Miljan Karlssen
Tanzania and Botswana are sharing practices on the growth of iGaming. Concentrating on regulation, they could be key economic drivers for both countries.
The global gambling industry is expected to create $188bn in revenue this year alone. In a bid to capitalise on this, the Gaming Board of Tanzania met with the Botswana Gambling Authority in October 2025 to share the best practices when it comes to the gambling sector. The one-day visit was a chance to discuss regulatory approaches and the best tools to ensure a smooth operation.
The Botswana-Tanzania Meeting
Director General James Bakinege Mbalwe of the Gaming Board of Tanzania attended several presentations and viewed facilities in the country. The main focus was on licensing protocols, especially those that cross borders. Attention was also given to how to streamline operations in the face of more licensed operators.
While Botswana has a small gambling sector, it is innovating, and the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) was one of the key talking points. This cuts down on paper trails by providing a centralised place to manage audits, approvals, and records. It also aims to reduce errors in the licensing process.
The value of these exchanges can not be overlooked, especially in emerging sectors such as this. Acting Chief Executive Officer Moruntushi Kemorwale of the Botswana delegation noted that “We learn as much from our guests as we share.
Tanzania’s experiences with diverse gaming formats will help us refine our monitoring of cross-border activities.”
Tanzania has done extremely well with its industry in the last year, giving out a host of licenses. This has seen the breadth and quality of operators increase.
Websites such as JackpotCity, with global reputations, now provide a range of slots, table games, live gaming, and cash gaming to the country. With easy-to-access sign-ups, they are a key part of Tanzania’s burgeoning digital economy.
Gambling in Botswana
The Gambling Authority of Botswana has said that it values three things in its approach. These are innovation, integrity, and inclusion. While the country may not have the huge growth potential of others like Nigeria or South Africa, it is not to be underestimated.
It has highlighted iGaming as an area that could drive key economic growth, and it is expected to make over €78m in revenue next year. While this may seem tame compared to global gambling figures, it is a useful revenue driver for a small country of around 2.4 million citizens.
All of this shows the growth that is possible with iGaming in Africa. Last year, the African iGaming Alliance appointed its first CEO in the form of Peter Kesitilwe. He was formerly head of the Botswana Gambling Authority.
The alliance has been formed by several major operators on the continent. Many of them operate across borders, including Tanzania. Botswana has also recently hosted delegations from Lesotho and Eswatini.
Like Tanzania, Botswana is looking to use this to drive further growth. It was recently a hot topic discussed at the Botswana Economic Forum, which brought together experts from over 20 countries. All these factors are helping work towards its Vision 2036 goal.
Tanzania’s Record Revenue Surges
All of this comes at a crucial time for Tanzania. In the same month, it reported that there had been a record surge in gambling revenue over the four years preceding. This saw the country attain TZS 260.21 billion in revenue from a previous count of TZS 131.99 billion. This came with an estimation that it had created 30,000 jobs in the country.
Amidst this was an uptake in brand new gaming options. It is estimated that licenses and clearer regulations allowed 8,549 different games to be created. It is now possible to get not only traditional table games and slots, but also fresh new genres in the country.
These include live casino titles, which stream hosts to players’ devices so they can play along with the action in real time.
Responsible Gambling Commitments
Throughout this, a constant focus has been on responsible gambling. Tanzania, in particular, has constantly reminded consumers that this is a form of entertainment and is recreational, not a way to make money. They have also worked hard to keep gambling away from minors, even giving out warnings against the dangers of gambling on PlayStation titles.
Added to this has been a significant push to close down unlicensed operations. This will focus on 12 risk-based operations and four enforcement actions. This will take place alongside a view to raise 29.89 billion Tanzanian shillings in revenue, alongside broader reforms such as digital infrastructure.
Africa is changing. It is becoming more connected, and with lower prices for smartphones, it can be. It seems many of these countries are treading carefully, taking tips and hints from the countries that blazed the trails first, getting things both wrong and right. From this, both countries can create regulated sectors the likes of which are proving successful in Europe and North America.
