The casino licenses will be in Gaborone, Maun, Palapye and Kasane. Currently, the country has nine casino licenses issued: three in Gaborone, two in Selebi-Phikwe, one in Jwaneng and another in Lobatse.
Briefing the media recently, the authority’s acting CEO, Emolemo Kesitilwe said they have realised there is an appetite for casinos and are hopeful that the Request For Application (RFA) will be issued by March 31, 2023. “We have seen interest for a casino license in Maun and believe one casino will be sufficient for now. The Kasane casino will help to support the tourism industry by providing tourists with entertainment.
Tourists usually flock the neighbouring countries for such,” he said. The acting CEO said Maun and Kasane have several lodges that exist in those areas, which have some form of relation to casinos.
He said there will be a consideration for the casino private rooms in those lodges which will be booked through casinos. “When we issue out the RFA, these are some of the things we are looking at, to have a 24-hour casino license in those areas,” he said.
About 240 direct jobs are estimated to be created as these casinos start operations while some indirect ones will be added such as suppliers and security companies that work in those industries.
At the moment, the authority is going through internal approval processes and anticipates completing them by December this year. “We intend to complete the RFA by the end of this calendar year so that we can issue it out for the public to participate.
The target is such that we have all these betting houses operational by June 2023,” he said.
Kesitilwe said the betting house model can grow organically adding that they are currently engaging with the horse association to try and see how best they can work together and ensure they get the infrastructure. “Currently there are five annual races, which have shown growth over the years. We issue licenses around betting so that they can generate some revenue which will help them develop their racing tracks,” Kesitilwe said.
Further, the GA intends to issue four bingo licenses next year. “Once our internal communications are completed, we will be issuing out the Limited Payout Machines licenses, which will mostly empower the SMMEs. The market is ready for these types of gambling machines.
We will be issuing them out in Greater Gaborone: Mogoditshane and Gabane as well as Palapye, Gantsi and Tsabong. These machines are normally placed in bars and other entertainment areas,” he said.
