Betway Botswana
betway.co.bw
🇧🇼For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Operating in Botswana: 23.5% tax, ad limits
The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) actively regulates and licenses both land-based and online gambling. Only BGA-licensed operators are legal; foreign-licensed sites are blocked.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Botswana is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Lottery | Licensed |
| Online casino · Online poker | Limited |
Regulator and player protection in Botswana
Self-exclusion scheme
Botswana BGA Self-Exclusion (limited)
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Advertising stance
Limited
Whether you can run TV / sponsorship / paid-social campaigns
Which casinos & betting sites are licensed in Botswana?
See the full official list of licensed operators and their authorised domains.
Heads-up for operators
2 items
The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) is finalising a comprehensive online gambling framework and is backing amendments to the Gambling Act 2012 to formally include detailed provisions for online and remote gambling.
Amendments to Gambling Act to Codify Online Gambling
The BGA is backing amendments to the 2012 Gambling Act to create a more comprehensive and explicit legal framework for online and remote gambling.
Source: 1
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Licence Types in Botswana
3 licence types are listed for Botswana; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Licence | BGA | Three years | |
| Sports Betting Licence | BGA | Three years | |
| Lottery Concession (Botswana Lotteries) | BGA | Statutory |
Licensing model
Botswana's online licensing model evolved from the land-based-focused Gambling Act of 2012, which did not explicitly address iGaming. Rather than passing a new comprehensive law, the Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) has proactively interpreted its mandate to issue specific licences for online betting. This has effectively brought the sector under regulation while the BGA works on formal legislative amendments to codify online gambling provisions.
Gambling tax: 23.5% of GGR
Detail
Operators are subject to the standard corporate income tax rate of 23.5% on net profit, which was increased from 22% for the 2025/2026 budget. Previous reports of a 15% GGR tax are not substantiated by recent financial analysis, although some conflicting reports mention a 10% levy.
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) oversees licensing, but a detailed public fee schedule is not readily available. The primary tax obligation is the standard corporate income tax.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licence Application Fee (one-time) | no published fee schedule | The BGA does not publish a schedule of application fees for its various licence types. |
| Annual Licence Fee (Sports Betting) | no published fee schedule | The annual fee for a bookmaker's license is not specified in publicly available regulatory documents. |
| Annual Licence Fee (Casino) | no published fee schedule | The annual fee for a casino license is not specified in publicly available regulatory documents. |
| Corporate Income Tax | 23.5% of net profit Source2 | This is the standard corporate tax rate, increased from 22% for the 2025/2026 budget. It is not a GGR-based tax. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: gov fee schedule not published
While the corporate tax rate is known, the absence of a public schedule for application and annual licensing fees makes a precise year-one estimate impossible.
Which foreign licences Botswana accepts
Botswana recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
BlockedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
Not recognized. The BGA actively blocks access to offshore operators who do not hold a local Botswana licence.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Channel-restricted
Bonus and promotion regulation is primarily governed by the Gambling Act of 2012 and the Gambling (Promotion Competition) Regulations of 2023. The main legislative goal is to ensure promotions are not false, misleading, or targeted towards minors.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
What the operator can advertise
- Channels off-limits
- Broadcast media (TV/radio) outside watershed period
- During news, current affairs, and sports programs
- During any program primarily directed at children
- Messages ads may not give
- false and misleading in any manner
- Mandatory disclaimer
include a statement, in such manner as may be prescribed, warning against the dangers of addictive and compulsive gambling
- Placement rule
- For billboards and web pages, warnings must be displayed on at least ten percent of the surface area.
- Penalties
Up to 180,000 BWP or 15 years in prison for promoting unlicensed gambling.
Non-compliance by licensed operators can lead to fines or license suspension.
The Gambling Authority's public enforcement focus is overwhelmingly on combating unlicensed offshore operators rather than policing the promotional activities of licensed entities.
How Botswana enforces against unlicensed operators
The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) has significantly increased its enforcement activity. It is actively issuing new licenses to formalize the market while at the same time cracking down on unlicensed offshore operators through ISP and payment blocking, and tightening oversight of existing licensees.
- January 2026: The BGA announced stricter oversight of licensed online betting operators due to a rise in consumer complaints, threatening fines or license suspension for non-compliance.
- December 2025: The BGA, with the Financial Intelligence Agency, launched a joint investigation to block unlicensed offshore betting platforms.
- May 2025: The BGA issued ten new bookmaker licenses, significantly expanding the regulated market.
Enforcement cases in Botswana: 5 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Botswana. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- January 2026
Licensed Online Betting Operators (Unnamed)
LicensingThreat of fines or licence suspensionsA rise in consumer complaints regarding technical failures, system blackouts, and delayed payouts.
Read-across: The regulator is increasing its scrutiny of licensed operators and requires higher technical and operational standards to maintain a license.
- December 2025
Various Unlicensed Offshore Operators
Grey-MarketISP/Payment blockingOperating in Botswana without a license led to significant revenue loss for the regulated market.
Read-across: Operators without a local license face active blocking and payment freezes, which makes the market unviable without proper licensing.
