with six operators subsequently launching their businesses. Three licensed operators had not yet commenced operations, while another withdrew.
The expansion of the licensed market has also contributed to employment. Casinos and licensed bookmakers have already created more than 400 jobs, while the regulator estimates that the wider gambling sector could eventually support as many as 2,300 jobs across casinos, betting shops and Limited Payout Machine operations.
Gambling Revenue Shows Strong Growth
Botswana’s regulated gambling industry has recorded significant revenue growth in recent years.
Regulated gambling revenue increased from approximately P234 million to more than P700 million over a two-year period, demonstrating the growing importance of the sector to the country’s economy.
In January 2026, the Gambling Authority also projected that gross gaming revenue could surpass P1 billion by the end of March. Kemorwale attributed part of this growth to increasing adoption of online and mobile betting.
The contrast between the expanding legal market and the estimated P850 million spent on illegal platforms highlights the potential scale of the opportunity available to licensed operators if more betting activity can be brought within the regulated framework.
Regulators Strengthen Industry Oversight
The Gambling Authority is also working to improve its internal regulatory processes and standards.
In a separate engagement, the regulator hosted the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA) for a benchmarking session focused on the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
The discussions covered areas including process mapping, documentation, internal audits, corrective and preventive measures, management reviews and continuous improvement.
Such initiatives are aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency while supporting better governance across Botswana’s gambling sector.
A Push Towards Safer Gambling
Botswana’s latest warning illustrates the growing challenge regulators face as betting moves increasingly online.
With an estimated P850 million flowing to illegal platforms each year, authorities are seeking greater public awareness, stronger support for licensed operators and improved consumer protection measures.
For Botswana’s regulated gambling industry, bringing more players into the legal market could provide economic benefits while giving regulators greater ability to enforce responsible gambling standards and protect vulnerable consumers.
