Botswana Gambling Revenue Reaches $94.6 Million in 2025/26

Botswana’s gambling market generated P1.3 billion, approximately $94.6 million, in revenue during the 2025/26 financial year, according to figures disclosed by Gambling Authority chief executive Moruntshi Kemorwale.

The sector contributed P181 million, around $13.1 million, to government finances through taxes and levies. Kemorwale presented the figures at the Made in BW, Sold to the World Expo in Palapye, according to Focus Gaming News.

His update also pointed to a substantial shift in online betting participation following the introduction of licensing in February 2025. Separately, Blask data compiled by SiGMA News showed rising search interest in gambling brands and products.

Regulator Reports Decline in Illegal Betting

Kemorwale said more than 500,000 people in Botswana had been active on illegal betting websites before online betting licences were introduced. That figure has since fallen to approximately 40,000.

Licensed platforms, meanwhile, have recorded 1.5 million accounts. The reported decline in users of illegal sites exceeds 92%, although the account total for licensed operators measures registrations rather than individual customers.

The figures therefore describe different aspects of the market: estimated participation on unlicensed websites and the number of accounts recorded by licensed businesses. They do not establish that Botswana has 1.5 million unique online bettors.

Kemorwale also emphasised responsible gambling and consumer protection, presenting effective regulation as a way to build trust as betting activity moves to licensed platforms. 

Search Interest Rises Across Online Categories

Botswana’s Blask Index increased from 1.45 million in April 2025 to 7.31 million in March 2026, a rise of approximately 404%, according to SiGMA’s analysis.

The strongest annual increase among the highlighted categories was online betting, where measured interest rose 1,210%. Online casino interest increased 313%, while live dealer casino interest grew 85.49%.

These percentages describe changes in Blask’s interest metrics. They should be read separately from the regulator’s financial results.

Blask explains that its main brand index uses search data from Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends, with filtering and normalisation to track demand for iGaming brands. It does not measure gambling revenue, deposits or website visits. 

The distinction matters when assessing the scale of Botswana’s expansion: the $94.6 million figure describes reported annual gambling revenue, while the index tracks changes in online attention.

Regulator Encourages Local Game Development

Alongside the market figures, Kemorwale encouraged students and local developers to explore mobile games featuring betting elements.

Speaking at the expo, he argued that Botswana could develop products for export and participate in game production, extending its role beyond consuming products developed elsewhere.

The event, held on October 8-9 at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, focused on domestic production and international business opportunities. Kemorwale’s remarks placed gambling technology within that wider discussion of local enterprise development.