Namibia opens nationwide consultations on gambling regulation reforms
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism seeks feedback from operators, community representatives and other stakeholders
Namibia.- The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has commenced a nationwide consultation on proposed amendments to Namibia’s gambling and lotteries regulations, marking a new phase in the country’s ongoing reform of the gaming sector.
The consultations, scheduled from March 24 to April 9, will cover all 14 regions and bring together public and industry stakeholders to review proposed changes to existing regulations under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, 2018.
The feedback exercise is an important milestone in the regulatory reform drive, as it brings the country closer to implementing firm rules that address illegal gambling activities and improve accountability within the sector. Recent policy direction has emphasised the need to balance revenue generation with consumer protection and enforcement against unlicensed operators.
Namibia’s gambling industry has expanded in recent years, with total revenue reaching approximately N$948m (€48.38m) in 2025, driven by both land-based and digital betting activities. This growth has increased regulatory pressure on the government to update existing rules, particularly in areas such as compliance, monitoring systems and responsible gambling measures.
The proposed amendments are expected to address operational gaps in the current regulations, including oversight mechanisms, licensing processes and alignment with evolving market conditions such as online gambling.
Through the open review, the Ministry seeks feedback from operators, community representatives and other stakeholders before finalising the regulatory changes. Following the consultation period, submissions will be reviewed and incorporated into the final amendments, which are expected to inform future licensing, compliance standards and industry governance.
