SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Speaking exclusively to SBC News, the CEO of Botswana’s Gambling Authority has outlined the market’s growth just as Betway rolled out its local iGaming offer.
The global gambling operator was welcomed at an official event hosted by Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, CEO of the Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA).
Having obtained its sportsbook licence in February, Betway first opened a bookmaker shop at Botswana’s Remmogo Crossing shopping mall. Now holding an online casino licence as well, the company will roll out popular games like Aviator to local customers.
“But we are not stopping there,” Mitchelle France-Mabiletsa, Betway Botswana Country Manager, said. “In the months ahead, we will continue to build our presence, expand the team and play a more meaningful role in the communities.”
Speaking to shareholders, Kesitilwe underscored that licence holders like Betway must now play an active part in BGA’s vision for a gambling sector that aligns with national player safety standards.
“Our licensing regime is grounded in integrity and competitive transparency. We do not license loosely. We license for national value,” he said.
The regulator’s CEO also provided a brief glimpse into what seems to be a Botswana betting sector rapidly growing in popularity. Official statistics showed that by the end of March, a total of P150m (£8.3m) was wagered with licensed betting operators.
From this total, Kesitilwe added that P135m was paid back to players, making up a return-to-player ratio of around 90%.
GGY on the other hand stood at P15m with a 10% margin in March, raking in more than P2m for Levis and RG policies just for that month alone. Further market growth now appears on the horizon, with the BGA having issued 10 new licences last week.
“Let this industry grow but grow with accountability. Let it create jobs but protect players. Let it generate revenue but uphold fairness. To all stakeholders, let us lead this industry with integrity,” the CEO concluded.
Growth derived from sustainability
SBC News directly spoke to Kesitilwe to better understand what the Botswana gambling regulator is doing to ensure that the local market remains sustainable.
Diving deeper into the African nation’s player protection policies, the CEO highlighted that there is a national Responsible Gambling Strategy currently in place, which utilises a number of tried-and-tested methods to promote safer gambling.
Similarly to Betway Botswana, all licence holders are required to follow the strategy, implementing digital monitoring tools to detect early signs of problem gambling.
In addition, the regulator also coordinates with various organisations to create education campaigns that aim to increase the public’s awareness around gambling risks. Lastly, the GBA is currently in the process of developing a national self-exclusion register.
Kesitilwe further told SBC News that the growing interest from operators that Botswana currently enjoys is due to a combination of factors, such as high digital and mobile penetration and a young, tech-savvy population that enjoys sports betting.
“The recent issuance of 10 new licences reflects investor confidence in our regulatory systems and the scalability of our market.”
Additional lucrative opportunities that the market offers to regional and international players include a “transparent licensing regime” and a “government commitment to economic diversification”, Kesitilwe stated.
He expanded more on the latter by adding that the gambling sector has increased tax revenues that then in turn fund national development strategies, while also opening up the job sector across a number of sectors such as retail, IT, compliance and hospitality.
“Simultaneously, we are mindful of the social risks and are working actively to ensure sustainable growth that prioritises player protection and community well-being,” Kesitilwe concluded.
Want more insight into this region, it’s future and what the road ahead looks like? Join SBC, alongside industry leaders on 28-29 May 2025 for a day of insight into the Middle East & Africa’s respective fast-growing gaming markets. Sign up by clicking the link here.
