Botswana Gambling Authority trains venue staff to spot and respond to problem gambling

The Botswana Gambling Authority has held a responsible gambling workshop for contact persons and venue managers from casinos, betting shops and limited payout machine sites, strengthening frontline capacity to identify and support at-risk players.

The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) has stepped up its responsible gambling work with a dedicated training session for contact persons and venue managers from licensed casinos, betting shops and limited payout machine (LPM) venues nationwide. The workshop, held on Tuesday, December 2, at Big Valley Game Lodge, focused on recognising early signs of gambling-related harm and taking appropriate steps on the gaming floor — from starting supportive conversations to referring players to help services.

The session also covered the regulatory role of designated contact persons, who act as the first point of support for customers and assist inspectors during compliance checks. BGA underlined that regular training is essential for operators to meet their duty to minimise harm.

This workshop forms part of the Authority’s broader Motshameko O Phepa (“Play Safely”) campaign, which aims to embed responsible gambling as a daily practice in venues, not just a policy on paper, and to strengthen public confidence in the regulated sector.