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Gambling addicts' days are numbered
The Gaming Control Division is governed by the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act, (Act 32 of 1994). This Act makes provision for the licensing, supervision and control of casinos and gambling houses; to provide for the establishment of a Casino Board; and to provide for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. The Act established a Casino Board and made provisions for the licensing and supervision of gambling operators. Within two years of legalized gambling in Namibia, the government became concerned about the proliferation of small gambling houses, which have made gambling more accessible to the Namibian people. International News Brief: Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino, in conjunction with the Gaming Board of Namibia, is spearheading the implementation of a Responsible Gaming Programme aimed at assisting people suffering from excessive or compulsive gambling behaviour. Read more Namibian Gambling Moratorium Remains 11 May 2004. Namibia officially the Republic of Namibia formerly known as German South-West Africa and then South West Africa is a country in Southern Africa. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to east South Africa to the south and the eastern Namibia western border is the Atlantic Ocean.
Gambling addicts' days are numbered
22 February 2019 | Government
GRACE PERIOD: Sem Shikongo, the director of tourism and gaming in the tourism ministry. Photo: ELLANIE SMIT Comment jouer au poker texas holdem.
This is among a raft of measures aimed at stopping Namibians from neglecting households to feed their gambling habits, which were unveiled yesterday at a public consultative workshop on the draft regulations for the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act.
It was also revealed that only 256 gambling houses and six casinos were registered countrywide, which contributed N$40 million to state coffers through levies and fees last year.
An application for a casino licence costs N$80 000, while the annual licence fee is N$100 000. To apply for a gambling house licence costs N$10 000, while the annual fee is N$10 000.
All gambling houses will now have to register.
A grace period of six months will be given after the Act is promulgated for all gambling machines to be registered and linked to a central electronic monitoring system.
Speaking at the workshop, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta said Namibians were complaining that people were gambling away all their money.
He said under the new law a dependant would be able to apply to the Gambling Board for a person to be blacklisted.
'The board has the power to take the matter to court, which will issue an order to this effect and all casinos and gambling houses will be notified.'
He said even in cases where community members felt the elderly were gambling away their monthly pensions, the matter could be reported to the board.
Shifeta said although the government recognised the positive impact the gambling industry could have on the GDP, about 99% of gambling machines in the country were unregistered and therefore illegal.
This meant that the government was losing out on income that it should have earned from these machines.
'These illegal gambling houses are robbing the nation. Those that are not registered will have six months to register.
'We will not arrest or charge a person during this time, but action will be taken after the grace period, because then you will be conducting an illegal activity.'
Shifeta explained that a device would be installed in all gambling machines and this technology would enable the machines to 'report' their input and output to the central monitoring system.
'What belongs to Caesar must come to Caesar. You will get yours and the government will get theirs,' he said.
Shifeta said society must abandon the idea that the gambling industry promoted antisocial behaviour.
He said this was only true if the sector was not controlled and regulated.
'While not revoking our responsibility to control any negative circumstances that may arise, we must focus on the rewards that are to be achieved and the support that will be given to the growth of the Namibian economy.'
According to Shifeta the aim is to promote and regulate the industry in a more productive and positive light, and remove any stigma that exists.
'I wish to see a cultural change among stakeholders, as gaming needs to be viewed as an entertainment activity, and in so doing, redefine the industry; we can diversify sources of income for the state and the operators.'
Shifeta said the role of the gaming industry in facilitating Namibia's growth initiatives could not be overemphasised, as it provided decent-paying jobs and remitted taxes and fees to local and central government.
'We want to keep gaming crime free, make sure that gaming is fair and open, and we want the player as well as the licence holder, children and vulnerable adults not to be harmed or exploited.'
Shifeta said licence holders should consider the levies and fees as a win-win situation, taking into account the need for the state to generate revenue and the need for the industry to be sustainable.
