09 Jul 2026

The Gambling Authority has established intervention programmes to assist those experiencing gambling-related problems.

This was revealed by the Gambling Authority Director of Responsible Gambling and Corporate Affairs, Ms Linnet Mafukidze during a kgotla meeting in Tsabong on Tuesday.

 Among the measures available, she said was the self-exclusion programme, through which individuals may voluntarily approach the Authority to request that they be blocked from accessing licensed gambling platforms.  She further said the Authority also offered a third-party exclusion programme, allowing family members to apply for the temporary suspension of a relative from gambling activities where there were indications of irresponsible gambling behaviour.

Ms Mafukidze explained that both interventions were implemented only after thorough investigations had confirmed the need for such measures.

She said the Gambling Authority had observed a significant increase in the number of adults and young people participating in gambling, following the introduction of betting platforms.

She emphasised that gambling should be regarded strictly as a form of entertainment and not as a means of generating income or making a profit. 

She encouraged responsible gambling by only using money that one could afford to lose. She also advised that gambling should never interfere with an individual’s daily responsibilities, work and education or family commitments.

The director further highlighted that strict age restrictions remained in place to protect children from gambling, stating that individuals under the age of 21 were prohibited from participating in any gambling activities.  Ms Mafukidze further appealed to parents and guardians not to allow children access to their electronic devices to place bets or participate in gambling activities on their behalf, warning that such practices undermined the law and exposed young people to gambling at an early age.

During the meeting, one Tsabong resident, Mr Felix Ntau suggested that the Gambling Authority should consider introducing a user profiling system that would set monthly spending limits for gamblers. He said such a measure could help curb excessive gambling and encourage responsible gambling practices.  For her   part, Pastor Masego Koonnetseng, appealed to the Gambling Authority to extend its responsible gambling awareness campaign to churches.

He said signs of irresponsible gambling were also evident within some church communities, where church funds had allegedly been misused for gambling.

He said awareness programmes in churches could help address the problem through education and prevention.   The awareness meeting formed part of the Gambling Authority’s ongoing public education campaign aimed at promoting responsible gambling practices, safeguarding vulnerable groups and ensuring compliance with Botswana’s gambling laws. ENDS