Namibia proposes gambling employee registration and online controls
Six consultations also examined underage online access and proposed fees before the amendments go to lawmakers.
Key takeaways:
- Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) consultations examined proposed registration requirements for gambling employees who handle money amid money-laundering concerns.
- Discussions in Rundu covered proposed online gambling controls, including restricting underage access and limiting participation by people experiencing gambling addiction.
- Deputy director of gaming control Simeon Iingwapha said the government wanted to regulate the gambling industry rather than punish operators.
- Proposed reforms cover licensing requirements, regulatory fees and oversight of digital gambling and lottery activities.
- Gambling Board of Namibia chairperson Ben Shikongo urged operators to formalise their businesses through licensing rather than continue operating informally.
- At the Swakopmund consultation, MEFT deputy executive director Seimy Shidute said digital developments had exposed gaps in the existing regulatory framework.
Namibia.- Namibia is considering tighter gambling controls, including requiring employees who handle money to register as gambling employees, restricting underage access to online gambling and limiting participation by people experiencing gambling-related problems. The proposals were raised during public consultations organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) across the country from October 5 to 14.
The consultations were held in Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Oshakati, Rundu, Otjiwarongo and Windhoek. The six meetings sought stakeholder input on proposed amendments to the Lotteries Act, 2017 and its regulations, as well as the Gambling and Gambling Activities Regulations made under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018). The proposals cover licensing, fees and oversight, including digital gambling and lottery activities.
At the Rundu consultation on October 12, Deputy Director of Gaming Control Simeon Iingwapha linked the proposed registration requirement to money-laundering concerns. “Those handling money within the business also need to be registered as gambling employees because of the challenges facing the sector. Handling money is no trivial matter, particularly given the concerns surrounding money laundering,” he said, according to NBC Namibia.
Iingwapha said the government wanted to regulate the industry rather than punish operators. He also highlighted the risks associated with online gambling and the need to protect minors. “Technology is more advanced than we realise these days,” Iingwapha said, adding that the government wants to regulate online gambling and restrict access for underage users. He also said the proposed measures were intended to protect operators, employees, the public, minors and vulnerable people.
Iingwapha added that people struggling with gambling addiction should be restricted from participating in gambling activities, although the report did not specify how such restrictions would be implemented.
Gambling rules face regulatory review
During the consultation in Swakopmund on October 7, MEFT deputy executive director Seimy Shidute said digital developments had exposed shortcomings in the existing regulatory framework.
She said the validation process would allow stakeholders to identify technical errors and potential loopholes in the draft rules, provide feedback and build consensus before the proposed amendments were submitted to lawmakers. The review also seeks to align Namibia’s regulatory framework with developments in the gambling and lottery sectors.
At the Keetmanshoop consultation on October 5, Gambling Board of Namibia chairperson Ben Shikongo urged operators to formalise their businesses through licensing rather than continue operating informally. The meeting also discussed proposed regulatory fees, including a 5 per cent monitoring fee on operators’ net monthly income and a 1 per cent maintenance fee on gross income to support the Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS).
The Rundu consultation also reviewed proposed lottery and promotional-competition regulations. Lotteries Board representative James Einbeck said the review aimed to ensure businesses and organisers understood the requirements, according to NAMPA.
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka raised concerns about low attendance at the Rundu consultation, saying the hall was nearly empty and visitors outnumbered local participants. He added: “Of course, people may believe that the government has already made up its mind to implement the proposal. However, if that were the case, we would not have gathered here for this consultation.”
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What gambling reforms is Namibia considering? Namibia is considering amendments covering licensing, fees and oversight, including digital gambling and lottery activities. Proposed measures include registering employees who handle money, regulating online gambling and restricting access for underage users.
- Why would Namibia require gambling employees to register? Deputy director of gaming control Simeon Iingwapha linked the proposal to money-laundering concerns. He said employees handling money within gambling businesses should be registered as gambling employees.
- Which Namibian laws could be amended? The consultations concern proposed amendments to the Lotteries Act, 2017 and its regulations, as well as the Gambling and Gambling Activities Regulations made under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, 2018.
- What fees have been proposed for Namibian gambling operators? The proposals include a 5 per cent monitoring fee on operators’ net monthly income and a 1 per cent maintenance fee on gross income to support the Central Electronic Monitoring System.
