Botswana's gambling regulator signs a schools education deal covering 77 schools
The Gambling Authority of Botswana has launched a memorandum of understanding with the South East Region of the country's Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education. It gives the regulator access to 77 schools to run responsible gambling education for teachers and learners.
This is a Botswana story with no legal effect in South Africa. It is still a useful marker for the region: African regulators are starting to treat underage gambling as an education issue as well as an enforcement one. South African parents and teachers face the same pressure from mobile betting among young people, and the minimum gambling age here is 18, regardless of which offshore site is involved.
What happened
The Gambling Authority of Botswana co-hosted the launch of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the South East Region of the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education. The launch was reported by iGaming Afrika on 19 October 2026.
The regulator works under Botswana's Gambling Act of 2012. It licenses the industry and is responsible for promoting responsible gambling across the country.
What the agreement covers
According to the report, the deal does three main things:
- It gives the Gambling Authority access to 77 schools in the South East Region.
- It allows responsible gambling education to be delivered to both educators and students.
- It sees the Authority support the region's Staff Excellence Awards for two years, which recognise teachers.
The stated aims are to raise awareness of responsible gambling, protect children and keep the legal minimum gambling age in place.
Why teachers are involved
Two Authority officials, Linnet Mafukidze and Lesoto Sebogodi, pointed to guidance and counselling teachers as the people best placed to notice early signs of betting among learners. The regional director, Kwante Kwante, backed support for initiatives that recognise educators. The report describes the combination of law enforcement and school programmes as a layered protection network for young people.
What it means for South African players
Nothing changes for players in South Africa. The story is a reminder that age limits only work when they are explained to young people and the adults around them. If you or someone in your household is struggling with betting, the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation runs a free helpline. Gambling is entertainment with real financial risk, and it is never a way to earn money.
What to watch next
The report does not give a start date for classroom sessions or any way of measuring results. It will be worth watching whether the Authority extends the model to other regions, and whether neighbouring regulators copy it.