Officially opening this week’s International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) conference, said the plan is expected to create 2,797 direct jobs. “Our licensing plan supports Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) and will also bring investment into the country to create jobs and diversify economic and social value for our citizens,” he said.
As part of the licensing plan, SMMEs will be supported through the development of a national central electronic monitoring system for ease of compliance to provisions of the Gambling Act, 2012.
This will lower their costs of participation in the industry, the President said. The President further said government, through the Gambling Authority, is dedicated to researching gambling in the country, in order to be at the forefront of introducing interventions based on evidence and scientific data in order to ensure a healthy, safe, informed and self-sustained gambler.
He said the findings of a baseline study that was conducted in 2020 on the prevalence of problem gambling in Botswana indicated a prevalence rate of five percent. Subsequently further studies were conducted on risk factors for problem gambling in Botswana as well as the socio-economic impacts of gambling in Botswana. “The preliminary results have shown that Botswana is faced with issues of illegal gambling, problem gambling and underage gambling, especially online gambling, as it is the case the world over,” Masisi said.
Held under the theme, ‘Bringing Ideas Together: The Exchange of Excellence and Innovation in Regulatory Practice’, the IAGR conference is a networking platform focussing on cutting edge research and trends as well as emerging challenges and opportunities for achieving regulatory compliance. “This conference provides an opportunity for Botswana to learn on the regulatory policy,” Masisi said.
“Botswana’s gambling sector is a work in progress, and it is a chance for our infant Gambling Authority to network with similar organisations and discuss ways to better implement worldwide best practices in the gambling sector,” he added.
