Swakopmund: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has highlighted the urgent need for decisive reforms to regulate Namibia's gambling industry. Concerns have been raised that weak oversight is costing the country revenue and exposing citizens to social harm. Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel, expressed these concerns while officiating the opening of a strategic engagement session of the Gambling Board of Namibia.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Daniel emphasized that the board must be fully functional and aligned with national priorities to ensure the sector contributes meaningfully to economic growth. She expressed her desire for the Gambling Board of Namibia to fully operationalize and fulfill its legislative mandate to make a measurable contribution to national outputs.
Daniel also stressed the importance of anchoring the Integrated Strategic Business Plan in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and called for the development of a National Gambling Policy that reflects industry realities while anticipating emerging risks. She underlined that such a policy should prioritize player protection, skills development, job creation, the empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups, and efficient levy collection. Additionally, she highlighted the need to address the risks of addiction and excessive gambling with determination, ensuring that protecting citizens, especially vulnerable groups, remains a non-negotiable priority.
Supporting Daniel's position, gambling consultant Fortune Sekgaphane stated that Namibia urgently needs to formalize and license all operators, particularly in the rapidly expanding online betting market. He pointed out that the coexistence of illegal and unlicensed markets alongside licensed ones poses significant challenges.
Sekgaphane observed that unlicensed online operators are extracting substantial revenue without paying taxes or complying with responsible gambling standards. This situation leaves the government unable to accurately measure the size of the market or its contribution to the economy. He recommended stricter licensing requirements, improved data collection, technical compliance standards for gaming machines, and the introduction of real-time monitoring systems to track gambling activity and revenue flows.
Furthermore, Sekgaphane proposed that operators be required to demonstrate clear employment targets and community investment commitments as part of their licensing conditions, arguing that gambling licenses are a privilege that must carry socio-economic obligations.
Gambling Board of Namibia Chairperson, Ben Shikongo, emphasized that effective regulation of the sector depends on adequate resources, functional systems, and close collaboration with the ministry.