🇳🇦For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Operating in Namibia: 10% tax, ad limits
Online sports betting and casinos are legal in Namibia, regulated by the Gambling Board of Namibia under the 2018 Act. Only locally licensed operators are permitted.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Namibia is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Online casino · Online poker · Lottery | Licensed |
Regulator and player protection in Namibia
Regulator
Gambling Board of Namibia (GBN), under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
Application authority and enforcement body
Self-exclusion scheme
Namibian GECB Self-Exclusion Register
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Advertising stance
Limited
Whether you can run TV / sponsorship / paid-social campaigns
Heads-up for operators
2 items · last change 8 Oct 2026
The Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, 2018 commenced on 1 December 2021 together with its 2020 amendment, and no later amending act is recorded. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism consulted on proposed amendments to the gambling and lottery regulations from 24 March to 9 April 2026 (state news agency).
Full Enforcement Period Begins
Following a multi-year transition, this period is the first phase of full enforcement of the 2018 Act's licensing and levy requirements for all operators.
Source: 1
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Licence Types in Namibia
4 licence types are listed for Namibia; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Licence | GECB | Five years | |
| Sports Betting Licence | GECB | Three years | |
| Slot-hall Licence | GECB | Three years | |
| National Lottery Concession (Namibia Lottery) | GECB | Statutory |
Gambling tax: 10% of GGR
Detail
Licensed operators pay a 10% levy on profits (net revenue) to the Gambling Board, plus annual licence fees.
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
Fee schedules under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 have not been made publicly available by the Gambling Board of Namibia.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casino Licence Fee | no published fee schedule | The regulator has not published a fee schedule for the five-year casino licence. |
| Sports Betting Licence Fee | no published fee schedule | The regulator has not published a fee schedule for the three-year sports betting licence. |
| Slot-hall Licence Fee | no published fee schedule | The regulator has not published a fee schedule for the three-year slot-hall licence. |
| Operator Levy | 10% of profits (net revenue) Source2 | Statutory levy paid to the Gambling Board. |
| Technical Certification | no published fee schedule | Costs for system and game certification are determined by third-party labs. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: gov fee schedule not published
While the operator levy is set at 10% of profits, the absence of published licence and application fees makes a full year-one estimate impossible.
Which foreign licences Namibia accepts
Namibia recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
BannedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
Under the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 (Section 73), any operator serving Namibians without a local GBN licence is operating illegally. In practice, enforcement focuses on operators, not players.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Channel-restricted
Bonus and promotion regulations are in their early stages, primarily governed by the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act of 2018 and the Gambling and Gambling Activities Regulations of 2021. The current framework establishes rules for responsible advertising without providing granular detail on specific promotional mechanics.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
Current regulations do not specify any restrictions on bonus types, wagering requirements, or product verticals.
What the operator can advertise
- Channels off-limits
- Media primarily directed at individuals under 18
- Venues where the majority of the audience is under 18
- Outdoor displays directed at schools, youth centers, or university campuses
- Messages ads may not give
- Vulgar or indecent language, images, or actions
- Misleading terms (e.g., 'Risk-Free') are likely prohibited under general advertising rules
- Mandatory disclaimer
All print or electronic mail advertisements must include a statement warning against the dangers of addictive and compulsive gambling.
- Placement rule
- For printed or electronic mail advertisements, the warning's font must be at least the same size as the body of the advertisement.
- Penalties
A fine not exceeding NAD 20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or both.
There is no documented escalation path to license suspension for advertising breaches, but general non-compliance can jeopardize a license.
No specific enforcement actions for bonus or advertising violations have been identified in the last 24 months. The regulator's focus has been on combating illegal, unlicensed gambling operations.
How Namibia enforces against unlicensed operators
Namibia's new Gambling Board is actively establishing its authority. Enforcement is currently focused on licensing compliance and collecting statutory levies from operators, with a history of government action against the large illegal land-based market.
- Late 2024: John Erastus was appointed Acting CEO of the Gambling Board to lead the implementation of the new regulatory framework.
- December 2021: The inaugural Gambling Board was appointed to regulate the industry under the 2018 Act, which marked the start of active oversight.
- April 2018: The government announced a major crackdown on an estimated 20,000-100,000 illegal gambling machines, a key driver for the new law.
Enforcement cases in Namibia: 5 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Namibia. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- January 2026
All licensed operators
LicensingFinal warning to pay outstanding levies and feesWidespread non-compliance with statutory levy and fee payments by licensed operators.
Read-across: This public notice puts all operators on high alert. It indicates that the regulator is prepared to suspend or revoke licenses for financial non-compliance, which makes license security a critical operational risk.
- April 2025
Gambling House Association of Namibia (Ghan)
Administrative PrecedentsHigh Court dismissed legal challenge against payment of leviesThe association sought exemption from levies, citing the government's failure to curb illegal gambling, but the court upheld the new law.
