The Wildwood Curse

About The Wildwood Curse

By December 2025, Kemorwale said gambling revenue had exceeded P700m, and the Authority expected the industry to surpass P1 billion by the end of the 2026/27 financial year in March 2027.

Kemorwale said Botswana needed to modernise oversight as the sector developed, including through a central electronic monitoring system and stronger enforcement capability. “Truth be told, this industry is evolving as the sun rises. You snooze, you lose,” Kemorwale said. He added that the Authority still relies on outside specialists for some technical regulatory work because domestic expertise is limited.

Illegal betting remained a central enforcement concern. In December 2025, the Gambling Authority and Financial Intelligence Agency were reported to be investigating eight foreign-based betting websites allegedly using local proxies to operate in Botswana.

About The Wildwood Curse

Spotlight’s B2B Growth Director Rob Brown said the deal will expand the company’s offering by combining Engage Games’ games engine with Spotlight’s data, content and global distribution network.

“This partnership marks a significant step for SSG as we extend our product capability into the games space,” Brown said. “In Engage Games, we have found a partner with a proven ability to deliver games that produce real commercial outcomes for partners.”

Ryan Lawrence, founder of Engage Games, added: “Partnering with SSG – one of the most trusted names in global racing and sports betting – reflects the reputation and results we’ve built, and it’s the natural next step in our mission, to get better game experiences into the hands of as many players as possible.

About The Wildwood Curse

A former Connecticut funeral director who stole clients’ prepayments to fund his excessive gambling habit will spend the next seven and a half years in state prison.

Philip Pietras, 52, admitted to stealing from more than 170 people, many of whom are senior citizens who sought to limit the emotional and financial burdens placed on their loved ones by prepaying for their funerals. But instead of placing those funds, meant for caskets and burial services, in escrow accounts, Pietras pocketed the money to gamble.

Pietras accepted a plea deal from the state, and prosecutors expect him to enter a guilty plea on Oct. 23 and be formally sentenced on Jan. 22, 2027.