Botswana to host major gambling regulators conference next year
Botswana government has approved the hosting of International Association of Gaming Regulators ( IAGR) Conference 2023, which will be held next year October, in Gaborone.
Accepting the bid, on behalf of the Botswana government to host the conference, The Assistant Minister of MTI, Beauty Manake, who led the Botswana delegation to IAGR conference 2022, in Melbourne, Australia, said, “My attendance to this year’s conference is a confirmation that next year’s host regulator, the Gambling Authority Botswana has full support from my Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Gambling Authority Botswana is a state entity mandated to oversee gambling through regulating and controlling the development of gambling businesses in Botswana as well as promoting Botswana as a gaming industry destination.”
IAGR consists of representatives from gaming and gambling regulatory organisations throughout the world. IAGR’s mission is to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of gaming regulation. IAGR provides opportunities for gambling and gaming regulators from around the world to engage, learn and network with industry peers through events, workshops, research, information sharing, and the development of best practices. Members benefit from key advocacy committees, support, and exclusive access and discounts on members- only content, services, events, and opportunities.
The members of IAGR have established a working relationship, whose key objectives are to protect communities and citizens through the adherence to gaming regulatory laws applicable to each member state. It aligns matters that affect the industry and ensures that the world is free from old and degenerating gaming technologies. It implements initiatives that are aimed at curbing problem gambling and ensures industry monitoring, as well as counselling and education for the affected.
The participants are Board Members, Chief Executive Officers, and Senior Officials of the regulators and operators of gambling establishments and suppliers of the gambling industry who attend as observers. On average, the conference attracts Two Hundred and Fifty ( 250) delegates from across the globe.
By dictates of the Gambling Act, the Gambling Authority is a key member of international organisations whose objectives are to regulate gambling, and build collaboration and consistency among regulators, both in Africa and the rest of the World.
The IAGR conference is held annually and is hosted by different member jurisdictions. The Technical Committee of IAGR, a committee comprising representatives of the member jurisdictions, ensures that this conference is held by rotation and advises the members on eligibility to host the conference.
A jurisdiction is defined as a regulated area, in some countries synonymous with the country and in others limited to a state or province. For example, in federal countries such as the USA, Nigeria, and South Africa, regulators are limited to the state or province and in unitary states such as Botswana or the United Kingdom ( UK) the regulator is a single national regulator
The Funding requirements for the conference are shared between IAGR, the host country, and the conference participants. A conference participation fee is paid to IAGR, and a subvention is paid to the host country to support the conference arrangements; the hotel accommodation is paid for directly by the conference participants and the host country is responsible for the remaining conference expenses including the meals and excursions.
Botswana government will establish a Local Organising Committee ( LOC), which will include the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Botswana Police Service and other stakeholders to deliver this hugely important event that will showcase the best that Botswana offers.
In line with Botswana becoming a centre for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions ( MICE), the Organising Committee will ensure maximum benefits for the tourism, hotel and hospitality industry, entertainment, transport/ taxis/ cabs, telecommunications/ airtime vendors, hawkers of cultural artifacts, in addition to the exchange of ideas and culture capital.