Botswana Issues Ten Bookmaker Licences
Botswana’s Gambling Authority has issued ten bookmaker licences, with six operators already active, as part of the country’s broader strategy to expand and formalise its regulated gambling sector.
Six Bookmakers Now Operational, Three More Expected
The Botswana Gambling Authority (GA) has confirmed the issuance of ten bookmaker licences. Six licensed operators have already begun trading, while three others are expected to commence operations in the near future. One applicant has withdrawn. The move marks a significant milestone in Botswana’s efforts to regulate its growing gambling market and foster structured industry development.
The Authority noted that more than 400 jobs have already been created through a combination of casino operations and newly licensed betting companies. Forecasts suggest this number could rise to 2,300, with additional employment expected across casinos, betting outlets and Limited Payout Machines (LPMs).
Among the licensed operators, BetXplosion has made a formal commitment to allocate a minimum of 5% of its annual Gross Gambling Revenue to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These will target programmes in youth development, education, sports and health awareness.
Push for Safer Gambling and AI Monitoring
Responsible gambling remains a priority for the regulator. The Gambling Authority is currently conducting a national prevalence study to better understand gambling patterns across the country, including online behaviour and the incidence of at-risk gambling. The results of this research are expected to shape future regulatory strategies and risk mitigation tools.
In a statement, GA Board Chairman Marvin Torto emphasised the importance of adopting advanced player protection technologies:
“We implore BetXplosion to go further by embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based monitoring tools to detect irregular player behavior patterns, flag potential problem gambling, and generate early-warning indicators for AML concerns. Leveraging AI will enhance your ability to protect both your business and your customers, and align with global best practices in gambling regulation.”
Botswana’s licensing drive comes amid a wider movement across emerging markets to formalise gambling operations.
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