Under the new Act there will be an electronic monitoring system, gambling inspectors with powers to arrest and seize assets and significant sentences for offenders.
Giving an overview of the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, director of tourism and gaming Sem Shikongo said only 256 gambling house licences and six casino licenses had been issued in Namibia. Only five casinos were operational.
'There are, however, much more out there. We know that there are even gambling houses that are operating as casinos.'
Shikongo explained the Gambling Board to be established under the new Act would recommend to the minister the maximum number of licences that may be issued.
'It is therefore very important that during the grace period gambling machines are registered, because it will be based on this number that a decision will be made on how many licences can still be issued in a geographical area,' he said.
ELLANIE SMIT
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What is GRAF
Gaming Regulators Africa Forum protects communities and citizens through the adherence of gaming regulatory laws applicable to each member state. It aligns matters that affect this industry and ensures that Africa and the sub Sahara does not become dumping grounds for old and degenerating gaming technologies. It implements initiatives that are aimed at curbing problem gambling and ensures counselling and education for the affected.
In order to mitigate the challenges faced by African gaming regulators, GRAF has already formed sub-committees that handle issues of Education and Training and Technology and Illegal Gambling. Activities of this Forum are guided by a strategic plan which is endorsed by all member states and implemented through the sub committees. The strategy is reviewed annually at Annual General Meetings.
Facts about GRAF
- Its inaugural conference was held from 21-21 February 2003, Meropa Casino, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa.
- Countries that have hosted the GRAF conferences are: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland.
- It is comprised of national gambling regulators from the African Continent, specifically from Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Gaming regulators perform their duties under their respective laws, regulations and requirements.
- Membership is open to all gambling jurisdictions on the African continent.
- Each member jurisdiction carries one voting right at GRAF meetings and AGMs.
- Chairmanship takes place on a rotation basis.
- The permanent secretariat of the GRAF resides in South Africa.
- Any other state wishing to take up membership may apply through the secretariat.
- Non-members, inclusive of any other person or organization sharing the same vision/interests are invited to the GRAF as invitees.
- No subscription membership fees apply.
Member states
Botswana
Ghana
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia Gambling Board Games
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Swaziland
GRACE PERIOD: Sem Shikongo, the director of tourism and gaming in the tourism ministry. Photo: ELLANIE SMIT Comment jouer au poker texas holdem.
This is among a raft of measures aimed at stopping Namibians from neglecting households to feed their gambling habits, which were unveiled yesterday at a public consultative workshop on the draft regulations for the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act.
It was also revealed that only 256 gambling houses and six casinos were registered countrywide, which contributed N$40 million to state coffers through levies and fees last year.
An application for a casino licence costs N$80 000, while the annual licence fee is N$100 000. To apply for a gambling house licence costs N$10 000, while the annual fee is N$10 000.
All gambling houses will now have to register.
A grace period of six months will be given after the Act is promulgated for all gambling machines to be registered and linked to a central electronic monitoring system.
Speaking at the workshop, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta said Namibians were complaining that people were gambling away all their money.
He said under the new law a dependant would be able to apply to the Gambling Board for a person to be blacklisted.
'The board has the power to take the matter to court, which will issue an order to this effect and all casinos and gambling houses will be notified.'
He said even in cases where community members felt the elderly were gambling away their monthly pensions, the matter could be reported to the board.
Shifeta said although the government recognised the positive impact the gambling industry could have on the GDP, about 99% of gambling machines in the country were unregistered and therefore illegal.
This meant that the government was losing out on income that it should have earned from these machines.
'These illegal gambling houses are robbing the nation. Those that are not registered will have six months to register.
'We will not arrest or charge a person during this time, but action will be taken after the grace period, because then you will be conducting an illegal activity.'
Shifeta explained that a device would be installed in all gambling machines and this technology would enable the machines to 'report' their input and output to the central monitoring system.
'What belongs to Caesar must come to Caesar. You will get yours and the government will get theirs,' he said.
