Botswana has a long, steadily regulated gambling tradition that has recently shifted from casino resorts toward a booming, football-driven betting culture. Legal gambling stretches back to the Lotteries and Betting Act of 1962 and the Casino Act of 1971; today the Gambling Act, 2012 and its Gambling Authority oversee casinos, bookmakers, bingo, gaming machines and private lotteries. Football betting now dominates everyday play, while formal casinos remain concentrated in Gaborone.

A short history

Botswana regulated gambling relatively early. The Lotteries and Betting Act, 1962 governed lottery and betting activity, much of it linked to charity. The Casino Act, 1971 introduced casino regulation, and for years the country had only a single licensed casino. By the mid-1990s the market had expanded to around eight licensed casinos. In 2002 the government approved a new Gaming and Gambling Policy to modernise the sector — the groundwork for today’s framework — though a national lottery envisaged under that policy has still not launched.

The modern era began with the Gambling Act No. 7 of 2012, which replaced the older statutes and created the Gambling Authority as a single, dedicated regulator. The Authority issues distinct licence categories, from casino and betting/bookmaker licences to bingo, gaming machines, lottery and employee licences.

The national-lottery saga

Botswana authorised a national lottery in principle, but delivering one has proved difficult. A first national-lottery licence was awarded to Ithuba Botswana and then cancelled amid concerns over the procurement and licensing process, with the matter tied up in reviews. As of 2026, the Gambling Authority has said a revived National Lottery could launch before the end of the year, with revised processes in place. Until then, Botswana has no operating national lottery, though licensed private lotteries and raffles are allowed.

Football (soccer) is the clear favourite, with bettors following the English Premier League, major UEFA and African club competitions and local football. Casino table games (roulette, blackjack, poker), slot and gaming machines, bingo and race/totalizator betting round out the mix. The regulated market has grown sharply: the Gambling Authority reported gross gambling revenue crossing P700 million by the end of 2025 and forecast its own operating revenue at about P108 million (roughly US$7.9 million) for 2025/26. That growth, driven largely by newly licensed online and retail bookmakers, has come with a stronger regulatory focus on responsible play, including a national study of gambling behaviour.

Casinos and where they are

Gaborone is the casino hub, home to the Gaborone Sun Hotel & Casino and the Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort. Several licensed casinos operate across the country, with the capital holding the largest concentration.

Attitudes and responsible play

Gambling in Botswana is treated as a regulated, adults-only (18+) activity, and the Gambling Authority has increasingly emphasised responsible gambling — running a self-exclusion portal, PGSI self-assessment and public-education efforts as the sector grows. If gambling stops being fun, set limits, take a break, or use self-exclusion.

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