Online casinos accepting players from Botswana

Gambling is an activity that has been among the most controversial ones throughout the years. While entire countries were considering it to be illegal and wrong, there were some that started regulating it and investing in it to help them expand and develop through the revenues it could generate them. 

And while, yes, it could be an addictive activity and should be practised with precaution, when regulated, it can actually provide people with a lot of fun and wins that could change their life for good. Now, while some countries continued banning it and considering it bad for their people, others decided to do the right thing and regulate it so that everyone can enjoy a safe and secure gambling environment under implemented rules. One such country is Botswana. Why did Botswana regulate gambling?

Botswana …

… regulated one of the forms of gambling that is the lightest, the lottery, back in 1966. With the Lotteries and Betting Act (1966), however, begun the gambling expansion in the country. A few years later, the government enacted the Casino Act (1971), with which the country regulated casino gambling as well. These were the first two pieces of specific gambling legislation to regulate land-based gambling, and they were quite successful.

Land-based gambling…

… flourished in the country, with a massive rise in revenue, and the Botswana citizens were satisfied with the casino products offered on the market. However, years passed by and with the new developments all across the world in gambling regulation, the two Acts became outdated. They showed to be inadequate with the developing gambling industry in the country, so the Ministry of Trade and Industry along with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs developed a new Gaming and Gambling Policy, which received Parliament approval at the end of 2002. 

This was when…

… the Casino Control Board was established to oversee the gambling industry, that up until that point, consisted of casinos located in hotels, bingo and lotteries. In 2011, almost 10 years after the Gaming and Gambling Policy was established, the government initiated the drafting process of a brand new law in 2011. The updated legislation was necessary to regulate all gambling activities under one umbrella. 

In June 2013…

… therefore, the new Gambling Act was enacted, which persists in the country up to this day. The Gambling Act was ready in 2012, greatly expanding the range of gambling products permitted in the country. The following were all of the gambling forms offered with the new Act: casinos, bingo, totalisators and pools, horse races and sportsbetting, national and charitable lotteries and non-casino gaming machines. And since the industry was a success up until that point, with the Act, the Botswana Gambling Authority was established, with the power and authority to regulate and license the newly liberalized gambling industry. In 2016, several amendments to this Act were enacted for better regulation. A central control system to monitor the operation of all gaming machines, as well as a package of regulations to prevent money laundering were just some of the changes made to the Act. 

The Botswana Gambling Authority….

… in 2017 announced it would issue 1 new lottery license and a minimum of 6 more casino licenses,  for an application fee and annual license fee of P1 million each for the lottery, and P250,000 and P100,000 for the casino, respectively. The licenses were supposed to be granted for 10 years, but then in 2018, the Gambling Authority decided against issuing any license for the national lottery. Since 2018, the watchdog has stopped accepting and processing Botswana National Lottery License applications. 

Legal Online Gambling in Botswana

And while the Botswana gambling market is a well-established one, and a successfully regulated one, the country never got to legalize and regulate online gambling. Why? Nobody knows. However, it didn’t ban it, either. Therefore, all players interested in joining online casinos are free to do so, without any punishment. 

Even though online gambling…

… is completely unregulated, players from the country can still access international online casinos targeting Botswana and enjoy online casino games. See, the country has not blocked these sites and has not implemented any restriction when it comes to gambling online, so anyone interested in joining an international online casino site can do so under their own responsibility. 

The only problem is…

… since the activity is not regulated, players cannot play at a site licensed and regulated by the Botswana Gambling Authority, therefore, they’re left alone on these international online casino sites, without the proper backup. But, as long as they choose a legit, regulated and licensed site by some other jurisdiction, they should be able to enjoy a safe and fair online gambling time on any international online casino site. 

Botswana Online Casinos

When looking for online casinos to join…

… as mentioned, players from Botswana cannot expect to find an online casino licensed by the Botswana Gambling Authority to join. They would have to look for casinos licensed by other regulators. If you’re a Botswana player uncertain as to which regulators exist out there and which ones you can trust, there are several well-reputed and reliable watchdogs that have been regulating online gambling in their respective countries quite well, which you can trust to get fair and square gambling time. 

Some of the regulators…

… that have set the bar high when it comes to tough online gambling regulation are the UK Gambling Commission, Gibraltar and the Malta Gaming Authority. The Swedish regulator has proved to be effective as well, so as long as you find an international online casino site holding a license by at least one of these regulators, you’re good to go with it. 

Another thing you need to pay attention to…

… is the security measures the casino implements. Considering you'll be playing at an international online casino site, you'd like your private and banking details secure. That's why you'll need to see whether the casino has an SSL encryption and powerful firewalls to protect your confidential details. 

And then…

… you’d need to check whether the casino has been audited for randomness and fairness. Online casinos that hold the seal of approval by the likes of eCOGRA, TST and Certified Fair Gambling are casinos that implement a tested and approved Random Number Generator, which is a device that generates random and therefore fair game results. 

