for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Regulators in Botswana have stepped up enforcement against unlicensed gambling, announcing a coordinated crackdown on offshore betting platforms accused of exploiting local players.
The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) confirmed they are investigating eight sites operating without approval inside the country. These platforms, hosted abroad, were found to be using local agents to recruit customers and move money, sidestepping national rules.
In their joint statement, the agencies revealed that “illegal online betting websites transact using both mobile money platforms and bank accounts.”
To cut off access, they have enlisted the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) to block the sites at the network level. At the same time, banks and mobile operators have been ordered to tighten oversight, monitor suspicious activity, and freeze accounts linked to the unlicensed operators.
Significant fines and prison sentences for violators
Unlicensed betting has become a steady drain on Botswana’s gambling industry, with offshore sites run by non-citizens pulling money from local players through agents inside the country. Regulators say these operators not only dodge the law but also strip value from the economy.
The Gambling Act of 2012 sets clear punishments. First‑time offenders can be fined up to P180,000 (€10,700) or jailed for 15 years. Repeat cases carry even tougher penalties, reaching P240,000 (€14,300) or 20 years in prison.
Officials estimate that illegal betting takes hundreds of millions of pula out of the system each year, mostly through online sports wagers. A study by the BGA and the University of Botswana put the figure at around P500 million (€29.7 million) annually, twice the size of the licensed market. Out of roughly 550,000 active gamblers, only about 40% use legal platforms.
Authorities looking to improve systems with AI
Blocking illegal betting sites has proven difficult. Each time regulators shut one down, operators quickly return with mirror domains, keeping their platforms alive.
Players also adapt, opening new bank or mobile accounts to dodge freezes, while anonymous payment tools and hidden redirects make tracking even harder.
Faced with these challenges, the Gambling Authority is pairing enforcement with education. The agency is urging the public to confirm a site’s legitimacy through its official channels before placing bets.
Alongside awareness campaigns, officials are preparing longer-term solutions. Work is underway with AI platforms that will allow users to check and verify operators themselves.
