Botswana’s illegal gambling market reaches P500 million
Despite the popularity of regulated wagering options, many bettors, including a growing number of minors, are drawn to offshore platforms.
Botswana.- A recent study by the Gambling Authority and University of Botswana academics has found that the scale of illegal betting has reached P500m (€32.2m), totalling twice the size of Botswana’s legitimate betting market.
The findings were presented by the GA’s acting CEO, Moruntshi Kemorwale, at the Botswana Economic Forum, where he highlighted the rapid expansion of the Botswana gambling industry and the need to crack down on unlicensed betting operators.
Kemorwale said: “We did research with the University of Botswana and found that now the illegal gambling market has grown to P500 million. This means that the unregulated gambling market is twice the value of the regulated one.”
Following the Gambling Authority’s licensing of online sports betting operators earlier this year, the country witnessed a notable rise in gambling activities, especially among younger demographics.
The betting boom was recently highlighted by Super Group, Betway’s parent operator, in its latest revenue figures, which showed $646m in African total earnings between January and September, largely fuelled by Botswana’s strong performance.
However, despite the popularity of regulated wagering options, many bettors, including a growing number of minors, are drawn to offshore platforms, which operate outside of the country’s regulatory framework.
In March, the Gambling Authority pegged the number of active bettors in Botswana at approximately 550,000. However, only about 220,000 individuals, or 40 per cent of bettors, use licensed operators, demonstrating the continued dominance of unregulated betting platforms.
Kermowale suggested that bringing illegal betting platforms under regulatory oversight could not only increase government revenue but also ensure a safer betting environment for citizens, ultimately contributing to the industry’s long-term sustainability.
