📋 Botswana vs Namibia: quick facts

🇧🇼 Online casinos in Botswana

The law and the regulator

Gambling in Botswana is governed by the Gambling Act 2012 and regulated by the Gambling Authority, which marked ten years of operation in January 2026. Until 2025, there was no licensed online betting at all: the GA awarded licences to ten companies in August 2024, but none had launched online betting by February 2025, The Patriot reported, and the GA required licensees to open physical betting shops before going online.

Online betting arrives

• February 2025: Sunbet, part of Sun International (which also runs Gaborone Sun), launched its online platform on 13 February 2025 and was announced as the holder of Botswana’s first online gaming and betting licence, FocusGN reported. The GA inspected its sites and technology from November 2024, and a licence condition was opening physical stores around the country.
• March 2025: Betway (trading through Delta Bay), Sunbet and PstBet had started operating, though some suffered outages in their first weeks, The Patriot reported. Bet365, which the GA said had been operating illegally, announced it would leave Botswana on 1 April 2025.
• June 2026: the GA published a notice saying “only six betting operators are currently authorised to offer betting services in Botswana”.

Botswana’s authorised betting operators (June 2026)

Source: Gambling Authority notice reported by FocusGN, 16 June 2026. The notice describes all six as betting operators and doesn’t list casino licences.

What about online casino?

This is where Botswana’s picture is still incomplete. When Sunbet launched, FocusGN reported that it planned to offer slots, table games, crash games and virtuals alongside sports betting. But the GA’s June 2026 notice lists only betting operators, Gambling Maps classes online casino in Botswana as “partial” or “limited”, and Gambling.com reported in August 2026 that new online casino licences are planned separately from the 2026 amendment to the Gambling Act. In September 2026, the GA also invited expressions of interest for new bingo and casino establishments in the Central District, Maun and Kasane/Pandamatenga, which read as physical venues.

Until the GA publishes online casino licensees, we can’t point you to a Botswana-licensed online casino. If a licensed betting site offers casino games, ask the operator which GA licence covers them.

The age change

Botswana’s National Assembly passed the Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2026 on 13 August 2026, lowering the minimum gambling age from 21 to 18. It also adds fit-and-proper checks, connects gambling machines to a government monitoring system, requires amusement arcades to register, and raises fines to up to P500,000 (P1 million for repeat offences). As of 3 September 2026, no commencement order had been published, so the minimum age remains 21 until the amendment takes effect, Gambling.com reported.

Botswana’s gambling market

• Revenue: P1.3 billion (about US$94.6 million) in 2025/26, of which P181 million went to the government in taxes and levies, the GA said in October 2026.
• Accounts: licensed platforms have recorded 1.5 million accounts.
• Illegal sites: more than 500,000 Batswana used illegal betting sites before online licences were introduced; that has fallen to about 40,000, according to GA chief executive Moruntshi Kemorwale.
• Participation: around 30% of the population gambles, Kemorwale said.
• Growth: gross gambling revenue was P234 million in 2024, FocusGN reported in January 2026.

Enforcement and oversight

In January 2026, the GA said it would take stricter action against influencers who promote illegal gambling, working with police, and was considering a central electronic monitoring system. Gambling Maps reports that the GA also announced stricter oversight of licensed online operators after complaints about technical failures and delayed payouts, threatening fines or suspension.

Tax in Botswana

Gambling Maps found no verified specific tax on players’ winnings in Botswana as of 2026, and describes an earlier claim of a 10% withholding tax as unsubstantiated. For operators, it lists standard corporate income tax of 23.5%, while noting that reports of a separate gross gaming revenue tax or levy are unconfirmed. Check any deduction shown on your account.

Payments in Botswana

A Top Casino Botswana review of Sunbet, checked in August 2026, lists Orange Money, MyZaka (Mascom), FNB eWallet and Visa/Mastercard, with mobile money deposits from P10. Use only an account in your own name and the operator’s official cashier.

Lessons from Botswana’s first year of licensed online betting

Botswana’s move to licensed online betting hasn’t been entirely smooth. In March 2025, newly licensed sites went offline for days, leaving punters unable to place bets, view them or cash out; Betway Botswana acknowledged technical issues, and PstBet’s chief executive called his site’s problems minor and quickly resolved, The Patriot reported. By January 2026, Gambling Maps reports, the GA was warning licensed online operators about rising complaints over technical failures, system blackouts and delayed payouts. The upside of licensing is that these complaints can go to the GA, which can fine or suspend operators, something that’s impossible with an offshore site.

