The Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, is warning those operating unregistered lottery activities to stop, saying it is illegal.

Those who do not comply will run the risk of either being fined, imprisoned, or both.

The Minister says he continues to observe non-adherence, particularly related to the Lotteries Act.

"I just want to warn the industry today that there are criminal sanctions. You can be imprisoned and fined, and these are not simple fines. We are talking about something up to N$4 million and imprisonment of up to 20 years. You talk about imprisonment fines of up to N$2 million, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both."

The minister outlines what constitutes a lottery activity. "Any game, such as a computer game, scheme, arrangement, system, plan, promotional competition, or device for distributing prizes by lot or chance, whether operated manually, mechanically, electronically, or by other means. It encompasses so many things."

Shifeta is advising the industry, operators, promoters, or individuals conducting lottery businesses to apply, notify, and register them with the Lotteries Board.

He is also warning media houses that are currently busy promoting or facilitating such activities to first confirm with the Lotteries Board about the legality of those undertakings, adding that they too are liable to be fined.

"I have never granted any licence for a lotto in this country. Never. I've never even considered an application."

Pohamba says the media conference was necessitated by the fact that too many locals are being duped by illegal operators.

"Lotteries have been conducted in this country. We have been receiving so many complaints about how people are being cheated."