Botswana approves 29 promotional competitions under gambling rules

Botswana’s Gambling Authority has published its latest list of authorised promotional competitions, warning consumers that only approved campaigns should be treated as legally permitted under the country’s gambling framework.

Botswana’s Gambling Authority has published its latest list of approved promotional competitions, confirming that 29 campaigns had been authorised under Section 67 of the Gambling Act 2012 and the Gambling (Promotional Competitions) Regulations 2023. The list was released on May 6 and forms part of the regulator’s wider effort to bring prize-based marketing campaigns under formal supervision.

According to the regulator’s notice, only the promotional competitions included in the published list have been legally authorised. The Authority also advised members of the public to participate only in approved promotions and to report unauthorised competitions. This is important because promotional campaigns involving prize draws or chance-based outcomes can create consumer-protection risks if they are run without oversight.

The approved promotions cover several sectors of Botswana’s consumer economy, including telecommunications, banking and beverages. Companies named in the list include Orange Botswana, Access Bank Botswana and Heineken Beverages Botswana. Among the approved campaigns were Orange Botswana’s “Wheel of Fortune”, Access Bank Botswana’s “Save & Win Campaign” and Heineken Beverages Botswana’s UEFA Champions League-themed 2026 campaign.

The regulatory background is significant. Botswana’s Gambling Act established the Gambling Authority and created the legal basis for regulating gambling activity in the country. The Act defines the Authority as the body established under section 3 and states that the law was enacted to regulate gambling in Botswana and provide for related matters.

The 2023 regulations gave more specific structure to promotional competitions. Legal commentary from Minchin & Kelly notes that promotional competitions became permitted once promoters met regulatory requirements, including payment of the required fee. The same commentary says such competitions are generally limited to six months, although promoters may apply for an extension, and that special rules apply when a prize winner is a minor.

For brands, the publication of the approved list shows that Botswana is treating promotional competitions not only as marketing tools, but also as regulated activities that require compliance controls. For consumers, the message is equally clear: a promotion offering prizes should not automatically be considered lawful simply because it is advertised by a known company.

The latest list therefore strengthens transparency in Botswana’s gambling and promotional marketing environment. As digital campaigns, SMS competitions and prize-based promotions become more common, regular publication of approved competitions can help reduce illegal promotions, protect consumers and support a more orderly regulated market.