Kesitilwe revealed staggering figures from March 2025 alone: “Botswana players placed bets worth P150 million, with gross gambling revenue hitting P15 million. Extrapolated annually, that’s P180 million from just 40% of active gamblers. If we close the gap, our GGR could exceed P450 million,” he noted.
In response, the Authority is driving regulatory reform through amendments to the Gambling Act of 2012 and a review of the outdated 2002 Gambling Policy. These reforms will align the sector with international best practices and tackle challenges such as anti-money laundering, digital gambling oversight, and lowering the legal gambling age from 21 to 18.
“We are not just regulating. We are rebuilding a smarter, safer, and more sustainable industry,” Kesitilwe stated.
The launch comes as Botswana looks to regional models for inspiration. South Africa’s gambling sector, for example, boasts an annual GGR of approximately P30 billion, fueled by a population of over 6 million active bettors. Peter Kesitilwe believes Botswana can unlock similar value with the right reforms, strong compliance, and operator collaboration.