Botswana and IAGR launch free online gambling verification facility
The initiative gives consumers a way to check whether betting websites are licensed to operate in Botswana, as part of a wider campaign to promote safer online gambling.
Key takeaways:
- Botswana’s Gambling Authority and IAGR have launched a free online gambling verification facility.
- Consumers can check whether betting websites are licensed and authorised to operate in Botswana.
- The facility forms part of IAGR’s global campaign to raise awareness of unlicensed gambling risks.
- IAGR CEO Kevin Mullally urged consumers to verify operator licences rather than rely on website familiarity.
- Botswana’s Gambling Authority highlighted the importance of public education and responsible gambling.
Botswana.- The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and Botswana’s Gambling Authority have launched a free verification facility enabling consumers to check whether betting websites are licensed to operate in Botswana. The initiative forms part of a global campaign to promote safer online gambling, with IAGR encouraging consumers to verify operators’ licensing status before placing bets so they can “gamble with confidence”.
According to a press statement issued by IAGR and Botswana’s Gambling Authority on November 11, the campaign seeks to address the risks posed by unlicensed gambling websites and apps. Regulators say these platforms are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder for consumers to distinguish from legitimate operators.
Through the Gambling Authority’s website, www.gamblingauthority.co.bw, consumers can check whether an online gambling site is licensed and authorised to operate in Botswana before placing a bet. The free-to-use facility allows users to enter a website URL, with results based on regulatory records and other verified, publicly available sources. The statement notes that licensing status can vary between jurisdictions, meaning a site authorised in one country may not be licensed in another.
IAGR CEO Kevin Mullally said consumers should establish whether a gambling operator is licensed rather than rely on familiarity with a website.
“We want gamblers to enjoy themselves while remaining safe, and that starts with knowing whether the site they are using is licensed in the jurisdiction; unlicensed is unprotected,” said Mullally. “People frequently mistake familiarity for trust. Gamblers may be familiar with the website name, but the operator may not be licensed in their jurisdiction, and in other instances, illegal operators purposefully build sites to appear familiar and credible with the intention of purposefully deceiving gamblers.”
Mullally highlighted the facility’s ease of use, saying: “Our simple and free-to-use website allows consumers to instantly check the URL and gamble with confidence.”
Botswana highlights consumer protection
Botswana is a member of IAGR, a regulator-led association dedicated to improving gambling regulation worldwide. The association supports regulators through knowledge exchange, regulatory capacity-building and cooperation on shared industry challenges, including education and information sharing.
Gambling Authority CEO Moruntshi Kemorwale said public education was important in helping consumers understand responsible gambling and recognise the risks associated with illegal operators. He said: “Responsible gambling is everyone’s responsibility. We must protect our young people, support licensed operators and stop illegal gambling from draining our economy. Together we can build a safer, more responsible gambling environment for Botswana.”
IAGR President Brian Krolicki warned that illegal gambling websites were increasing in number and becoming more sophisticated and visible, making it harder for consumers to distinguish them from legitimate operators. He said the borderless nature of the internet required coordinated regulatory tools to help consumers make informed decisions and protect their wagers.
The campaign will introduce a series of consumer-education messages explaining the risks of unlicensed gambling and how illegal operators can make their websites appear familiar and entertaining while lacking the safeguards provided by properly licensed operators.
IAGR said consumers using unlicensed gambling websites may have no access to dispute resolution, could expose their financial information to fraudsters and may be deprived of responsible gambling protections.
Botswana’s Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Tiroeone Ntsima, had previously warned that illegal gambling platforms exploit young people’s vulnerabilities and lack safeguards to prevent gambling addiction. He cautioned that, without intervention, Botswana risked a surge in addiction and financial instability among its youth.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What is Botswana’s free online gambling verification facility? It is a free service that allows consumers to enter a gambling website URL and check whether the operator is licensed and authorised to operate in Botswana.
- Where can consumers check whether a gambling website is licensed in Botswana? Consumers can use the Gambling Authority’s website.
- Who launched the online gambling verification facility? The facility was launched by Botswana’s Gambling Authority in collaboration with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
- Why is IAGR promoting online gambling verification? IAGR wants consumers to recognise the risks of unlicensed gambling websites and check operators’ licensing status before placing bets.
