- Study reveals that gambling grips the country’s youth
- Many enticed into betting long before reaching legal age
- Shows that 36.6% of Batswana are active gamblers, 6.7% of them facing problematic and excessive gambling behaviors
- Most vulnerable are reportedly young people between the ages of 21 and 35
A growing crisis is unfolding in Botswana as gambling continues to grip the country’s youth, many of whom are enticed into betting long before reaching the legal age.
A recent study by Botswana Gambling Authority has cast a harsh spotlight on the issue, revealing that a third of Batswana are active gamblers and more than 20% of gamblers in Botswana are underage some having started well before turning 21.
The Prevalence of Excessive and Problem Gambling in Botswana report paints a disturbing picture: 36.6% of Batswana are active gamblers, with 6.7% facing problematic and excessive gambling behaviors. Alarmingly, in unregulated or illegal gambling settings, that number spikes to 12%.
Among those most vulnerable are young people between the ages of 21 and 35, a generation increasingly turning to platforms like Betway in search of quick financial relief.
One such individual is 25-year-old, who chose to keep their identity a secret. a recent University of Botswana graduate, who shared his personal experiences with gambling in an interview.
“I couldn’t go to sleep because I needed cash,” he admitted. “It gets you to keep on betting, hoping that you’re going to win some time.”
His story is not unique. His journey into Betway sports betting while not entirely linked to Forex trading shows a troubling correlation where this participant began learning through social media, where he saw friends and influencers flaunting their winnings.
“You see someone posting his winnings you don’t know how many times he’s been losing,” he said. “You’d be like, oh, okay, this is easy… but not knowing whether it’s really that.”
While he entered the world of Forex trading with some belief in its long-term potential, his experience has been marred by repeated losses.
“My losses are more than my winnings,” he confessed. “Blowing my accounts… the same thing happened with Betway.”
He explained that while occasional wins like a hypothetical P100 or P200 offered brief highs, they were quickly followed by repeated losses. “Those two small winnings… I’m not sure if I should say they were a hook for me to keep on betting.”
He revealed that many students fund their betting habits using government allowances or borrowed money, with Betway requiring smaller denominations of money while Forex requires karger amount to fund.
“If you’re a student, you obviously use your allowance. If you’re unemployed, you borrow from your parents or friends.”
In Botswana, there is a growing correlation between gambling and Forex trading, particularly among the youth. Both activities attract individuals with similar psychological profiles those drawn to high-risk, high-reward opportunities and instant gratification.
Many young people begin with sports betting and eventually shift to Forex trading in search of larger returns, often without adequate financial literacy. This lack of understanding leads many to approach Forex the same way they approach gambling—relying on emotion, social influence, or so-called mentors rather than informed strategies. As a result, both activities carry a high risk of addiction, with users frequently chasing losses in hopes of quick recovery.
Popular platforms for gambling include Betway, Hollywood Bets, and local informal bookies, while Forex traders often use apps like Deriv, MetaTrader 4/5, Exness, and OctaFX. These are easily accessible through mobile phones and funded via mobile money or airtime payments, making the transition between gambling and Forex trading seamless. In Botswana, 36.6% of the population are active gamblers, and over 20% of them are underage. Meanwhile, more than 90% of Forex traders reportedly lose money, highlighting the blurred line between the two activities when approached without proper training or risk management.
When asked if he sees a way out or improvement in the future, his answer was cautious.
“Into Forex, I think it will turn out into something better. But for Betway, I’d be lying if I said it’s going to be a good thing… but maybe someday I might win big and maybe do something better for myself.”
