Between 1972 and 1995 there was only one casino operation in Botswana but after the Casino Control Board opened up the industry the number had grown to ten by 2000. In 2002 Parliament passed the Gaming and Gambling Policy and the Casino Control Board later placed a moratorium on the issuance of casino licences. At present there are still ten casinos operating in Botswana but three months ago a fourth licence was granted for the capital city of Gaberone.

The new consortium granted the licence includes South Africa’s Gold Reef Resorts, a Botswana-listed property group, RDC Properties, and a local businessman. The group plans to invest R30 million (US$) in building a casino at the new Masa Towers being constructed by the property company and scheduled to open next year. According to the local businessman, Moitsheki Lekalake, he has been pursuing the casino licence for nearly a decade and it has finally been granted.

The other three licence holders in Gabarone apparently are not convinced that the fourth licence has been granted fairly. Having made their objections clear to the Casino Control Board an appeal to the High Court is now being considered. Peermont Global and Sun International, both South African gaming companies operating in Gabarone, and Moonlite Casinos are seeking to have the fourth licence revoked, claiming there were irregularities in its approval and that the gaming market in the city, with a population of 200,000, is at saturation point. (E-09.22.10)

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