Botswana - Apply for a Bookmaker License

ProcedureEdit

Apply In Person

The application for a Bookmaker License shall be made to the Gambling Authority, whose mandate is to license and regulate the gambling industry in Botswana Gambling Authority Contact and Map location Details
The Authority will publish invitations to the public to apply for licenses through various media platforms e.g. Botswana Government social media page etc, Potential bidders are required to respond to the circulated advertisement by purchasing the Request for Application (RFA) document, which will set out the requirements for each of the license types and the locations of the licenses where appropriate.
The RFA Purchase Document can be obtained by downloading the RFA purchase form from the Gambling Authority website Download Documents or download it directly using this link, RFA Document Purchase Form
Pay the requisite document purchase fee into the supplied bank account as mentioned in the RFA purchase form. The payment will be strictly by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
The completed form should be sent to this email address [email protected] Upon receipt of the completed form, and after conﬁrming the payment, The Authority will forward to your supplied e-mail address the RFA document.
The application times and the processing times and guidelines will be contained in the RFA for each license type.
Applicants will then apply for the bookmaker license following the guideline outlined in the RFA. Timelines pertaining to each license type will be detailed in the RFA. Applications are to be submitted by the submission date, along with the application fee, for the application to be received by the Authority.
The application shall be made using a prescribed Bookmaker License application form, which will be available for download via the Gambling Authority website, Download Documents
The completed form, attached to the supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” of this page, should be submitted to the authority using the applicable submission method as mentioned in the RFA guideline document.
The application will only be registered to be processed when payment of the application fee has been made. The payment will be strictly by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
The application will be processed as per the information and documentation provided, that is why applicants are advised to provide sufficient information to enable the Gambling Authority licensing board to evaluate the business/company and make its decision.
The Authority will immediately after the closing date, confirm all applications received, and embark on the evaluation process.
The Authority shall respond within seven (07) working days after receipt of the application for acknowledgment of receipt, including steps of action, this will run concurrently with in-camera interviews, invitations for objections as well as scheduled public hearings.
Every applicant shall at his or her own expense, cause notification of an application of the intended license to be published in two consecutive issues of the Gazette, Daily News, or any private local newspaper, calling upon any person who objects to the application to notify the Authority, in writing, of such objection and the grounds of that objection, within 30 days of the last publication of the notification.
The Authority shall, on the filing of an application for a license, cause the premises to which the application relates, or the architectural drawings where a building has not yet been built, to be inspected by an inspector appointed by the Gambling Authority.
The inspector shall, upon the completion of his or her inspection, forward a copy of his or her report to the Authority, which shall take such report into account in its consideration of the application.
The Authority shall request the Botswana Police Service for police clearance, which clearance shall include setting out any convictions on offenses involving dishonesty or moral turpitude recorded against an applicant for a license.
The Gambling Authority licensing board may request additional information relevant to the application for the purpose of ascertaining compliance by the applicant with all applicable laws and regulations. In such a case, the information must be submitted within the stipulated time from the date of notification. Where the applicant fails to submit the required information, the licensing board shall reject the application.
The Authority Licensing Board shall approve the applicant to be registered as a bookmaker and approve to grant the bookmakers license, where it is satisfied that the applicant has meet all the requirements as set in the Gambling Regulation Act.
The outcome of the evaluation will be made public, following the decision to award by the Board.
The Authority shall, within seven days after the decision to grant a license, notify the applicant, in writing, that the license has been granted.
Where the Authority has refused to grant a license to an applicant, the Authority shall notify the applicant, in writing, within seven days of the decision and shall furnish the applicant with reasons for the refusal.
If the license is approved, the authority will direct the registrar to register the applicant with the gambling authority and draw up the category license applied for (Bookmaker License) and made available for withdrawal by the applicant at the authority dispatch office, against the applicant identification document, acknowledgment receipt, approval letter and upon payment of prescribed annual license fee.

Apply Online

Upon being supplied with the RFA documents by the Gambling Authority. (Refer to the Apply In Person section above on how to purchase the RFA documents)
The application for a Bookmakers License can also be applied and submitted, online via the Gambling Authority Website as per the RFA guideline.
Navigate on the home page and select the “Resource” option on the menu bar, then click on the “Online Application” on the drop bar, this will navigate you to the “License Online Application” page.
Then select “Application for Bookmaker License- Form 23”, this will navigate you to the application form, complete all mandatory sections of the application form, upload the supporting documents as listed under the site, then click on the “Submit” tab.
The application will only be registered to be processed when payment of the application fee has been made. The payment will be strictly by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
The application will be processed as per the information and documentation provided, that is why applicants are advised to provide sufficient information to enable the Gambling Authority licensing board to evaluate the business/company and make its decision.
The Authority shall respond within seven (07) working days after receipt of the application for acknowledgment of receipt, including steps of action, this will run concurrently with in-camera interviews, invitations for objections as well as scheduled public hearings.
Every applicant shall at his or her own expense, cause notification of an application of the intended license to be published in two consecutive issues of the Gazette, Daily News, or any private local newspaper, calling upon any person who objects to the application to notify the Authority, in writing, of such objection and the grounds of that objection, within 30 days of the last publication of the notification.
The Authority shall, on the filing of an application for a license, cause the premises to which the application relates, or the architectural drawings where a building has not yet been built, to be inspected by an inspector appointed by the Gambling Authority.
The inspector shall, upon the completion of his or her inspection, forward a copy of his or her report to the Authority, which shall take such report into account in its consideration of the application.
The Authority shall request the Botswana Police Service for police clearance, which clearance shall include setting out any convictions on offenses involving dishonesty or moral turpitude recorded against an applicant for a license.
The Gambling Authority licensing board may request additional information relevant to the application for the purpose of ascertaining compliance by the applicant with all applicable laws and regulations. In such a case, the information must be submitted within the stipulated time from the date of notification. Where the applicant fails to submit the required information, the licensing board shall reject the application.
The Authority Licensing Board shall approve the applicant to be registered as a bookmaker and approve to grant the bookmakers license, where it is satisfied that the applicant has meet all the requirements as set in the Gambling Regulation Act.
The outcome of the evaluation will be made public, following the decision to award by the Board.
The Authority shall, within seven days after the decision to grant a license, notify the applicant, in writing, that the license has been granted.
Where the Authority has refused to grant a license to an applicant, the Authority shall notify the applicant, in writing, within seven days of the decision and shall furnish the applicant with reasons for the refusal.
If the license is approved, the authority will direct the registrar to register the applicant with the gambling authority and draw up the category license applied for (Bookmaker License) and made available for withdrawal by the applicant at the authority dispatch office, against the applicant identification document, acknowledgment receipt, and approval letter and upon payment of prescribed annual license fee.

