The Lotteries Act, 2017 establishes the legal framework for all lottery activities in Namibia. Under this Act, any game of chance distributing prizes by lot—whether manual, mechanical, electronic, or other means—must be authorized and supervised by the Lotteries Board to be lawful (1).
Individuals or organizations wishing to conduct lottery schemes must apply to and register with the Lotteries Board before marketing or selling tickets. Failure to obtain prior approval renders any lottery activity illegal and subject to severe penalties under Section 74(1) of the Act (1).
"Illegal operations of private lotteries (not approved by or registered with the Lotteries Board) or any qualifying scheme under the Lotteries Act are punishable by law including the media or any person promoting and facilitating such illegal or unregistered activities."
In June 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced that the State Lottery operator will be selected through a transparent public procurement process. Once licensed, only tickets sold by this approved operator will be lawful to purchase in Namibia (2).
Consumers may legally buy lottery tickets only from the authorized State Lottery. Engaging with any unregistered or private lottery remains an offense; buyers should verify that tickets bear official Lotteries Board certification to ensure full compliance with Namibian law (1)(2).
Source:
https://namiblii.org/akn/na/act/2017/13/eng%402017-12-29
https://www.meft.gov.na/files/files/IMPLEMENTATION%20OF%20THE%20LOTTERIES%20ACT%20THE%20GAMING%20AND%20ENTERTAINMENT%20ACT.pdf
Last updated: 20-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