Shifeta said society must abandon the idea that the gambling industry promoted antisocial behaviour.
He said this was only true if the sector was not controlled and regulated.
'While not revoking our responsibility to control any negative circumstances that may arise, we must focus on the rewards that are to be achieved and the support that will be given to the growth of the Namibian economy.'
According to Shifeta the aim is to promote and regulate the industry in a more productive and positive light, and remove any stigma that exists.
'I wish to see a cultural change among stakeholders, as gaming needs to be viewed as an entertainment activity, and in so doing, redefine the industry; we can diversify sources of income for the state and the operators.'
Shifeta said the role of the gaming industry in facilitating Namibia's growth initiatives could not be overemphasised, as it provided decent-paying jobs and remitted taxes and fees to local and central government.
'We want to keep gaming crime free, make sure that gaming is fair and open, and we want the player as well as the licence holder, children and vulnerable adults not to be harmed or exploited.'
Shifeta said licence holders should consider the levies and fees as a win-win situation, taking into account the need for the state to generate revenue and the need for the industry to be sustainable.
Under the new Act there will be an electronic monitoring system, gambling inspectors with powers to arrest and seize assets and significant sentences for offenders.
Giving an overview of the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, director of tourism and gaming Sem Shikongo said only 256 gambling house licences and six casino licenses had been issued in Namibia. Only five casinos were operational.
'There are, however, much more out there. We know that there are even gambling houses that are operating as casinos.'
Shikongo explained the Gambling Board to be established under the new Act would recommend to the minister the maximum number of licences that may be issued.
'It is therefore very important that during the grace period gambling machines are registered, because it will be based on this number that a decision will be made on how many licences can still be issued in a geographical area,' he said.
ELLANIE SMIT
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Sala poker catania hotel. NAMPAWINDHOEKThe newly elected leadership of the Okahandja municipality will conduct audits to ascertain that councillors do not make the public office a haven for a..
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ELLANIE SMITWINDHOEKNamibia possesses the 11th weakest military in the world, a drop of two places since last year's list.This is according to the 2020 Global..
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Jo-Maré Duddy – Namibia's economy contracted by 10.5% in the past quarter, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) reported this morning.Revised growth in the second quarter..
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KATIMA MULILO - The Zambezi region is yet to utilise about 25 000 hectares of land received from traditional authorities about seven years ago.In an..
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What is GRAF
Gaming Regulators Africa Forum protects communities and citizens through the adherence of gaming regulatory laws applicable to each member state. It aligns matters that affect this industry and ensures that Africa and the sub Sahara does not become dumping grounds for old and degenerating gaming technologies. It implements initiatives that are aimed at curbing problem gambling and ensures counselling and education for the affected.
In order to mitigate the challenges faced by African gaming regulators, GRAF has already formed sub-committees that handle issues of Education and Training and Technology and Illegal Gambling. Activities of this Forum are guided by a strategic plan which is endorsed by all member states and implemented through the sub committees. The strategy is reviewed annually at Annual General Meetings.
Facts about GRAF
- Its inaugural conference was held from 21-21 February 2003, Meropa Casino, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa.
- Countries that have hosted the GRAF conferences are: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland.
- It is comprised of national gambling regulators from the African Continent, specifically from Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Gaming regulators perform their duties under their respective laws, regulations and requirements.
- Membership is open to all gambling jurisdictions on the African continent.
- Each member jurisdiction carries one voting right at GRAF meetings and AGMs.
- Chairmanship takes place on a rotation basis.
- The permanent secretariat of the GRAF resides in South Africa.
- Any other state wishing to take up membership may apply through the secretariat.
- Non-members, inclusive of any other person or organization sharing the same vision/interests are invited to the GRAF as invitees.
- No subscription membership fees apply.
Member states
Botswana
Ghana
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia Gambling Board Games
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Namibia Gambling Board Jobs
Zimbabwe