Appeal to the Minister

Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Authority's refusal to issue the license; may appeal to the Minister within 30 days of that decision.

Required DocumentsEdit

Requirements for a Bookmaker License

Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation or certificate of registration (if the Applicant is a company)
Certified copies of share certificates (if the Applicant is a company)
Proof of directorship (certified copies) (if the Applicant is a company)
Title deed, lease, or sublease agreement of premises to be utilized for the gambling establishment (certified copy)
Detailed proposal of the project with sketch plans for the proposed operation
Proof of funding for the gambling establishment
Copies of audited financial statements
Information of any application by the Applicant or any of the Applicant’s associates for a bookmaker’s license anywhere in the world, and the outcome of such application
Certified copy of tax clearance certificate
Proof of payment of the application fee.
Any other additional supporting documentation as requested by the Gambling Authority.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Botswana Gambling Authority
Physical Address Plot 70667, Fairscape Precinct
Building 3
Postal address Private Bag BR 161
Broadhurst,Gaborone.
Telephone: (+267) 3957672
Email: [email protected]
Botswana Gambling Authority Contact and Map location Details
Botswana Gambling Authority Website

EligibilityEdit

The applicant is above the age of 21 years.
Where the applicant is not an individual the company/business should be registered in Botswana.

FeesEdit

RFA Purchase Document Fee please consult with the Authority.
Bookmakers prescribed fees

Application fee BWP 5 000
Annual license fee BWP 5 000
Renewal license fee- BW5 000
License Transfer fee- BWP 1 000
Duplicate fee -BWP 1 000

NOTES:

The fee schedule is subjected to change by the gambling Authority
The payment will be strictly by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

ValidityEdit

The validity of the license is ten (10) years from the date of issue unless suspended, cancelled, or revoked by the authority. However, the license is subject to an annual renewal fee.
Upon expiring the license is subjected to renewal.

Documents to UseEdit

RFA Document Purchase Form

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

InstructionsEdit

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required InformationEdit

Name of applicant
Trading name of Applicant
Physical/ Postal Address
contact details (Telephone/email/fax)
Details of the shareholders of the Applicant (if the Applicant is a company) { Name of Shareholders,% of shares held, Postal Address}
Details of the directors of the Applicant (if the Applicant is a company): {Name Of Director, Postal Address, Telephone No.}
Details of the Company Secretary (if the Applicant is a company):{Name of Secretaries, Residential Address, Telephone No}
Names and addresses of the auditors of the Applicant.
Details of all bank accounts, including foreign accounts, held by the Applicant at any time during the last five years.
Details of the envisaged employment levels of the proposed operation.
Financial details of how the proposed business is going to be funded.
Declaration by the application.

Need for the DocumentEdit

A person shall not carry on the business of a bookmaker without a bookmaker’s license. A bookmaker’s license authorizes the holder of the license to fix bets on sporting events, on the licensed premises concerned.

Information which might helpEdit

The Authority Licensing Board shall approve the applicant to be registered as a bookmaker and approve to grant the bookmakers license, where it is satisfied that-

Satisfies the Authority that he or she will be the occupier of the whole of the premises from which the gambling establishment will be operated, with such security of tenure as the Authority may consider adequate and that he or she intends to manage or procure the management of the operation of the whole of the facilities of the said establishment.
Satisfies the Authority that he or she is a person of integrity or, in the case of a company, that it is directed by persons of integrity.
Satisfies the Authority that he or she has the knowledge and experience necessary to establish and operate the relevant gambling establishment which is the subject matter of the application.
Satisfies the Authority that he or she has adequate financial means available to establish and operate the gambling establishment to a high standard.
Satisfies the Authority by plans and specifications submitted to it, that the gambling establishment will be of a high standard of amenity, appearance, and comfort.
Undertakes, if the said plans and specifications are approved by the Authority, to commence, carry on and complete within 15 months or such longer period as the Authority may, in its discretion determine, any works necessary to bring the establishment into operation.
In the case of a casino, gives a guarantee or deposits with the Authority, such security as the Authority may consider adequate for the meeting of any obligations which he or she may incur to person gambling in the establishment, and
Being a body corporate is a company or external company within the meaning of the Companies Act.

External LinksEdit

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.