10 December 2025
Officials point to digital channels as the main entry point for scams. Social media ads lure users with promises of easy wins, often targeting those new to online betting.
The Botswana Gambling Authority (BGA) and Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) released a joint public advisory on November 21, cautioning residents about unregulated online betting operations that function without licences.
The notice, signed by both agencies, highlights platforms, known as scam platforms, that pose as legitimate betting services but deceive users into depositing funds into personal bank accounts or third-party digital wallets.
The advisory read: “These unregulated activities have taken the form of crowdsourcing or pooling of funds, where multiple individuals contribute money into a single account, allegedly for betting purposes.”
The agencies note that while licensed betting remains lawful in Botswana, unlicensed schemes expose participants to financial loss, fraud, money laundering and potential exposure to wider criminal networks.
Officials point to digital channels as the main entry point for these scams. Social media ads lure users with promises of easy wins, often targeting those new to online betting.
The alert identifies several red flags for the public to watch out for, including betting promotions on social media from unlicensed operators, newly launched websites or pages with few followers, claims of unusually high success rates (e.g., 95%) or guaranteed returns and urgent messages with countdown timers that pressure individuals to make immediate deposits.
Authorities advise the public to verify operator licences on the Gambling Authority’s site before making any payments and to report any suspicious activities directly to either agency. The warning arrives as investigations uncover deeper issues in Botswana’s betting landscape. A recent study by the BGA and the University of Botswana reveals that the annual value of illegal betting in the jurisdiction is P500m (€34m), double the regulated market’s size. Also, only about 40% of the country’s estimated 550,000 gamblers use licensed sites, while the remaining are drawn to offshore operators that bypass local rules.
To tackle the issue, the agencies are probing offshore betting sites for violations. The GA also plans to issue more licences for online platforms, strengthen existing rules and implement better monitoring tools.
The advisory concludes: “We remain committed to protecting the public and safeguarding the integrity of Botswana’s financial and gambling sector.”
Source: https://shorturl.at/H3TsP
