- Gambling Gross Revenue currently at P700 million
• P1 billion target highly achievable – Acting CEO Kemorwale
The Gambling Authority is optimistic that the industry is registering tremendous growth and forecasts that Gambling Gross Revenue will reach P1 billion during the upcoming 2026–27 financial year. The P1 billion target comes at a time when Gambling Gross Revenue currently stands at P700 million.
Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gambling Authority, Moruntshi Kemorwale, revealed these growth prospects on Thursday while addressing the media in Gaborone. Kemorwale said the industry has grown substantially, both before the Authority’s formation and more markedly thereafter. He noted the Gambling Authority has seen a steady increase in licensed operators, a sharp rise in player participation, and significant growth in gross turnover across betting and gaming.
“We are confident that, by the end of the financial year, the industry would have reached gross gambling revenue of P1 billion. This is a significant rise, considering the industry has been hovering around annual revenue of P230 million,” Kemorwale stated. “This growth reflects broader global trends, increased digital access, and changing consumer behavior.”
However, Kemorwale said this also places greater responsibility on the regulator to ensure growth does not come at the expense of fairness, transparency, and social well-being. “We are thus at a crossroads as an industry. It is either we swim or sink. We need to redouble our efforts in ensuring safety for all,” he emphasized.
Stressing the need to tighten regulation, Kemorwale said there is an urgent need to introduce a central electronic monitoring system as provided by the Gambling Act and to strengthen enforcement capacity. “Truth be told, this industry is evolving as the sun rises. You snooze, you lose,” he added.
“Sadly, the Authority continues to rely on external skills or consultants because locally we have limited skills to conduct certain specialized tasks key to proper regulation,” Kemorwale explained. “To add to that, there is no single training college or university in Botswana offering gambling-related training, and such training institutions are limited internationally.”
“We all learn as we go—from conferences, master classes, and symposiums. The licensees are thus always a step ahead of us. We continue to share learnings with fellow regulators, our licensees, and other industry players,” he said.
