Is online gambling legal in Botswana?

Only what is listed as legal above is licensed. Anything else offered to you online is unlicensed and gives you no protection.

Online sports betting is legal on sites licensed in Botswana. Online casino is only partly legal in Botswana (partial). Online poker is only partly legal in Botswana (partial). The lottery is legal on sites licensed in Botswana.

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Botswana: Legal.

Gambling with crypto: Restricted.

You must be 18 to gamble online in Botswana, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike.

As of 2026, there is no verified, publicly available information detailing a specific tax on player winnings or any applicable withholding thresholds. Previous claims of a 10% withholding tax are unsubstantiated by recent sources.

The regulator's register lists 12 online licence holders in Botswana (checked 5 Nov 2026, no change since 19 Oct 2026).

Always verify a casino holds a valid Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) licence before depositing.

Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA)'s website

Prominent operators in Botswana

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

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  Only use operators licensed by the BGA

  Verify that a betting site holds a valid license from the Botswana Gambling Authority. The BGA maintains a list of legally sanctioned operators on its official website.

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  Confirm the legal gambling age is 18

  You must be at least 18 years old to gamble legally in Botswana. A 2025 national study highlighted issues with underage gambling, so licensed operators are required to perform strict age verification checks.

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  Beware of illegal social media promotions

  The BGA has announced a crackdown on social media influencers who promote illegal gambling operations. Only trust promotions from officially licensed operators.

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  Use the official self-exclusion program

  If you need to take a break from gambling, the Botswana Gambling Authority provides a national self-exclusion scheme. You can register through their dedicated portal.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Botswana. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.

1. 1

   1. Resolve directly with the licensed operator

   You must first attempt to resolve any dispute, such as a payout issue, through the operator's official customer support and dispute resolution channels. The BGA requires its licensees to maintain these procedures.

2. 2

   2. Escalate the dispute to the Botswana Gambling Authority

   If you are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution with the operator, you can formally refer the dispute to the Botswana Gambling Authority. The BGA is empowered by the Gambling Regulations to adjudicate such matters.

• Myth

  It's legal to play on any international betting site in Botswana.
  Reality

  This is false. Only operators holding a license from the Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) are legal. The BGA is actively working to block access to unlicensed foreign websites to protect consumers and the regulated market.

• Myth

  My gambling winnings will definitely be taxed.
  Reality

  The tax status of player winnings has not been confirmed. Unlike operator taxes, there is no clear, publicly available information from 2025-2026 confirming a specific tax on player winnings or any withholding thresholds.

• Myth

  If a licensed site doesn't pay me, there's nothing I can do.
  Reality

  Incorrect. The BGA requires licensed operators to have effective dispute resolution processes. If you cannot resolve a dispute directly with the operator, you can refer the matter to the BGA for resolution.