Botswana regulators move to block unlicensed betting platforms
The investigation addresses a persistent issue in Botswana’s gambling sector, where unlicensed operators siphon funds from local players.
Botswana.- The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) have launched a joint investigation into eight offshore betting sites operating without licences in Botswana. These platforms, based outside the country, rely on local agents to attract users and process payments, evading national regulations.
In a joint statement, FIA and BGA revealed that they had engaged mobile operators and banks after establishing that “illegal online betting websites transact using both mobile money platforms and bank accounts”. To curb connectivity, the agencies have partnered with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) to implement IP blocks, restricting local access to the sites.
Financial institutions and mobile money platforms have also been instructed to continuously monitor account activity, in accordance with established risk management systems on an ongoing basis. They were also directed to swiftly freeze and report any transactions that appear suspicious.
The investigation addresses a persistent issue in Botswana’s gambling sector, where unlicensed operators siphon funds from local players. Owned by non-citizens and hosted in foreign jurisdictions, the eight sites use affiliates inside the country to promote bets and handle payouts.
Under the Gambling Act of 2012, operators caught in such activities face fines of up to P180,000 (€10,700) or 15 years in prison for a first offence. Repeat violations carry penalties of up to P240,000 (€14,300) or 20 years imprisonment.
Regulators estimate illegal betting drains hundreds of millions of pula annually from the economy, equivalent to over €30m, mostly through online sports wagers. A joint study by the BGA and the University of Botswana pegs the total at P500m (€29.7m) per year, twice the size of the licensed market. Only about 40 per cent of Botswana’s roughly 550,000 active gamblers use licensed platforms.
However, the probe faces practical hurdles. When one site is blocked, these unregulated operators quickly launch mirror versions with new domains. Users, in turn, open fresh bank or mobile accounts to bypass freezes. Anonymous digital payment tools and redirects from obscure affiliate pages further complicate enforcement.
To counter these tactics, the BGA is combining enforcement efforts with public awareness campaigns. It urges bettors to check site legitimacy on its website before placing wagers. In the long term, the authority is working with AI platforms to enable users to verify operators on their own.