How to check a Botswana licence

1. Compare the brand with the GA’s list of authorised betting operators; the June 2026 notice named six.
2. Check the company name in the site’s footer against the licensed company, such as Delta Bay (Pty) Ltd for Betway.
3. Check the product: the list covers betting. Until online casino licences are published, ask which licence covers any casino games.
4. Ask the GA if anything is unclear; it advises verifying a licence before opening an account or depositing.

🇳🇦 Online casinos in Namibia

The law: online gaming banned unless authorised

Namibia’s Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 (Act 13 of 2018), which fully commenced in December 2021, is explicit. Section 73(1) says: “A person may not engage in or make available an online game, except as authorised in terms of this Act.” Section 73(2) lets the Minister prescribe which online games need an online game licence and how such licences work. The Act refers to an “online provider” holding an online game licence, so it anticipates online gaming, but only once a licence is created by regulation.

No online gaming licence had been issued when we checked. The Brief reported in February 2026 that the government’s priority is consolidating land-based regulation rather than expanding into online licensing, and SOFTSWISS’s September 2026 regulatory map lists online casino and online sports betting in Namibia as unregulated, with no online framework in place. Gambling Maps, by contrast, lists online casino as legal on Namibia-licensed sites, but names no licensed online casino and says there’s no public online licence register; we’ve followed the Act and the more specific sources.

The regulator

The Gambling Board of Namibia, established under the 2018 Act, falls under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. In September 2026, it opened tenders for a Central Electronic Monitoring System to record and report gambling activity across licensed operations under section 90 of the Act, and for a new licensing workflow system, with bids due by 29 October 2026, iGaming Today reported.

What Namibia licenses

• Casinos: six licensed casinos operating 2,845 registered gaming machines, The Namibian reported in December 2025.
• Gambling houses and other operators: 254 gambling establishments run by about 260 approved operators.
• Bookmakers and totalisators: licensed under the Act; the Board has been processing bookmaker and totalisator applications.
• Lottery: Namibia’s first state lottery was expected within one to two years of December 2025, aiming to raise more than N$100 million by 2030.

Levies, fees and proposed changes

Licensed operators pay a 10% levy on profits. In April 2025, the Windhoek High Court upheld that obligation, dismissing a challenge by the Gambling House Association of Namibia, and in January 2026 the Board ordered all licensed operators to settle outstanding levies and fees by 30 April 2026 or risk penalties, suspension or revocation, FocusGN reported.

In March 2026, the Ministry opened consultations on amendments to the gambling and lottery regulations. Operators said the proposals could add up to a 16% levy on gross income, with bookmaker application fees rising from N$10,000 to N$50,000, a proposed 1% maintenance fee and 5% monitoring fee, Future Media News reported. The Board said the changes strengthen regulation. We found no confirmation that they’ve taken effect.

Tax on winnings and digital services

Gambling Maps says winnings aren’t explicitly taxed under the 2018 Act. From 1 April 2026, Namibia applies 18% VAT to imported digital services; The Brief noted this isn’t aimed at gambling but could capture revenue from offshore betting platforms used by Namibians.

Enforcement

Authorities have shut down more than 280 illegal gambling operations in recent years, The Brief reported. Under the Act, letting a minor gamble carries a fine of up to N$10,000, up to two years in prison or both (section 74), and Gambling Maps reports that advertising breaches carry fines of up to N$20,000 and up to two years in prison.

Namibia’s gambling market

• Revenue: about N$948 million projected for 2025 (Statista, cited by The Namibian), with traditional casinos contributing about N$373.8 million a year.
• Online: Statista projected online gaming revenue of N$26.7 million in 2025, despite the absence of online licences, which suggests most online play goes to offshore sites.
• Mobile: smartphone penetration above 70%.
• Government target: the Sixth National Development Plan aims for more than N$100 million in gambling revenue by 2030.

How to check a Namibian operator

1. Remember the starting point: no online game licence exists, so no online casino can be licensed in Namibia today.
2. For land-based venues, ask to see the licence issued by the Gambling Board, and check that the venue isn’t one of the illegal operations the authorities have been closing.
3. Ask the Board through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism if you’re unsure; Gambling Maps notes there’s no public online licence register.

