Unemployment drives Batswana into gambling
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday July 23, 2025 09:59
The report from the Gambling Authority on the prevalence of excessive and problem gambling in Botswana has disclosed that the majority of gamblers are unemployed who turn to gambling for survival.
“Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in the prevalence and nature of problem gambling. Factors such as education level, income stability, and employment status can influence gambling behaviours and the likelihood of developing problems. Additionally, the data indicate that individuals who are unemployed and retirees exhibit a higher likelihood of being affected by problem gambling compared to those who are currently employed. About 36.3% of retirees were found to have a gambling problem as compared to 20.8% of individuals who were unemployed and 18.5% of those who were employed,” reads the report.
The report, which was released this week, indicates that the data suggested that a lack of stable income and structure in daily activities may contribute to increased vulnerability to gambling issues. “The data indicate that 36.6% of Batswana are active gamblers, participating in both legal and illegal gambling platforms. The results further indicate that most gamblers (53.9%) are youth aged between 21 and 35 years. 22.2% of active gamblers were aged between 36 and 50 years. A significant portion (34.9%) of Batswana gamblers participate in illegal gambling activities,” the report reads. Furthermore, the report pointed out that the results indicate that a significant proportion of gamblers are faced with varying challenges, including the battle of withdrawal, gambling-related debt, chasing problems, which can eventually spiral into pathological or addiction.
It indicated that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may experience higher stress levels, limited access to resources, and fewer recreational options, which can contribute to gambling as a coping mechanism or escape.
The advent of online gambling has made gambling easily accessible in Botswana. “A disaggregation by type of gambling activities shows that there is a high prevalence of problem gambling among illegal gamblers at 12.0% as compared to 3.4% of legal gamblers. Problem gambling is prominent among youth at 6.9% for those aged between 21 to 35 years and 4.7% among those aged between 21 to 35 years,” the report stated.
On awareness of risk and responsible gambling, the report disclosed that study participants were of the view that despite increasing engagement with gamblers across Botswana, there remains a widespread lack of understanding about responsible gambling practices and support mechanisms.
It is said that participants said many community members, including gamblers themselves, are unfamiliar with the early warning signs of problem gambling, the concept of self-exclusion, or where to access help when gambling spirals out of control.
“Casino operators reported that they have made efforts to introduce internal controls such as self-exclusion bans, flagging high-risk gamblers, and referring individuals to counselling services. Approximately 40 individuals in 2024, with an additional 25 already banned in 2025 for reasons in one of the casinos,” the report stated.
Also, the study indicated that industry participants explained that they have put in place mechanisms through which to monitor players and intervene where possible, but these efforts are mostly reactive and localized.
They also raised a concern that on a national level, there is no widespread or consistent public education about gambling risks, particularly targeting communities, youth, or families. It is said that this was further supported by players who were of the view that there is no accessible channel to report concerns or seek support. “They specifically stated that they do not know where to complain, even if we lose school fees, there’s no one to help. Gamblers also reported feeling unsupported and uninformed when they encountered loss. Without structured pre-gambling education or community outreach, many individuals unknowingly cross the line into harmful gambling,” the report noted.