Botswana Gambling Authority hosts Tanzania gaming board for knowledge-sharing visit
The meeting builds on prior contacts, including a 2023 dialogue that explored a potential memorandum of understanding to coordinate on issues like player protection and fraud detection.
Botswana.- The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) has received a delegation from the Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) for a one-day benchmarking visit aimed at sharing regulatory approaches and operational tools.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Moruntushi Kemorwale led the welcome on Thursday, October 9, guiding participants through sessions on compliance standards, responsible gaming measures and technology integration.
The GBT group, headed by Director General James Bakinege Mbalwe, toured BGA facilities and attended presentations covering daily enforcement routines and administrative processes. All discussions were centred on practical steps for aligning licensing protocols across borders and adopting streamlined systems to handle growing operator numbers.
A key highlight was BGA’s Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), a digital platform rolled out to manage records, approvals and audits without paper trails. Staff from both sides exchanged notes on using such tools to cut processing times and reduce errors in high-volume tasks like licence renewals.
Mbalwe said: “This visit has shown us concrete ways to build stronger oversight in our own operations. Botswana’s progress in digital tools like EDMS gives us clear ideas to adapt back home.”
Kemorwale, who took on the Acting CEO role in August following a leadership transition at BGA, emphasised the value of these direct exchanges. He said: “We learn as much from our guests as we share. Tanzania’s experiences with diverse gaming formats will help us refine our monitoring of cross-border activities.”
Participants left with action items, including follow-up webinars on EDMS setup and a review of shared templates for audit checklists. BGA staff described the day as a straightforward opportunity to connect with peers tackling familiar challenges, from verifying remote bets to training inspectors.
The GBT, formed in 2003 under Tanzania’s Gaming Act, oversees lotteries, casinos and sports betting in a market that has expanded with mobile platforms. BGA, established in 2012, regulates similar activities in Botswana while promoting economic contributions through fees and taxes that support public programmes.
This meeting builds on prior contacts, including a 2023 dialogue that explored a potential memorandum of understanding to coordinate on issues like player protection and fraud detection.
These visits demonstrate a unified approach among Southern African gambling regulators to strengthen regional cooperation and share best practices. Recently, BGA hosted delegations from Lesotho and Eswatini for similar programmes, resulting in agreements on joint training and data sharing.
