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Botswana’s National Assembly has passed the Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2026, retaining a proposal to lower the country’s legal gambling age from 21 to 18 and update the regulatory framework for the expanding sector.
The bill passed at third reading on 13 August after second reading debate and clause-by-clause consideration during the committee stage. The measure has not yet been confirmed as having received presidential assent or entered into force.
If enacted, the bill would amend the Gambling Authority Act (Cap. 19:03). Its provisions would take effect on a date appointed by the responsible minister through an order published in the Government Gazette.
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The regulator noted that several inactive accounts remained open long after users requested exclusion.
Specifically, 156 out of 229 accounts with no pending bets remained linked to BetStop users seven days after self-exclusion registration. Some accounts were non-compliant for periods extending up to 200 days.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, stressed the importance of respecting self-exclusion decisions, stating “providers must respect that decision” and “must have robust systems in place”.
What is Beetle Jewels?
But the court said that point did not affect the validity of the by-law, adding that it saw no evidence of a tax that would choke businesses.
The judges highlighted the number of gaming halls in the city remained largely stable after the increase.
The court also dismissed the equal-treatment argument, noting that gaming machines are taxed by the municipality while casino taxation falls to Hesse.