The proposed amendments to the gambling and lotteries regulations aim to provide meaningful relief to industry stakeholders. 

The Gambling Board of Namibia Director, Tudiminapo Shindume, said this during a stakeholders consultation on proposed amendments at Keetmanshoop. 

The proposed amendments seek to introduce new application and registration fees for both lottery and gambling license fees, as well as standard application forms, to improve efficiency and consistency. 

Additionally, it will introduce a mandatory five per cent monitoring fee on net monthly income and a one per cent maintenance fee on gross income for operators. 

The monitoring and maintenance fees aim to strengthen oversight through a Central Electronic Monitoring System. 

"These amendments come at a time when technological advancements are reshaping the world; as regulators, we can't afford to fall behind. It is therefore our collective hope that the revised regulations will provide meaningful relief to you, the stakeholders, and we therefore ask for your maximum input."

The Gambling Board of Namibia's acting CEO, John Erastus, explained that the proposed fee structure is based on research and benchmarking studies. 

"Our laws, specifically the Act, require the boards to align with international best practices and to engage with regional and international colleagues and jurisdictions to inform and assist us in shaping the Namibian gambling space. Currently, the challenge we face is that, for various reasons, we do not want the Namibian market or gambling industry to be left behind while absorbing all these undesired satisfactions for a select few."

Moreover, the proposed amendments to the lotteries regulation introduce the Electronic Software Lottery Licence to regulate digital and online gaming platforms. 

Stakeholders have welcomed the proposed amendments, which indicate a significant reduction in application and license fees for bars, shebeens, and gambling houses.

One of the most notable proposed amendments is the increase in application fees for the bookmakers and totalisers.