Games at Botswana Online Casinos

Even though in the land-based industry in Botswana players have access to a variety of gambling forms and games, when they access online casino sites, a whole new world opens to them. Sure, online casinos also offer casino games, online bingo, online lotteries, online sportsbetting and online horseracing betting, but they also offer Live Casino games and a massive collection of video slots with different special features and bonus rounds.

The games across international online casino sites…

… are provided by hundreds of online casino games developers, who have been creating engaging and rewarding games for years. Among these renowned software developers, we can mention Playtech, Microgaming, IGT,  NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. Live Dealer games developers like Evolution Gaming, which has managed to enter the South Africa market, Authentic Gaming and Ezugi have revolutionized online gambling and have created experience the closest to land-based gambling possible. So, whenever you find a casino that features games by at least one or two of these developers, you can stick with it. 

Among the games found across international online casinos, you will find:

• Progressive slots;
• Scratchcards;
• Live TV show-style games;
• Instant win games;
• Keno;
• Craps;
• Video poker;
• Poker.

You’ll also get to try out unique games that combine two or more game types, such as slots and bingo, Live Casino games and slots, etc. 

Mobile Betting

Online gambling in Botswana, as stated, is not regulated but not banned either. Therefore, you can join an international online casino via any device you want, without worrying about being prosecuted for joining one. 

The thing is, online gambling today is accessible via both desktop and mobile devices. The modern form of the activity is mobile gambling, where players can enjoy online casino games on the go. 

Designed in HTML5…

… mobile games can be played via any device, as long as the player is connected to the internet. They are fitted for all screen sizes, offering shortcuts and adjusted setup and design. Therefore, whether you prefer playing on your desktop or mobile device, you can freely play your favourite online casino games wherever you are, whenever you want. 

Moreover…

… online casino operators today create all kinds of casino apps to provide their players with. These apps are created for all iOS, Windows and Android devices, so that you can download them, log in to your online casino through them, and enjoy gambling on the go in just a few taps. 

Botswana Online Banking & Casino Payment Methods

Given the fact…

… online gambling is not banned and laws against it do not exist and are therefore not enforced, you can freely join any international online casino site and make transactions to and from it with whichever payment method you’d prefer. 

If you already have an active bank account, you can try bank transfer. If you have credit or debit cards, you can use them as well. But, you can always create a new account with one of the many current popular alternative methods, such as eWallets. eWallets are online casino players’ most preferred option for deposits and withdrawals, and there are plenty of them you can choose from and play with. But you also have mobile payment options, cryptocurrencies you can use, and eVouchers, to your convenience.

The following are some of the many options you have for funding your online casino account and cashing your winnings with:

• VISA;
• MuchBetter;
• MasterCard;
• Skrill;
• Maestro; 
• ecoPayz;
• Neteller;
• Mifinity;
• Bitcoin; 
• Trustly;
• PayPal; 
• Litecoin;
• Paysafecard; 
• Zimpler;
• Ethereum. 

FAQ

Will I find online casinos offering its services in Tswana language?

Some South Africa-targeting online casinos may offer their services in the Tswana language, but they won’t be many. Luckily, all online casinos offer their services in English, so you should not experience any problems with your stay.

Is the Botswana pula an accepted currency across international online casino sites?

Most international online casinos accept all currencies, but eventually, whether or not you’ll be able to play with the Botswana pula would depend on the payment method you choose to use. Remember that currency conversion fees may apply as well. 

Will Botswana ever regulate online gambling?

It’s possible. Considering the country regularly updates its legislative and makes sure the rules are up to date, it could consider regulating online gambling if it sees potential in it. 

What is the gambling age in Botswana?

The legal gambling age in Botswana is 18, so only players who are 18 years old or older can access land-based gambling establishments. 

At what age can players from Botswana access international online casino sites?

The gambling age across most international online gambling site is just like in Botswana, 18 years old or older. But some casinos, especially those based in the US, allow only players who are 21 years old or older to join.

How could I know whether an international online casino accepts players from Botswana?

The list of restricted countries is almost always found in the Terms and Conditions page. If not, the casino will display it somewhere on the homepage. But if still uncertain, try registering at the site, and if players from Botswana are not accepted, you won’t be able to finish the registration and play at that site.

Where can I check for licenses and certificates the casino holds?

Most online casinos display their certificates and licenses at the bottom of the homepage. But sometimes, they also present them in the Terms and Conditions page, so you may look there as well.

Is downloading an app a must across international casino sites?

No. Most online casinos leave it up to the players to decide whether they’d like to play via an app or via a browser on their mobile devices. Apps are entirely optional.

If I experience a problem while playing at an online casino, will I be able to speak with someone about it?

Sure. All online casinos offer a Customer Support team. Almost always, they are available via email and Live Chat, but some operators also offer support via phone and other communication means. 

How to know which payment methods are accepted at an online casino before I join it?

There’s a list of payment methods at all casino sites, usually found in the Payments/Banking/Cashier page. But, the most used payment solutions’ logos are usually found at the bottom of the homepage, too.