Laws and Restrictions in Botswana
Gambling in Botswana was initially legalized in 1961. Several acts have been enacted with frequent revisions of the laws meant to address the dynamic gambling scene. The first major Act was established in 1966 after the southern African country gained independence from Britain in the same year. The Lotteries and Betting Act of 1966 was the pioneer law for the country's betting industry. This enabled the country to experience an expansion of the sector.
Later, the government continued to regulate casino gambling. They achieved this by enacting the Casino Act of 1971. These were the initial gambling legislation that were specific to land-based gambling. The two were quite a success and laid out a good foundation for the growth of the sector in the country.
Modern Regulation of Live Casino in Botswana
With the 20th century drawing towards the end, the live casino and gambling scene, in general, has experienced new developments globally. Some of these developments rendered the existing acts obsolete, creating a need for some amendments. Two years into the 21st century, the country developed the Gaming and Gambling Policy sanctioned by the parliament in 2002. The Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs, in conjunction with the Ministry of Trade and Industry was behind the engineering of the new law.
The Casino Control Board was set up during this time and was meant to oversee the industry. In 2013, a newly enacted gambling law was drafted by the government. The restructured legislation was meant to harmonize the gambling activities to be regulated under one umbrella. This Act remains in use up to date. Under the new Act, various forms of gambling, including sports betting, horse races, casinos, bingo, and national and charitable lotteries, were permitted. Later, the Botswana Gambling Authority was established and was given the authority to regulate and license the sector.
