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Botswana is becoming one of the fastest-growing betting markets in the world, with gambling revenue expected to cross the P1 billion mark by the close of the 2026 financial year. Just two years earlier, the figure stood at P234 million, meaning the industry has expanded over 4x in a short span, according to the Gambling Authority.
This growth has been powered by online platforms that turned gambling from a small leisure activity into a mainstream digital pastime in the country. With smartphones in hand and betting apps operating 24/7, Batswana now wager billions of pula each month
Aggressive marketing campaigns have also played a big role in drawing more players into the market.
Experts report that the gross gambling revenue, which is the difference between what punters stake and what operators pay out, has grown so quickly that regulators and policymakers are struggling to keep pace.
Registered Batswana players expected to cross 700,000
In its release last week, the Gambling Authority said that by December 2025, gambling revenue had already gone over P700 million, and it is expected to reach P1 billion by March. That figure does not include another P500 million moving through illegal sites, showing how big the market has become even outside licensed operators.
The number of active bettors is also increasing. What was once just above 500,000 is now projected to pass 700,000 registered players, close to one in three adults. The government is also considering lowering the betting age from 21 to 18, which would bring in more players and expand the market further.
Last year, the GA’s data showed punters placed P150 million worth of bets in a single month, mostly on sports and online platforms. But only about 40% of the 550,000 bettors at that time used licensed operators, showing just how strong the unregulated betting market is.
But the Authority is making moves to protect and grow the licensed market, with multiple new online sportsbooks granted licenses earlier this year. Bets as low as one pula are also accepted, making the entry for punters really low.
“People are losing, not winning,” regulator warns
Botswna’s gambling growth has not come without problems. The Gambling Authority says complaints are becoming more frequent, with players pointing to late payments, misleading offers, and operators failing to follow responsible gambling rules.
The P1 billion in revenue also tells a more sad story, with the regulator warning that rising Gross Gambling Revenue means more losses for consumers, since the growth itself reflects money flowing away from players and into operators. “People are losing, not winning,” the Authority stressed. It also reminded bettors to be careful, as the house always wins in the end.
While the boom provides fresh income worth tens of millions of pula through taxes, levies, and license fees for the government, analysts caution that leaning too heavily on gambling revenue could be disastrous in the long run. They cited household debt, health issues linked to addiction, and reduced disposable income, among other social costs.
Source: Mmegi
