Namibia launches new Gambling Board

Namibia’s gambling industry recorded 13,000 operators in 2020, of which more than 11,000 were illegal, according to the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry deputy executive director, Seimy Shidute.

Speaking at the inauguration of the country’s new seven-member Gambling Board, which is set to serve a three-year term, Shidute highlighted the impact of the illegal gambling operations on the state’s coffers.

“Although the State has missed out tremendously in terms of revenue from this industry which has been unregulated for quite long, gambling has proven to be a lifeline for our people in terms of both income and employment,” she said.

The board was launched in accordance with the new Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018), which replaced the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act, 1994 (Act No. 32 of 1994).

“The new board is therefore going to oversee a very important but not easy industry as they are going to deal with correcting all the wrong, illegal things the industry has encountered over the A years,” Shidute stated.