CHART 2: LEVIES TYPE OF OPERATION
Casinos Bingo
Gambling establishment Totalisators Bookmakers
RATE OF LEVY
10 percent of monthly gambling revenue 8 percent of monthly bingo revenue 10 percent of gambling revenue
2.5 percent of totalisator gross revenue 6.5 percent of bookmaker gross revenue
the regional in Maun. Tis is part of a growing horse racing culture in Botswana and developing the sector more professionally. Te idea has received a backlash from other race tracks in Africa. Previously there was no specific law for
sports betting but now betting houses will pay P50,000 application fee plus totalisators will pay 2.5 percent tax on gross revenues whilst bookmakers will pay 6.5 percent. All kinds of betting will now have to be
licensed and it is thought interested parties will now start applying.
ONLINE With no mention of online gambling in the new
laws the sector is not covered. At the moment it is said the internet penetration rate in Botswana is only 15 percent but is steadily increasing. With a stricter land based gambling regulation now in place it is thought more residents could now turn to online gambling. Locals can still gamble at various online
casinos, international online sportsbooks, bingo and poker sites that accept them. Various websites accept bets from Botswana players including BGO Casino, BGO Sports and 32 Red for example. Te authority says more work needs to be
done on an appropriate regulatory framework for the virtual betting sector including online and SMS based competitions and sports betting.
CASINOS Although the alcohol industry has been dealt a
blow by restrictive legislation casinos remain a lucrative business for operators in the country. An alcohol levy was introduced in 2008
which saw the amount increased to 30 percent and then gradually increased to 45 percent. In July 2012 the government also amended regulations relating to traditional beer with the intention of banning the sale of beer from homes whilst trading hours were shortened. Eight years after it was introduced there have
been thousands of jobs lost in the brewing sector and entire industries have closed down whilst the tourist sector was also affected whilst no alcohol rehabilitation centre has been built to date. Te promise was that the levy would reduce
drinking by making it too expensive. However the impact has been on tourism facilities, hotels, casinos and bars. On the other hand Botswana has huge
potential as an eco tourism destination. Arrivals were expected to reach around 3.7 million last year a growth of five percent on 2014 figures and forecasters say this could reach 4.47m by 2019.
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE /
247.COM P83
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