Key Highlights
- Gaming operators in Eswatini are requesting government-mandated timeframes for self-exclusion programs
- Stakeholders gathered at Sibane Sami Hotel in Ezulwini for a workshop reviewing proposed gambling regulations
- A centralized self-exclusion registry will be administered by the Gaming Board, with operators receiving notifications
- Players breaching self-exclusion terms may face penalties including fines reaching E2,000 or imprisonment up to two years
- Revised fee structures aim to accelerate processing times for licensing applications and renewals
Licensed gambling operators across Eswatini are urging government authorities to establish explicit guidelines regarding self-exclusion durations, following the discovery of significant ambiguities in recently proposed gaming regulations.
The concern emerged during a stakeholder validation workshop conducted at Sibane Sami Hotel in Ezulwini last week. The gathering facilitated dialogue between industry operators and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to examine regulatory provisions intended to fully implement the Gaming Control Act of 2021.
During discussions, one operator highlighted a practical challenge facing the industry. Certain customers request exclusion from gambling activities, only to return within hours seeking reinstatement. The absence of specified timeframes in the draft regulations leaves operators uncertain about enforcement periods for self-exclusion requests.
Ministry representatives acknowledged that the current draft lacks minimum exclusion duration requirements. They indicated operators might apply discretion on a case-by-case basis, especially when customers seek exclusion from individual establishments rather than system-wide restrictions.
Centralized Registry to Be Managed by Gaming Board
According to the proposed regulatory framework, the Gaming Board will oversee a unified registry of self-excluded individuals and distribute notifications to operators upon approval of requests. Operators will not bear responsibility for monitoring applications directly, but must comply immediately upon receiving official communication.
The regulatory structure permits individuals, or authorized representatives acting on their behalf, to request the Board to restrict access across all licensed gambling facilities and operations. Following inclusion in the registry, these limitations remain active until the individual submits a formal removal application.
Enforcement provisions are incorporated within the draft framework. Any excluded individual who enters gambling premises or participates in gaming activities “may be liable to a fine not exceeding E2,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.”
Comprehensive Gambling Sector Reform Initiative in Eswatini
These regulatory developments follow sustained parliamentary pressure for enhanced gambling sector supervision. Online casino-style gaming remains prohibited in Eswatini, despite the expansion of digital betting platforms.
Workshop officials emphasized to operators that all four licensed entities currently hold bookmaker-exclusive licences. These authorizations do not permit online slots or virtual casino table games.
Legal Advisor Nonophile Mavuso addressed another industry concern during the workshop session. She explained that the existing regulatory system experiences delays because certain fees lack statutory definition, which impedes licence application and renewal processes.
According to Mavuso, operators have expressed confusion regarding lengthy approval timelines. The proposed regulations establish a comprehensive fee schedule designed to enable the Ministry and Gaming Board to expedite application processing.
Mavuso clarified that the new regulatory framework does not introduce additional licence classifications. Rather, it seeks to refine current procedures and enhance sector-wide compliance standards.
The regulations remain in draft status, with stakeholder feedback gathered from the workshop expected to inform the final regulatory text.
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