Botswana Tests Citizen Investor Readiness Ahead of Casino and Bingo Expansion

Botswana Tests Citizen Investor Readiness Ahead of Casino and Bingo EExpansion. Botswana’s Gambling Authority is assessing whether local investors have the financial resources and technical expertise to participate in the country’s next phase of casino and bingo development.

The regulator issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) on 1 September, with submissions scheduled to close at 3pm on 16 October. The exercise is intended to gauge market interest and identify potential investors before formal licensing begins.

The process does not constitute a licensing exercise. Instead, it will help the Authority assess existing investment capacity and determine the requirements for future casino and bingo licences.

Acting Director for Responsible Gambling and Corporate Affairs Linnet Mafukidze said the Authority wants to establish whether Batswana are prepared to participate meaningfully in the sector before opening the formal licensing process.

Companies interested in participating will be expected to demonstrate their financial strength and technical ability to develop and operate casino or bingo establishments.

The requirements are intended to help the regulator establish which potential investors have the capacity to undertake such developments and where additional expertise or financial resources may be needed.

Citizen investors who do not independently meet all the financial or technical requirements will not necessarily be excluded from participating. According to the Authority, they may pursue joint ventures or collaborations with other investors.

However, these arrangements must preserve substantial citizen participation, including majority citizen shareholding. Proposed investments will also be assessed according to their potential to create employment opportunities for Batswana.

The EOI process is expected to give the regulator a clearer picture of the readiness of local investors and the partnerships that could support future developments.

By gathering information before formal licensing begins, the Authority aims to identify areas where citizen investment capacity already exists and where collaboration with other investors may be necessary.

The exercise places citizen participation at the centre of preparations for the next stage of casino and bingo development in Botswana.