Namibia’s regulatory overhaul

Namibia is investing in oversight rather than opening online gaming. The Central Electronic Monitoring System tendered in September 2026 is meant to record and report gambling activity across licensed operations, with licence holders paying to connect their machines. A separate 60-month contract covers an automated licensing and workflow system. iGaming Today notes that Namibia joins Kenya, Ghana, Mauritius and Burundi in pursuing country-wide gambling monitoring, which would also give the Board the tools it would need to supervise online gaming if a licence is ever prescribed.

🌍 Offshore online casinos in Botswana and Namibia: the risks

• Not licensed: in Botswana, only GA-licensed operators are legal; in Namibia, online gaming without authorisation breaches section 73 of the Act.
• Foreign licences don’t count: Gambling Maps notes that licences from places such as Malta, the UK, Gibraltar or Curaçao aren’t recognised in Namibia.
• No complaints route: neither the GA nor the Gambling Board can help you recover money from a site it doesn’t license.
• Enforcement: Botswana’s GA has issued cease-and-desist notices to offshore operators and saw Bet365 leave in 2025.
• No safety net: self-exclusion registers and age checks don’t bind offshore sites.

🚩 Red flags at any casino site

1. The brand isn’t on the GA’s list (Botswana) or can’t show Gambling Board authorisation (Namibia).
2. Only a foreign licence in the footer.
3. Influencers promoting the site; Botswana’s GA says promoters of illegal gambling “operate illegally”.
4. Deposits through agents on WhatsApp or Telegram.
5. No age check before you can play.
6. Fees demanded to release winnings.
7. APK files shared in group chats.

⚖️ Online betting vs online casino: why the difference matters

In both countries, the law treats betting and casino games differently, and that’s the key to understanding what’s allowed online:

• Namibia: the Act’s definition of an “online game” specifically excludes bets placed with a bookmaker or totalisator operator. Online casino-type games fall under section 73’s ban unless an online game licence is prescribed, which hasn’t happened.
• Botswana: the GA’s authorised list covers betting operators. Online casino licences are a separate step that, according to Gambling.com, is still being planned.

So when a betting site popular in Botswana or Namibia shows slots, live tables or crash games, the legal cover for those games is far less clear than for its sportsbook. If you care about legal protection, keep that distinction in mind.

💰 Taxes on online casinos in Botswana and Namibia compared

Sources: Gambling Maps, FocusGN, The Brief, Future Media News and iGaming Today. Tax rules can change; check with the Botswana Unified Revenue Service or the Namibia Revenue Agency for your situation.

🔜 What a licensed online casino would look like

If either country licenses online casinos, here’s what to look for before you sign up:

1. A public announcement from the regulator naming the licensee and the product.
2. A local company named in the site’s footer that matches the regulator’s list.
3. Age verification at the legal age before you can deposit.
4. Self-exclusion and limits linked to the national register.
5. A clear complaints route to the GA or the Gambling Board.

🌍 How Botswana and Namibia compare with the region

Sources: AffSupreme country research (2026).

🏨 Land-based casinos in Botswana and Namibia

For now, a licensed land-based casino is the clearest legal way to play casino games in either country.

• Namibia: six licensed casinos operate 2,845 registered gaming machines, and traditional casinos contribute an estimated N$373.8 million a year, according to Statista figures cited by The Namibian.
• Botswana: Sun International, Sunbet’s parent, operates Gaborone Sun. The GA’s September 2026 call for expressions of interest named the Central District, Maun and Kasane/Pandamatenga as proposed locations for new casinos, with bingo planned across ten districts; submissions closed on 16 October 2026.

Before you visit, bring identification (21+ in Botswana for now, 18+ in Namibia), set a cash budget, and ask about self-exclusion if you’re worried about your play.

🎰 How games at online casinos in Botswana and Namibia work

Whether in a licensed casino in Windhoek or Gaborone or on a phone, every casino game is designed so the house wins over time.

RTP and house edge

Return to player (RTP) is the share of stakes a game pays back over a very large number of plays. A slot with 96% RTP keeps an average of 4%, its house edge. RTP doesn’t predict a single session, but the longer you play, the more your results tend towards the house edge.

Casino myths

• “The machine is due to pay.” Every spin is independent.
• “I can predict Aviator.” Crash points are random; prediction apps and “signal” groups are scams.
• “Bonuses are free money.” Wagering requirements and the house edge apply.
• “Doubling after a loss always wins.” The Martingale quickly hits your budget or table limits.

🧮 How casino bonuses really work

Illustration in pula or Namibian dollars: expected loss = total wagered × 4% house edge. Short-term results vary widely.