Read-across: The ruling sets a precedent that all licensed operators must meet their financial obligations under the new law, regardless of a large illegal market.
- September 2022
Gambling House Association of Namibia (Ghan)
TaxFiled a lawsuit against the governmentChallenged the implementation of a N$10,000 annual fee per gambling machine, seeking an exemption until illegal gambling is eradicated.
Read-across: This lawsuit shows the significant financial pressure on licensed operators and the contentious nature of the new fee structure in a market with extensive illegal competition.
- February 2020
Unnamed illegal operators
Grey-MarketNationwide inspections and shutdownsA High Court order mandated the appointment of inspectors to identify and create a database of all licensed and unlicensed gambling operations.
Read-across: This government-led initiative to quantify and address the vast illegal market signals a long-term strategy to formalize the sector, which potentially increases competition for licensed operators and also legitimizes the industry.
- April 2018
Government of Namibia
LicensingIntroduction of the Gaming and Entertainment Control BillThe previous legal framework was inadequate to address the proliferation of an estimated 20,000 illegal gambling machines and 2,600 unlicensed venues.
Read-across: The new bill fundamentally changed how the sector is regulated. It established the Gambling Board and a central electronic monitoring system, and it requires all operators to adapt to a more stringent and centralized regulatory environment.
Market size: 0.948B NAD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Namibia is approximately 948 million NAD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Sports betting. Online gambling represents 55% of total GGR. A culturally distinctive product in this market is Desert Jewel Casino (Windhoek), Mermaid Casino (Walvis Bay).
Market breakdown by vertical
- Online0.027B NAD6.7%
- Land-based0.374B NAD93.3%
Figures are 2025 Statista forecasts and cover the casino vertical (under 'land-based') plus online; sports betting and lottery components are not included in this breakdown, so the bars below add to less than the headline.
Licensed operators: ~15
As of 8 Oct 2026, approximately 15 operators hold an active licence in Namibia. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Premier Bet
1xBet
Hollywoodbets
PST Bet
Traps operators hit in Namibia
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
Comply with the 10% profit levy
Licensed operators must pay a 10% levy on profits (net revenue) to the Gambling Board. As the regulator establishes its authority, non-compliance with statutory payments is a primary enforcement focus and can lead to fines or licence suspension.
Sources2
Do not operate with a foreign licence alone
Section 73 of the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018 explicitly prohibits 'unauthorised online gaming'. Operating with only a foreign licence is a direct breach of Namibian law, even if player-side enforcement is currently low.
Sources12
Factor in competition from a large illegal market
Despite the new law, a significant black market persists, left over from the previous proliferation of up to 100,000 illegal machines. Licensed operators face ongoing competition from these untaxed and unregulated entities.
Sources8
Timeline: rules in force
- Late 2024
Acting CEO Appointed to Lead Gambling Board
John Erastus was appointed Acting CEO of the Gambling Board, which signals a new phase of operational leadership and implementation.
Source: 6
- December 2021
Inaugural Gambling Board Appointed
The first Gambling Board of Namibia was appointed to implement and enforce the 2018 Act, which began the transition to an active regulatory environment.
Source: 7
- 2018
Gaming and Entertainment Control Act Enacted
The foundational law was passed to replace the outdated 1994 Act and address the massive illegal gambling market.
Source: 2
Operator myths vs reality in Namibia
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythA foreign licence from Malta or Curaçao is sufficient to operate in Namibia.Reality
False. The 2018 Act requires a local Namibian licence issued by the Gambling Board. All foreign licences are legally unrecognised, and operating with one is 'unauthorised online gaming' under Section 73 of the Act.
Sources2
- MythThe new regulations are not being actively enforced yet.
- MythThe operator tax is 12% of GGR.Reality
Incorrect. The statutory operator levy is a flat 10% on profits (net revenue), as defined in the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 2018, not on Gross Gaming Revenue.
Sources2
Markets that work like Namibia
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- BelgiumCheckedPeruReviewedPanamaCheckedGuineaAI overview
Online casino, betting, poker and lottery licensed; licensed market; GGR tax 10–20%; most ad channels restricted.
- Sri LankaAI overview
Online casino, betting, poker and lottery licensed; licensed market; GGR tax 10–20%; foreign licences mostly banned.
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
How we researchAsk us to run the Deep AI Scan for Namibia
Documents cited on this page
- 1iGaming Today
- 2Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 13 of 2018
- 3Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 13 of 2018
- 4Gambling and Gambling Activities Regulations, 2021
- 5Illegal Betting To Face Fines And Imprisonment
- 6iGaming Afrika
- 7Namibian Sun
- 8Namibian Sun
- 9The Namibian
- 10Focus Gaming News
- 11allAfrica.com
- 12Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 13 of 2018, Section 73
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Namibia (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Namibia player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Gambling Board of Namibia (GBN), under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.. We are not a legal adviser.