The Botswana Gambling Authority Chief Executive Officer (Atg), Mr. Moruntshi Kemorwale, delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “Leveraging Regulated Gaming to Transform Botswana’s Economy” at the Botswana Mining Conference 2025.

He emphasized that the global gaming and gambling industry is now valued at over USD 500 billion, supporting more than 200 million jobs worldwide across sectors such as technology, tourism, hospitality, sports, and entertainment. The industry’s rapid innovation ranging from AI-driven betting platforms and immersive digital casinos to eSports and virtual gaming ecosystems has redefined models for economic diversification and sustainable growth globally.

Mr. Kemorwale challenged the audience to “think outside the box” and explore how Botswana could harness regulated gaming as an economic driver, similar to successful examples like Las Vegas (USA), Macau (China), and Sun City (South Africa), where gambling revenues have financed world-class cities, infrastructure, and social programs.

He posed a bold question: “Can Gaborone not be funded mainly from gambling and gaming revenue, given its concentration of casinos, betting houses, and limited payout machines?”

The presentation underscored that with prudent regulation, responsible gambling frameworks, and strategic investment, the gaming sector could serve as a catalyst for Botswana’s Vision 2036 goals. This could drive employment, innovation, and inclusive economic growth, positioning Botswana as a leader in the regulated gaming industry.