At 35x or more, the house edge is expected to consume the whole bonus. Also check maximum bets, game contributions, time limits and caps on winnings.

💡 Playing smarter

• Set a budget before every session and stop when it’s gone.
• Know your volatility: high-volatility games can drain a small budget quickly.
• Watch the clock: fast games can play hundreds of rounds an hour.
• Never chase losses.
• Use self-exclusion if gambling stops being fun.

🗓️ Timeline: Botswana and Namibia

🎟️ Legal alternatives to online casinos in Botswana and Namibia

• Botswana: land-based casinos, such as Sun International’s Gaborone Sun, and the six GA-authorised betting operators for sports betting.
• Namibia: the six licensed casinos and licensed gambling houses, which come under the Gambling Board’s oversight.

Both give you a local complaints route and access to self-exclusion, which offshore casinos don’t.

🆘 What to do if something goes wrong

In Botswana

1. Contact the licensed operator and keep records.
2. Refer the dispute to the Gambling Authority if it isn’t resolved; Gambling Maps says the GA can adjudicate such matters.

In Namibia

1. Contact the licensed operator first.
2. Escalate to the Gambling Board through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism; Gambling Maps says there’s no formal online dispute portal.

Neither regulator can help with offshore sites.

🐢 Why online casino licensing is moving slowly

Both regulators have chosen caution. Botswana phased in online betting by requiring licensees to open physical betting shops before going online, and it is now consulting investors on new land-based casinos and bingo halls while online casino licences remain at the planning stage. Namibia’s government has said its priority is consolidating land-based regulation, collecting levies and building a central monitoring system before considering online licensing, The Brief reported. For players, that means the safest options in 2026 remain land-based casinos and, in Botswana, the six authorised betting operators.

🔭 What to watch

• Botswana’s online casino licences: planned separately; we’ll add licensees once the GA publishes them.
• Botswana’s age change: the minimum age falls to 18 once the 2026 amendment’s commencement order is published.
• Namibia’s online game licence: the Minister can prescribe one under section 73(2); no regulations have done so yet.
• Namibia’s regulation amendments: whether the proposed levies and fees take effect.
• Monitoring systems: both regulators are moving towards central electronic monitoring.

📱 Playing on your phone safely

• Download apps only from the operator’s official website or an official app store.
• Never share your Orange Money, MyZaka or banking PINs, and never type them into a website.
• Ignore Aviator “signal” groups and influencer tips; they’re scams or illegal promotions.
• Turn off promotional notifications and log out on shared phones.

👥 Young people and gambling

Both countries are tightening protections for young people. Namibia’s Act bars under-18s from gambling, makes their gambling debts unenforceable and prohibits paying them winnings. In Botswana, the planned cut in the minimum age from 21 to 18 drew opposition from some MPs at Committee Stage, but the government kept it, saying the law “needs to reflect constitutional requirements around adulthood”, Gambling.com reported. Botswana’s GA has also targeted influencers who promote illegal gambling to young audiences.

Parents can help by keeping mobile money PINs private, checking phones for gambling apps and APK files, and talking openly about how casino games are designed so the house wins.

📖 Glossary

• GA: the Gambling Authority, Botswana’s regulator.
• GBN: the Gambling Board of Namibia.
• Online game: in Namibia’s Act, a prescribed gambling game played through communication technology, excluding bookmaker and totalisator bets.
• Restricted person: someone on Namibia’s self-exclusion register.
• Levy on profits: Namibia’s 10% charge on licensed operators’ profits.
• RTP: return to player, the share of stakes a game pays back over time.
• Wagering requirement: how many times you must bet a bonus before withdrawing it.

🔍 How we researched this guide

For Botswana, we used the Gambling Authority’s notices and statements as reported by FocusGN, The Patriot and Gambling.com, plus Gambling Maps’ regulatory summary; the GA’s own licence pages couldn’t be read by our tools. For Namibia, we read the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 on NamibLII and used reporting from The Brief, The Namibian, Future Media News, FocusGN and iGaming Today, plus SOFTSWISS and Gambling Maps. Where sources disagree, notably on whether online casino is licensed in Namibia, we follow the Act and say so. This page carries no casino affiliate links.

✅ Checklist before you play

• Am I old enough: 21 in Botswana (18 once the amendment takes effect), 18 in Namibia?
• Is the operator licensed by the GA or the Gambling Board for the game I want to play?
• Am I paying through the official cashier with my own account?
• Have I set a budget and a time limit?
• Do I know how to self-exclude?