Tricky Treats

About Tricky Treats

Resorts World has announced that the replacement for Mulberry Street Pizza, which closed Sept. 14, will be another New York-inspired slice shop. However, unlike Mulberry Street—an established Los Angeles brand—Amici New York Pizzeria is an entirely original concept created by the resort.

Instead of collecting rent from a successful tenant, Resorts World aspires to collect profits directly from pizza-hungry patrons. But since Mulberry Street was consistently among the busiest dining spots at the property, it raises an obvious question: Was its popularity driven by brand recognition, or simply by resort guests, late-night Zouk Nightclub revelers, and foot traffic seeking a quick slice?

To stack the odds in its favor, Resorts World is tapping major culinary talent: Executive Chef Ricky McCormick. McCormick, who currently leads the kitchen at Stubborn Seed on-property, previously held leadership roles at Michelin-starred Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and multiple Gordon Ramsay venues.

What is Tricky Treats?

While sports event contracts are currently the tentpole category for the prediction market industry, data indicate bettors and traders are embracing other categories.

Fullstory points out that while 62% of consumers have dabbled in sports event contracts, 42% traded economic or financial derivatives on a prediction market while a comparable percentage transacted in an election or political event contract. More than a quarter traded at least one entertainment or pop culture derivative.

That widening breadth is vital for the industry at a time when some analysts estimate volume could jump to $10 trillion by 2035 – a projection that is largely rooted in other categories surpassing sports for the top spot.  

How to play Tricky Treats

The Authority said licensed operators accepted P150 million in wagers in March 2025, paid P135 million in winnings and generated P15 million in gross gambling revenue. It also estimated that only about 40% of Botswana’s estimated 550,000 active bettors were using licensed local operators, leaving a substantial share of demand with unregulated platforms.

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.