SiGMA Africa spotlights Botswana’s progressive responsible gambling methods in new video
With a powerful legal framework, community campaigns and strong industry collaboration, Botswana’s Gambling Authority is setting the gold standard for gambling regulation in Africa.
Botswana – In a continent where gambling regulation is still catching up with booming industry growth, Botswana is stepping up as a leading example of how to strike a balance between player protection and economic gain.
Portia Diteko, Responsible Gambling Manager at Botswana’s Gambling Authority, shared insights during a video interview published on April 22, 2025, revealing how the country has become a continental leader in responsible gambling. Her secret? A potent mix of progressive legislation, public outreach and hands-on collaboration with casino operators.
“We have a very good law,” Diteko said.
At the heart of the country’s responsible gambling strategy is the Muticalo o Pêpa campaign, loosely translated as “The game is fine.” The initiative has been rolled out across towns and villages, teaching citizens how to play responsibly and avoid the pitfalls of problem gambling. It’s a proactive, prevention-first approach rooted in research that showed many affected players simply lacked awareness of gambling risks.
The Authority also offers free counselling for both problem gamblers and their families.
Responsible gambling is not anti-gambling
“There’s nothing wrong with gambling, it’s just how you play which will determine if it’s fine or not. So, through this campaign, we go around the country leaving no stone unturned and we equip residents with skills to be able to gamble responsibly,” she said.
As new casinos sprout up across the country, the Authority works closely with operators to ensure growth doesn’t come at the expense of ethics.
“We’ve made it clear: responsible gambling is not anti-gambling. In fact, it’s essential for sustainability,” said Diteko.
Illegal gambling remains a stubborn thorn in the side of regulators, but Botswana is fighting back with community-led crackdowns and whistleblower support.
“The players know where the shadow casinos are, we empower them to speak up,” she explained.
Asked whether other African regulators can learn from Botswana, Diteko didn’t hesitate: “It starts with the law, but it thrives with government support. We’ve got political buy-in all the way to the top, the president attended our last summit.”
If gambling is a game of risks, Botswana is proving that responsibility is the ultimate winning strategy.
