Botswana Gambling Authority to open casino licence applications in Maun and Kasane
The framework for the new licences will be structured to attract foreign visitors rather than encourage local participation.
Botswana.- The Botswana Gambling Authority is preparing to open applications for casino licence operations in Maun and Kasane as part of a broader plan to expand regulated gaming activity in key tourism zones.
According to Acting Chief Executive Officer Moruntshi Kemorwale, the upcoming licensing process will prioritise operators capable of developing casino facilities that align with international tourism standards. He noted that the framework for the new licences will be structured to attract foreign visitors rather than encourage local participation, in line with Botswana’s wider tourism-led economic strategy.
Maun and Kasane are two of Botswana’s main tourism entry points. Maun serves as a gateway to the Okavango Delta, while Kasane is positioned near Chobe National Park and borders Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. These locations already host significant volumes of international tourists, creating a basis for integrated hospitality and leisure services, including gaming operations.
Kemorwale explained that expanding gambling offerings in these areas is intended to support diversification within the tourism value chain. The approach links casino development with hotels, travel services and entertainment facilities, allowing gambling to function as part of a broader visitor experience rather than a standalone activity.
The Gambling Authority has previously invited applications for casino licences in Maun and Kasane, but those earlier rounds did not result in the successful establishment of operations. Officials have not disclosed specific reasons for the lack of uptake, but industry observers have pointed to market size considerations, infrastructure readiness and investment requirements as possible contributing factors.
Under Botswana’s regulatory framework, casino licences are issued subject to conditions that include compliance with anti-money laundering standards, operational transparency and adherence to responsible gambling requirements. Any approved operator will be expected to meet both national regulatory obligations and tourism development objectives set by government policy.
The Authority is expected to release formal application guidelines outlining eligibility criteria, investment thresholds and operational requirements. Once applications open, prospective operators will undergo a licensing evaluation process before approvals are granted.
The development signals renewed efforts by regulators to position casino gaming as a structured component of Botswana’s tourism economy, particularly in high-traffic international destinations.
