Namibia Sets Six Regional Hearings on Gambling and Lottery Rules
Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has scheduled six regional consultations between October 5 and 14 to discuss reforms to gambling and lottery laws.
The meetings, set for towns including Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Oshakati, Rundu, Otjiwarongo and Windhoek, follow an earlier nationwide round held in March and April, giving communities another chance to weigh in before the proposals move forward.
Alongside the ministry’s consultations, the Gambling Board of Namibia is pursuing its own upgrades. It is seeking a real‑time monitoring system capable of recording gambling transactions remotely and an automated licensing platform to streamline applications and compliance.
Fresh fees for operators proposed
The reform package introduces new financial obligations for operators. A 1% maintenance fee on gross income would support the Central Electronic Monitoring System, while a 5% monitoring fee would be charged on net monthly income.
Registration costs would vary depending on the type of operator, with smaller venues such as bars and shebeens facing lower fees and bookmakers or totalisators paying more. A levy on promotional‑competition prizes and a processing fee have also been proposed, with the ministry already publishing details on their gazetting.
Digital activity is a key part of the changes. Plans include an electronic software lottery licence and clearer rules for online platforms. The proposals also call for coordination with the Namibia Revenue Agency to share data on undeclared income from both operators and winners.
Not the first consultation
Back in March, Namibia rolled out a nationwide consultation to gather views on changes to its gambling and lottery rules. That exercise, led by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, reached all 14 regions between March 24 and April 9, giving communities across the country a chance to weigh in on the proposals.
The process is now continuing this October with a more targeted engagement. Also, the GBN has an industry workshop planned for applicants seeking bookmaker and totalisator licences under the 2018 Gambling and Entertainment Control Act. Scheduled for October 15 at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management in Windhoek, the session will run from morning to late afternoon according to Focus Gaming News.
The Board said the workshop will walk applicants through licensing requirements and compliance obligations, while also bringing in key stakeholders to address operational standards.