Best Online Casinos - Botswana

Gambling in the country is perfectly legal and regulated, with the governing acts, laws, and authorities making sure the industry operates properly. Do the same rules apply to licensing and auditing offline and online gambling venues? Can international brands provide services? Will players be punished for playing on sites that were not licensed by the country? We will be taking a closer look at these and other important questions.

How is offline gambling regulated in Botswana?

Botswana ratified the Gambling Act of 2012 to be the cornerstone legal document to regulate and guide the industry. The law specifies the legal scope for all types of offline casino games and other betting activities, including slot machines, table games, sports betting, lotteries, and more. The main mission of the Act is to introduce and promote responsible gambling, prevent any crimes that can be connected to non-regulated gaming, and protect players from being exposed to unethical gambling practices.

The responsible committee supervising the industry is the Botswana Gambling Authority. The members of BGA are responsible for checking and licensing new casinos, supervising and auditing the existing ones, and enforcing the provisions of the Gambling Act. The Authority ensures that all gambling activities are conducted with integrity and transparency, safeguarding the interests of both operators and players. 

While gambling is legal, the activity is limited to a certain age. One has to be 21 in Botswana to play games of chance, participate in lottery draws, or place bets. It is the responsibility of each individual operator to verify their customer’s age. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in severe penalties, including fines and revocation of licenses.

Gambling-Related Taxes in Botswana

As of 2012, under the Gambling Act, all providers of casino and betting services must pay taxes. Businesses are responsible for reporting their revenues and paying taxes that are then used towards various public services and infrastructure development. Operators are required to maintain accurate financial records and ensure timely payment of all taxes and levies. Non-compliance can lead to legal actions, including fines and suspension of operations. 

For businesses, the rate of corporate income tax is 22% of the taxable income. This rate applies to revenues from casino games, lotteries, and sportsbooks. 

When it comes to players, however, the government allows winners to keep gambling earnings tax-free. This approach aligns with practices in several other jurisdictions where the tax liability is placed on the operators rather than the players.

Licensing Process for Gambling Businesses

A business that wants to provide casino, lottery, or sportsbook services in Botswana, must get a license from the Gambling Authority. This process follows a set of more or less standardized steps and the BGA expects to receive from an applicant the following:

• A formal application together with a detailed business plan.
• Details of the nature of gambling activities outlined in written form.
• Details of the target market, financial projections, and promotion strategies.
• Proof of financial stability.
• Information about owners or boards of directors.
• Information about operational systems.

Once BGA receives a formal request, it reviews the application and assesses the business plan. This evaluation includes background checks on the applicants, scrutiny of financial records, and an assessment of the proposed operational systems. The process may take up to six months. If the result is positive, the applicant receives a license limited to a certain period of time. The license can be renewed at an additional cost once the time comes.

How is online gambling regulated in Botswana?

Although the country does rely on the Gambling Act of 2012 when it comes to regulating the offline industry, the same legal document does not properly outline online gambling. To be more specific, virtual betting and gaming operations are not properly addressed. There is no framework for licensing, regulating, and monitoring virtual gaming lobbies. 

That being said, there are also no laws specifically prohibiting local gamblers from accessing international gaming and betting platforms or presenting individuals from gaming activities at online lobbies located outside Botswana. Players won’t face any criminal charges. They won’t be prosecuted for participating in betting, lottery, or gaming activities.

This freedom might be overwhelming. However, it comes with certain responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of an individual player. Since these platforms are not regulated by the Botswana Gambling Authority, players are advised to exercise caution. Engaging with unregulated sites can pose risks, including potential fraud, unfair gaming practices, and challenges in resolving disputes.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable online gambling experience, players should consider the following steps:

• Verify Licensing and Regulation: Ensure that the online operator is licensed by a reputable international jurisdiction. Licensed sites are required to follow strict standards of fairness and security.
• Check for Security Measures: Look for sites that use SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information. This can often be identified by a padlock symbol in the browser's address bar.
• Read Reviews and Testimonials: Research the platform by reading player reviews and expert analyses. This can provide insights into the site's reputation and reliability.
• Assess Payment Options: Legitimate sites offer a variety of secure payment methods and provide clear information about deposit and withdrawal processes.
• Evaluate Customer Support: Reliable platforms offer accessible customer support through multiple channels, such as live chat, email, or phone.

Given the fact that there are not that many locally licensed online operators, our prediction is that players from the reviewed country flock to international gambling and betting platforms to play games or bet on sports. This immediately highlights the question of banking — the cornerstone marker of convenience and user-friendliness in any given online lobby.

Botswana's official currency is the Pula (BWP). This currency is a very rare find at any of the international sites. Our team has been reviewing online casinos for years, and our database has 1,000+ great locations. How many times did we see BWP among the supported currencies in any of these sites? The answer can be very discouraging.

However, many of the sites that welcome players from Botswana support payments in USD. For gamblers in the reviewed country, this means allowing additional spending on currency conversion fees. This isn’t the best solution but it’s there.

Alternatively, we encourage players to explore cryptocurrencies. Many members of the gambling community across the world prefer this method and for good reasons:

• Crypto is decentralized.
• It has many variations, from volatile tokens to stablecoins.
• Transactions within blockchains are faster than those operated by banks.

If you are new to crypto, we have a great guide that should help you get started. If you feel like crypto is not your thing, stick to fiat cash and look for online operators that accept payment methods convenient to you. Luckily, cards including MasterCard and Visa, are available in 99% of the reviewed sites. Many also support Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) — a method popular in Botswana. When it comes to mobile payment solutions, Orange Money is not represented properly but you might look into any of the popular international e-wallets: MiFinity, MuchBetter, or eZeeWallet.

Gambling in the country has a long and diverse history. Pre-casino gaming activities rely on an element of chance and betting in them. These indigenous games have been a significant part of the cultural fabric, serving both as entertainment and social interaction.

Among the traditional games are activities like Morabara, which is a strategic board game, and Mhele – a board game that involves the tactical movement of pieces with the objective of capturing the opponent's pieces. These games not only provided entertainment but also fostered community bonds and cultural continuity. While modern gambling activities have evolved, these traditional games remain a testament to Botswana's rich heritage of games of chance.

During the times of the British protectorate, several new games of chance and betting activities were introduced. Some of them became integrated into Botswana’s gambling culture. These include horse racing and betting, card games like poker and bridge, and table games like roulette.

Slots: Slot machines are a staple among queries from Botswana-based players, and international sites are ready to offer a community a range of themes and gameplay experiences. The appeal of slots lies in their simplicity and the potential for significant payouts, making them a popular choice among both novice and seasoned gamblers. Plus, there is a range of themes to choose from, including African, entertainment slots, and adventures — three of these categories are immensely popular within the community. There won’t be a shortage in terms of bonuses, payouts, math models, and other variables.

LiveDealer: Players from Botswana show interest in live dealer games and international sites are ready to meet this demand with a variety of tables. These include variations of live roulette, blackjack, and poker, as well as a range of stakes for low and high-rollers, side bets, and dealers speaking different languages.