Google

About Google

The age proposal was the bill’s most contentious provision. Opposition MPs argued during the committee stage that Botswana should retain the existing minimum age of 21, but the bill passed with Clause 2 intact. The clause would replace references in the Act to “the age of 21” with “the age of 18”.

Botswana’s parliament published the measure as the Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Bill No. 15 of 2026.

Botswana’s existing gambling framework sets the legal gambling age at 21. The amendment bill would align that threshold with the country’s general age of majority, which is 18.

How to play Google

Sponsorship by betting companies would be prohibited for clubs and other sports entities, federations, leagues, competitions, sports broadcasts, cultural events, shows, educational and social projects, philanthropic entities, civil society organisations, political parties, candidates and election campaigns, as well as digital influencers, athletes, artists and celebrities.

The ban covers brand exposure, naming rights, licensing, ambassadors and other forms of promotional association. The text provides a 24-month period for adapting or terminating sponsorship contracts, and the signing, renewal, or extension of contracts will only be permitted if the respective term of validity expires within those 24 months.

Sponsorship activities involving children and adolescents, schools, and youth sports categories are also prohibited. Betting companies will also be banned from associating their brand with campaigns or projects related to mental health, suicide prevention, financial education, treatment of gambling disorders, social assistance, prevention of over-indebtedness or protection of vulnerable families. 

How to play Google

Examples included phrases like “online casino zonder Cruks” (online casino without CRUKS, the Dutch self-exclusion registry for problem gamblers) and “beste online casino buitenland” (best online casino abroad).

KVA expressed concern over the potential manipulation of Google’s autocomplete function by unauthorised operators and websites primarily set up to redirect Dutch consumers to illegal gambling offers.

While acknowledging Google’s cooperation in removing paid advertisements promoting illegal casinos, the KVA emphasised the need for the company to take more comprehensive measures addressing organic search results.