Online and sports gaming
On April 1, Botswana will enact broader gaming regulations not only for casinos but for all land-based and online gaming providers including bookmakers, bingo parlors, lotteries and racing
According to the website CalvinAyre.com, a sliding scale will determine what operators must invest to register. National lotteries will pay BWP1 million (US$89,000) and casinos will pay BWP250,000 (US$22,000). Betting shops will be on the hook for BWP50,000, and bingo halls just BWP10,000.
“All kinds of betting will now need to be licensed,” said Thulisizwe Johnson, CEO of the new regulatory body called Gambling Authority Botswana. “We will take over regulation of the existing casinos in April while anyone wishing to be involved in any other kind of betting, including SMS and online, will need to be registered and licensed with the authority first.”
The new structure will also require all gaming facilities to install surveillance equipment to detect possible money laundering, and establish a problem gambling committee.
“All the new requirements are meant to curb illegal gambling and protect the licensed operators who do not only pay tax but also have jobs to protect,” said Johnson.
The previous Casino Board did not regulate online gaming industry. The new law was approved by the Minister of Trade and Industry in January and will be applied to the country’s 10 licensed land-based casinos.