- April 2025
Avani Hotel
OtherDestruction of non-compliant equipmentUse of obsolete and unlicensed slot machines, which were deemed to be promoting illicit gambling activities.
Read-across: Operators must ensure all gaming equipment is compliant with regulatory standards or face seizure and destruction.
- March 2025
Bet365
LicensingMarket exitThe operator ceased operations in Botswana following the regulator's crackdown on unlicensed companies.
Read-across: Major international brands are compelled to exit the market if they do not adhere to local licensing requirements, which creates opportunities for licensed operators.
- March 2022
Growmine (Pty) Limited
LicensingLicense negotiation terminatedThe company, which was the preferred applicant for the National Lottery license, failed in its negotiations with the Gambling Authority.
Read-across: The licensing process for high-value licenses can be complex and subject to administrative challenges and appeals, potentially delaying market entry.
Market size: 1B BWP (2026)
Gross gaming revenue in Botswana is approximately 1 billion BWP annually. The most popular form of gambling is Casino. Online gambling represents 30% of total GGR. A culturally distinctive product in this market is GICC Casino Gaborone, Cresta Mowana Casino.
Market breakdown by vertical
The GGR figure is a projection for the fiscal year ending March 2026, as announced by the gambling regulator. A detailed breakdown by vertical is not publicly available.
Licensed operators: ~10
As of 19 Oct 2026, approximately 10 operators hold an active licence in Botswana. Size your entry against this base before committing capital. Check them yourself on the official BGA register, which lists each licensee and its authorised domains.
Notable licensed operators
- Visit site
- Visit site
Sunbet Botswana
sunbet.co.bw
Hollywoodbets Botswana
Pstbet Botswana
MulaSport
Traps operators hit in Botswana
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
Operating without a local BGA license
The BGA does not recognize foreign licenses and is actively working with other state agencies to block access to unlicensed offshore domains and freeze related financial transactions. Attempting to serve the Botswana market without a local license is a market-exit event.
Sources9
Neglecting technical standards and customer support
Following a rise in consumer complaints about technical failures, system blackouts, and delayed payouts, the BGA is enforcing stricter rules on licensed operators. Failure to maintain high technical standards and provide effective, timely dispute resolution can result in fines or license suspension.
Running unauthorized promotional competitions
All promotional competitions must be authorized under the Gambling (Promotional Competitions) Regulations 2023. The BGA periodically publishes lists of approved promotions and warns the public against participating in illegal ones, indicating regulatory scrutiny in this area.
Sources13
Timeline: rules in force
- January 2026
BGA Tightens Oversight of Licensed Operators
Responding to consumer complaints, the BGA announced stricter enforcement of technical standards and payout procedures for all licensed online operators.
Source: 7
- July 2025
National Study on Gambling Prevalence Released
A national study revealed a 36.6% gambling participation rate and a 6.7% problem gambling rate, which prompted a greater regulatory focus on responsible gambling.
Source: 14
- May 2025
BGA Issues 10 New Bookmaker Licenses
To formalize the betting market, the BGA issued ten new bookmaker licenses, and six operators became active shortly thereafter.
Source: 8
- 2012
Gambling Act Enacted
The foundational Gambling Act of 2012 was passed and established the Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) to regulate the industry.
Source: 3
Operator myths vs reality in Botswana
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythAn MGA or Curaçao license is sufficient to operate in Botswana.Reality
This is incorrect. Botswana does not recognize any foreign gambling licenses. All operators must obtain a local license from the Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA), which actively blocks unlicensed offshore platforms.
Sources9
- MythSince the 2012 Gambling Act doesn't explicitly cover online, it's an unregulated market.
- MythAfter getting a license, regulatory oversight from the BGA is minimal.Reality
False. The BGA is increasing its scrutiny of licensed operators, particularly in response to consumer complaints regarding technical issues and payout delays. Non-compliance can lead to significant penalties, including fines or license suspension.
Sources7
Markets that work like Botswana
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- CanadaResearched
Online casino limited; betting and lottery licensed; licensed market; GGR tax 20–30%; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly blocked.
- HungaryChecked
Online casino and poker limited; betting licensed; licensed market; tax on GGR; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly blocked.
- JamaicaAI overview
Online casino and poker limited; betting and lottery licensed; licensed market; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly blocked.
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaChecked
Online casino and poker limited; betting and lottery licensed; licensed market; foreign licences mostly blocked.
- SpainReviewed
Betting and lottery licensed; licensed market; GGR tax 20–30%; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly blocked.
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
How we researchAsk us to run the Deep AI Scan for Botswana
Documents cited on this page
- 1SiGMA World
- 2Reg-Tech.co Analysis
- 3Gambling Act, 2012
- 4Gambling (Promotion Competition) Regulations, 2023
- 5GA Warning Against Unlicensed Operator
- 6Regulators Move to Block Unlicensed Platforms
- 7Focus Gaming News
- 8YogoNet
- 9Focus Gaming News
- 10Focus Gaming News
- 11SiGMA
- 12iGaming Today
- 13Focus Gaming News
- 14SiGMA World
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Botswana (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Botswana player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 19 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA). We are not a legal adviser.