Botswana Sets Sights on P1 Billion Gambling Revenue by March 2026

Botswana’s gambling industry is on track to reach a major financial milestone, with gross gambling revenue (GGR) projected to exceed P1 billion (€64.3 million) by the end of March 2026, according to the national regulator.

The projection was outlined by the Botswana Gambling Authority during a media briefing held in Gaborone at the Avani Hotel on Thursday, 15 January. Speaking to journalists, the Authority’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Moruntshi Kemorwale, said the sector’s recent performance shows strong and consistent growth. Just two years ago, Botswana’s recorded GGR stood at P234 million (€18 million). Since then, the industry has expanded more than fourfold in a relatively short period,

According to the Gambling Authority, much of this growth has been driven by the rapid rise of online and mobile betting platforms and widespread smartphone use.  The Authority confirmed that by December 2025, gambling revenue had already exceeded P700 million (€55 million), placing the market firmly on track to cross the P1 billion threshold by March.

“We expect gambling revenue to exceed the P1 bn target by March this year. This is driven by growing adoption of betting in the country,” Kemorwale said. He also clarified what the headline figure represents, noting: “Every pula recorded as GGR is a pula someone played and did not win back.” Alongside revenue growth, player participation has also increased. The number of active bettors, which previously stood at just over 500,000, is now projected to rise above 700,000 registered players.

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The sector’s expansion has drawn attention from policymakers as well. Speaking at a campaign launch in Francistown, Tiroeaone Ntsima, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, placed Botswana’s performance in a global context. “Globally, gambling generates over US$500 bn in gross gambling revenue annually. In Botswana, our industry currently averages P250 m (€19.5m), and projections show this could exceed P1bn next financial year,” he said. Ntsima noted that the industry has the potential to support job creation and attract investment, while also stressing the importance of managing growth responsibly.

Reflecting on progress made during the Gambling Authority’s first decade, Kemorwale highlighted advances in player protection and public awareness. “A major achievement for us is the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which has resulted in a decrease in problem gambling from 5% in 2020 to 3.4% in 2025,” he said. “Another major success story for us is Motshameko o Phepha, which has already targeted 173 out of 500 targeted sites in only two and a half months.”