Gambling Authority rolls out licensing drive
The Gambling Authority (GA) has received a number of applications for gambling establishment licenses and gambling machines licenses for Route Operators, Site Operators as well as Independent Site Operators.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Kesitilwe, the robust licensing drive is part of the Authority’s strategic intent of digitizing gaming and gambling as well as enhancing direct economic participation of citizens, new entrants, and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
“The smooth processing and reception of betting and limited payout machine licenses stand out as milestones in the Authority’s journey.
They not only represent the establishment of a vibrant and diversified gaming and gambling industry; but also a deliberate drive towards innovation and alignment with global trends,” Kesitilwe said.
He added that the new licenses will offer new channels for citizen economic participation; as the Authority will insist on clear demonstration of the operators’ commitment to promoting citizen participation; skills transfer, employment creation as well as SMMEs development. “We will also support government’s objectives of citizen economic inclusion by increasing the participation of women, youth and people living with disabilities in the gaming and gambling industry,” said Kesitilwe.
The roll out of new gaming license applications for betting, bingo, and limited payout machines is in line with the Authority’s responsibility of contributing to Botswana’s transformational agenda and socio-economic development by diversifying the gaming industry.
The strategic move is also driven by the phenomenal growth in online gaming. Statistics released by the Georgian Gambling Association indicate that global revenue generated from online gambling skyrocketed from USD6.5 billion in 2003 to USD 80.81 billion in 2022. To date, online gambling revenue contributes 53 percent of total gambling revenue in Europe, 20 percent in Asia and only one percent in Africa.
The global gambling industry views Africa as the next growth epicenter of the gambling industry. With its population of about 1.4 billion mostly young people, coupled with robust economic expansion and major investments in technology; Africa has become an attractive market with huge potential for growth.
According to gaming and gambling pundits, the growth of online gaming and gambling in Africa is mainly centered on sports betting.
In conclusion, Kesitilwe explained that the new gambling licenses are expected to create more jobs, boost the technol- ogy sector and generate much needed tax revenue for government.