Focus
AFRICA: NAMIBIA
detrimental impact gambling could have on society and the ease in which licences were issued.
Illegal gambling had been attributed to a situation where licences were required to operate a gambling house but not those wishing to buy or supply machines meaning anyone can buy or supply a machine to a venue, whether the venue is licensed or not.
Since the promulgation of the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act in 1994 some 254 gambling houses licences (there are a total of 1,700 slots in the Namibian market) and three casinos licences were issued. Act 28 in 1996 imposed a moratium on the issuance of new gambling house licences, but not on casino licences and a new gaming bill was drafted.
However the lengthy process in developing the new bill caused an ‘explosion’ of illegal gambling in certain areas and problems at this time included a licensing board who offered fake licences for private fees.
The former deputy director of gambling, casinos and lotteries in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Sackey
Since the
promulgation of the Casinos and
Gambling Houses Act in 1994 some 254 gambling houses
licences (there are a total of 1,700 slots in the Namibian
market) and three casinos licences
were issued. Act 28 in 1996 imposed a moratium on the issuance of new gambling house
licences, but not on
casino licences and a new gaming bill was drafted.
Namugongo was sentenced last year to eight years in jail for corruption. Namugongo was convicted on 19 charges of corruption from selling gambling house licences in 2006 to the tune of more than N$300,000 and pocketing the money.
Meanwhile, in 2006 the government announced that it would plan to lift the moratorium on new gambling licences which had been in place for the last 10 years. The Minister of Environment and Tourism said he would make amendments to the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act to close certain loopholes to prevent illegal gambling and also drop the ban on the issuance of new casino licences (not gambling house licences).
The idea was simple. Other than diamonds and cattle ranching there is little in Namibia to develop, and the expansion of a tourist trade would help boost the economy. Since this time a further three casino licences have been issued bringing the total number of casino licences to six. However at the moment the extra three licences are not yet operational.
The Directorate of Tourism was set up to G3 I MAY 2011 I PAGE 36
develop the tourism industry and was re- structured in 2001 to become more streamlined and focus on the development of tourism and regulate the gambling industry.
It has two divisions – Tourism Development and Gambling and is headed by Director Sem Shikongo and Deputy Director Olga Katjiuongua. The Gambling division is then further divided into two divisions – Gambling Inspection and State Lotteries.
The Gambling Inspection licences, implements, regulates, controls and inspects the conduct of gambling in Namibia and carries out the functions and duties of the Gambling and Casino Board. The State Lotteries sub division is responsible for the promotion and conduct of the National Lotteries and administration of the lotteries fund.
The Lotteries Act was introduced in 2002 which established a lottery board to oversee the conduct of the National Lottery and the administration of the National Lottery Trust Fund and the Social Upliftment Fund, for the authorisation and supervision of benevolent lotteries.
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