The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel, has highlighted that the Gambling Board of Namibia is not yet fully operational.

Staff members are yet to be recruited, limiting the implementation of consumer education and rehabilitation programmes.

Daniel was responding to IPC MP Rodrick Likando, who questioned what measures have been taken since 2019 to promote gambling awareness, protect vulnerable groups, fund rehabilitation services for gambling addiction, and ensure accountability in the collection and utilisation of Gambling Trust Fund revenue.

She further acknowledged challenges in regulating online gambling, describing it as an emerging trend that requires stronger oversight.

Daniel said both local and foreign gambling operators must register under Namibian law and pay the applicable fees, levies and taxes, with no exceptions.

“Effective regulation, especially for online gambling, is currently a challenge at the moment, not only in Namibia but globally. The activity prohibited under the current Act is that no applications are considered, something that we are pursuing because there are a lot of illicit and illegal activities happening online.”

On the Gambling Trust Fund, the Minister provided revenue figures for several financial years.

"So it gives us a total of N$17 million collected to date.”