Namibia Continues Gambling Reform Steps

Reform proposals for gambling in Namibia have entered a new stage. Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel said the Gambling Board of Namibia, which is tasked with implementing the reforms, is not yet fully operational. Views from the workshops held in October will be gathered in Windhoek and assessed before the next stage of the legal process.

Under the proposed changes, operators would be charged new fees. The revenue is intended to support tighter oversight through a central electronic monitoring system. The board has issued a tender for a real-time monitoring system under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act of 2018. The deadline for tenders, which also cover an automated licensing platform, has been extended to 5 November.

The regulator also announced that it will hold a consultation workshop for applicants seeking betting and totalisator licences on 15 October 2026. The proposals also include an electronic software lottery licence covering digital and online gaming platforms.

Interim Chairperson Johannes Erastus said the proposed structure was prepared based on research and comparative reviews. Board Chairperson Ben Shikongo said unlicensed activity must end and called on the government to publish the fees, which he described as high, in the Government Gazette as soon as possible. Under existing rules, casinos, bars and shebeens pay a levy of 10 percent of their monthly net revenue.