Botswana begins formal review of 2002 gambling policy as regulators seek a modern framework

Botswana has launched a review of its National Gaming and Gambling Policy of 2002, in a move aimed at updating the country’s regulatory model for a market increasingly shaped by digital betting, compliance demands and changing consumer behaviour.

According to recent sector reporting, the review is being led by the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Gambling Authority of Botswana and the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA). That matters because the ministry is responsible for national trade and business policy direction, while BIDPA serves as Botswana’s policy research institute, giving the process both a regulatory and policy-analysis dimension.

The review does not come out of nowhere. Botswana’s Gambling Authority had already said in early 2024 that it was engaged in reviewing the gambling policy developed in 2002, with the aim of making the industry contribute more meaningfully to the economy. The regulator then moved the process forward in March 2025 by publishing a Regulatory Impact Assessment report on the Gaming and Gambling Policy of 2002 and opening it for public review and feedback.

That earlier assessment made clear why reform is now on the table. The Gambling Authority said the 2002 policy had become outdated and no longer adequately addressed the realities of the modern sector. It pointed to a decline in licensed operators, limited investor interest despite licensing opportunities, and the need to align Botswana’s framework with current industry conditions, including responsible gambling, money-laundering concerns and digital gaming oversight.

The process has also already included stakeholder input. The public consultation period on the RIA ran from 26 February to 28 March 2025, during which the authority invited comments from players, licensees and affiliated organisations. That suggests Botswana is not simply drafting a technical amendment, but building the groundwork for a broader policy reset that could eventually shape licensing, market access, consumer protection and digital enforcement standards.

For the market, the significance of the new review phase lies in timing. Botswana’s regulator has in parallel been working on responsible gambling tools, a self-help portal and a future Central Electronic Monitoring System, all signs that the country is trying to move beyond an older land-based policy logic toward a more data-driven and compliance-focused model. If the current review results in a revised policy, it could become the country’s clearest step yet toward a gambling framework better suited to online betting, investor expectations and modern regulatory risk.