Last week, Botswana’s Gambling Authority welcomed officials from the Eswatini Gaming Control Board (EGCB) for a two-day program in Gaborone aimed at strengthening regional ties in Africa’s gaming sector.
The exchange, held from August 26 to 27, focused on sharing expertise in regulation, licensing, compliance, and responsible gambling — areas seen as essential for building sustainable gambling markets across Southern Africa.
On the opening day, Acting CEO of Botswana’s Gambling Authority, Moruntshi Kemorwale, walked the Eswatini delegation through Botswana’s regulatory journey since the Gambling Act of 2012, stressing the need to balance economic growth with player protection. EGCB Chairperson Mandla Dlamini, in turn, outlined Eswatini’s ambitions to tighten oversight and adopt regional best practices.
Botswana officials also detailed how they apply the Financial Intelligence Act of 2022 to enforce anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards in the gaming sector — a framework that Eswatini is keen to study.
Day two took the discussions to Botswana’s Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, where both delegations examined how regulatory frameworks can align more closely, and the role gambling can play in national development.
Botswana has steadily positioned itself as a regional leader in responsible gambling, driven by a five-year national strategy and the “Motshameko O Phepa” (Fair Play) campaign, which has already reached over 150 communities. These efforts recently earned Botswana recognition for having Africa’s leading responsible gambling program.
For Eswatini, the visit comes as the EGCB works to curb illegal slot machines and considers whether to regulate online gambling. Learning from Botswana’s US$20 million gambling market offers an opportunity to strengthen its own systems while ensuring safer play.
“The knowledge exchange is invaluable as we work to strengthen our regulatory environment and ensure responsible gambling practices,” Dlamini said during the opening session.
The engagement adds to Botswana’s growing reputation as a hub for gaming regulation. Since the start of the year, the Gambling Authority has hosted benchmarking missions from Lesotho and South Africa’s North West Province, further cementing its influence in the region.