Namibia has extended the gambling licence registration by another six months to August 2023, amid indications that only 3.4% of the 13,668 operators had applied by the end of February.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) recently indicated that more than 11,000 gambling firms were operating illegally in the country, resulting in the country missing out tremendously in terms of revenue from this industry which has been unregulated for a long time.
To kickstart the registration exercise, the government last year urged all gambling houses to register by 28 February 2023.
MEFT Chief Public Relations Officer Romeo Muyunda said the second extension is aimed at allowing all players to comply with the country’s new laws.
“The extension is to give a fair and justified time to the industry to comply, given the fact that this is a new law with quite a number of stringent requirements of which some are cumbersome and lengthy to acquire, such as liquor licences and fitness certificates in some towns,” he said.
“The gambling operators are willing and forthcoming, though not to our satisfaction. More education is needed on how to complete the application form and supporting documents and any other requirements.”
Muyunda noted that 465 new applications were received and 300 processed to date.
“Those not processed were received in the last two weeks. 155 applications were approved, however no license issued yet,” he said.
The new registration is a requirement of the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 (Act No. 13 Of 2018), which seeks to regulate the industry, by ensuring that it is kept crime-free, but safe and transparent to protect the players, the public, licence holders, and vulnerable communities such as children and vulnerable adults from being exploited.
Under the new Act, all gambling houses must be registered. There will be an electronic monitoring system, and there will be gambling inspectors with the power to arrest people and seize assets when procedures are not followed.
