CEO, staff shortages cripple gambling board's work

The lack of a chief executive and insufficient staff at Namibia's gambling board is weakening its ability to register operators, collect fees and regulate the country’s expanding gambling industry.

Tourism minister Indileni Daniel disclosed the capacity constraints in the National Assembly recently, while acknowledging that the board is not yet fully operational.

The shortages have affected the regulation of gambling houses and online platforms, the collection of fees and levies, public education and programmes aimed at addressing gambling addiction, the minister said.

Daniel did not disclose the board’s current staff complement, the number of vacant positions or when a chief executive would be appointed.

She also did not say how long the board has operated without a chief executive or whether an official is performing the duties in an acting capacity.

The minister acknowledged that an unspecified number of gambling houses remain unregistered.

Without enough employees, the board struggles to identify illegal operators and regularly inspect licensed businesses to ensure compliance with licence conditions, Daniel said.

The capacity constraints could also affect fee and levy collection.

The shortage of staff has also affected efforts to educate the public about the risks of gambling and assist people experiencing gambling-related harm, the minister said.

The institutional weaknesses come as the government struggles to exercise full control over online gambling.

Betting websites and mobile applications allow Namibians to gamble through platforms that may not have offices or representatives in the country, complicating licensing, enforcement and revenue collection, parliamentarians heard.

Non-functioning

Namibia regulates gambling under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act of 2018, which came into operation in December 2021.

The law established the gambling board and provides for the licensing, supervision and control of gambling activities, including gambling conducted through electronic means.

Daniel’s statement, however, indicates that the board does not yet have the institutional capacity to implement the law fully.

The gambling board is responsible for considering licence applications, registering gambling businesses, inspecting premises and monitoring compliance.

It is also expected to advise the minister on gambling policy and support responsible-gambling and public-awareness programmes.