At the recommendation of the gaming and entertainment board, the environment and tourism ministry has extended the period by six months to register all unregistered gambling machines and operations.
It is estimated that there are at least 100 000 unlicensed gambling machines in about 3 000 illegal gambling houses countrywide.
“I am pleased to report that good progress has been made regarding improving the gambling sector’s regulation and establishing the National Lottery, with particular regard to the implementation of the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 (Act No. 13 Of 2018) and its subsequent regulations,” said environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta during the staff’s annual address last Friday.
This Act requires that persons in possession of gambling machines register them and link them to the central electronic system within a period of six months after the commencement date of the Act.
This extension period, which started last year for six months, will only end on 28 February 2023.
Shifeta said the public entity received over 320 applications for various licences, of which 85% have been processed and inspections done.
Currently, the gambling industry is regulated under the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act of 1994, to be replaced by the new Act.
Over the years, the minister had agreed that illegal gambling houses have been a livelihood for thousands of Namibians. However, well-established gambling house owners wrestled with the process to have licences issued to upcoming and small gambling house owners.
Under the new Act, all gambling houses must be registered. There will be an electronic monitoring system, and there will be gambling inspectors with the power to arrest people and seize assets when procedures are not followed.
The proposed central electronic monitoring system would detect and monitor significant events associated with gambling machines or any device associated with gambling machines that are made available for play in Namibia.
Additionally, the gambling board will require that licensed gambling operators who provide products to consumers put in place measures to help people who might develop a gaming addiction.
The proposed gaming and lotteries law, which could come into effect soon, will allow the families of gambling addicts to approach the courts to suspend such gamblers from gambling for a specific period of time.
On the tourism front, Shifeta said although battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism is still a key economic pillar, and the country is starting to see signs of recovery within the sector.
He is pleased that international tourist arrivals increased by almost 38% in 2021, compared to 2020.
Yet, in terms of actual numbers, only 233 692 tourist arrivals were recorded in 2021, compared to over 1.5 million arrivals in 2019.
“This shows that we are still not near the level we need or desire to be at to recover the sector. Our capacity to produce timely tourism statistics has improved, thanks to better collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, and I am confident that there will be a dramatic and sustained recovery of the sector during 2023,” he hoped.
Protected areas are, in addition to safeguarding species and habitats, also leading tourist attractions, and will be key to the recovery of the sector.
The minister reported that the maintenance and development of infrastructure in protected areas continues to be a top ministerial priority, adding that all protected areas require a well-maintained road network so that tourists have a good experience.
Thus, a distance of 142km in the Etosha National Park has been contracted and completed.
“We are pleased with the progress and quality of work being undertaken, and are especially thankful to the Road Fund Administration for their continued support in this project. Notwithstanding the good progress made, there are still sections of the road network that are in very poor condition and in need of full rehabilitation.
Therefore, the ministry, with its strategic partners, is working around the clock sourcing for funding to complete the upgrading of the remaining sections,” he
assured.
It is anticipated that the road network will be better able to cope with the increasing volumes of tourists expected, as the recovery of the sector from Covid-19 picks up momentum. To date, approximately 140km of the Etosha National Park has been fully upgraded, and much still has to be done.
Through internal in-house capacity and with the National Youth Service and volunteers from adjacent conservancies, the ministry managed to complete a pilot project to upgrade 7.5km of the fence in the Onanke area north of the park. The ministry furthermore plans to expand this approach in Etosha and in other national parks in 2023.
–anakale@nepc.com.na