Botswana's parliament has passed amendments lowering the legal gambling age from 21 to 18. The bill cleared its third reading on 13 August and now awaits the president's signature.
The change aligns the gambling threshold with the general age of majority. Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Pius Mokgware warned lawmakers against passing laws that cannot be enforced in practice. Supporters argued that keeping the 21-year barrier pushes young adults toward unlicensed platforms. Opposition members said 18-year-olds lack the judgment to make sound decisions and are more vulnerable to addiction.
The bill also tightens anti-money-laundering requirements, introduces beneficial ownership checks, and mandates that operators connect slot machines to the regulator's monitoring system. Maximum fines rise to P100,000, with prison terms reaching five years.
Market impact
The regulator estimates illegal platforms drain P850 million ($63.2 million) annually. In January 2024 authorities recorded around 510,000 instances of citizens gambling on unlicensed sites each month. Licensed operators launched in February 2025. By March they handled P150 million in wagers, paid out P135 million in winnings, and generated P15 million in GGR. Only 40% of the 550,000 active players migrated to licensed services.
Industry revenue passed P700 million by December 2025. Acting CEO of the Gambling Authority Moruntshi Kemorwale forecasts growth to P1 billion by March 2027. The regulator and financial intelligence unit are investigating eight foreign sites operating through local intermediaries and blocking payment channels used by unlicensed operators.
