Gambling and online casinos in Namibia

Namibia is one of the most stable and economically developed states in South Africa,

where gambling is officially permitted and regulated by law.

Casinos, bookmakers and lotteries operate legally,

and in recent years, the country has relied on the development of online gambling and digital licenses.

Regulation is based on a combination of strict control and openness to innovation.

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Historical context

Gambling appeared in Namibia in the 1970th,

back in the days of the South African administration.

After independence in 1990

the government revised the rules and adopted Casino and Gambling Houses Act 1994,

which laid the foundation for the modern gambling industry.

In 2018, the Namibia Gaming and Entertainment Control Board (NGECB) was created,

which regulates all forms of gambling - from land-based casinos to online platforms.

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Legislation and regulation

Main regulations:

• Casino and Gambling Houses Act 1994 - basic casino licensing law;
• Lotteries Act 2017 - rules for holding national and private lotteries;
• Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 - regulation of online gambling and gambling on the Internet.

Regulator: Namibia Gaming and Entertainment Control Board (NGECB)

under the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Culture.

Main provisions:

• licenses are mandatory for all operators;
• license term - 5 years;
• casino gross revenue tax (GGR) - 15%;
• the minimum age of a player is 18 years;
• online gambling is allowed under a special eGaming license;
• mandatory RNG integrity and financial transparency checks.

Namibia adheres to the principle of "legal control - balanced liberalization,"

which makes it one of the most reliable jurisdictions in the region.

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Legal forms of gambling

Namibia allows:

• casinos and gaming halls;
• bookmakers and betting shops;
• lotteries and sweepstakes;
• online gaming and betting (under the NGECB license);
• virtual and mobile casinos.

Major operators:

• The Hilton Casino Windhoek is the largest casino in the country;
• Desert Jewel Casino (Swakopmund);
• Windhoek Club and Casino is a popular tourist destination;
• BetWay Namibia and Hollywoodbets Namibia are leading online bookmakers;
• NamLotto is a national lottery launched in 2019.

Namibian casinos are targeted as locals,

and for foreign tourists from South Africa, Angola and Europe.

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Online gambling

Online gambling in Namibia has been officially allowed since 2018,

however, licensing is still in the pilot phase.

The government is committed to creating a safe market,

where players are protected and operators operate in the legal field.

Main directions:

• sports and esports betting;
• online slots and board games;
• live casino and mobile applications;
• lotteries and draws on the Internet.

Payment systems:

• PayToday, FNB eWallet, Standard Bank Instant Money;
• bank transfers through Bank Windhoek and Nedbank Namibia;
• cryptocurrencies are not yet regulated, but are actively used by players.

According to Africa iGaming Market Review 2024,

Namibia has about 100,000 active online players,

and the market volume is estimated at $40-50 million per year.

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Economic role

Gambling has become an important source of revenue for the budget,

especially in tourism and urban leisure.

Key indicators (2024):

• contribution to GDP - 1.2%;
• tax revenues - $10 million;
• employment - more than 2,000 people in the industry;
• annual growth of the online segment - + 20%.

Namibia bills itself as the "responsible gambling hub of Southern Africa,"

where laws are combined with innovative approaches.

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Social and cultural context

Namibia is a secular and socially sustainable state,

therefore, gambling here is perceived as a form of entertainment and tourism.

At the same time, the authorities strictly control responsible gambling.

The regulator requires all operators to:

• clear rate limits;
• player self-exclusion systems;
• warnings about dependency risks;
• transparent reporting to auditors.

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Prospects

Namibia aims to become a regional hub for online gambling

and integrate into the African eGaming licensing system.

2030 Development Plan:

• launch of the national online license Namibia eGaming License;
• implementation of RNG and anti-fraud certification system;
• development of digital payment solutions and cryptocurrency integration;
• the establishment of tourist "casino zones" in Windhoek and Swakopmund.

Forecast: by 2030, the gambling market in Namibia will reach $120 million,

of which more than 70% will be online gambling.

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Namibia is one of Africa's most organised and transparent gambling countries.

Government regulation, international standards and the desire for digitalization

create a reliable platform for investment and safe play.