By:Dwight Links
The first day of the Responsible Gambling conference explored the known and possible avenues for dealing with the societal threat that gambling addiction can have on the local households in the country.
Organised by the Namibia Development Foundation (NAMDEF) and hosted in Windhoek from 17-18 June, the conference shared observations of an increase in gambling activities in the country.
According to Timotheus Angala from NAMDEF, they have observed that the proliferation of the accessibility to betting and gambling in Namibia created this new reality.
“In the past, it was just your normal gambling houses and casinos that gambling was contained to, but now with the online betting and other establishments that provide similar experiences, it has led to this conference,” Angala explained.
Representatives from the broader Namibian gambling and entertainment sector, as well as the ministries of Environment and Health presented at the conference.
Guest speakers from South Africa included the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation and the Sun International Responsible Gambling Manager, Tumelo Mokoena, who highlighted best case examples of working with this industry-related problem.
POSSIBLE LAW CHANGES
Speaking on the planned outcomes of the conference, Angala noted that the primary aim is to generate a report to be shared with relevant stakeholders.
“This report will contain what outcomes were reached. It will be shared firstly with the two ministries for them to see whether any law changes would be needed, with a possible objective to empower the organisations associated with responsible gambling and regulators,” stated Angala.
Bevan McBride and Alpheus Matlala from the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation indicated that responsible gambling should be of interest to all stakeholders in the gambling sector.
McBride noted that both countries are similar in that their legislation is fairly new, and that both have to deal with the new commercial frontier along with its possible side effects.
“Historically, before 1994, gambling was banned but only allowed in the Bantustans of South Africa. We got our gambling regulations in 1996 from the recommendations of a government approved commission,” he added.
A legal gambling industry was borne from the logistical and legal frameworks for the industry in South Africa.
“Responsible gambling practices in South Africa were put into law. That means that they were made a national requirement,” explained McBride.
LEGAL COMPARISON
On the question of possible changes, Namibia’s current Gambling Act speaks more to regulating the gambling industry than helping the consumer central to the sector.
The South African representatives highlighted that the gambling act in South Africa is under a ministry responsible for commerce and trade, while in Namibia it falls under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism.
South Africa’s National Gambling Act makes provision for the establishment of an organisation such as the Responsible Gambling Foundation to work with operators, consumers and service providers like psychologists to assist in gambling-related disorders.
Namibia’s Gaming & Entertainment Control Act of 2018 purely focuses on registration, the establishment of the Gambling Board, and the rules by which regulators have to adhere.
