Africa-Press – Malawi. The Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) is stepping up efforts to shield children and vulnerable groups from harmful gambling exposure, as it rolls out Directive No. 1 of 2025.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Blantyre earlier this week, MAGLA Director General Racheal Mijiga said the directive aims to strike a balance between supporting economic activity in the gaming and media sectors and safeguarding the social wellbeing of Malawians.
Under the directive, gambling-related advertisements are restricted to air only between 21:00 hours and 06:00 hours, reducing the likelihood that children will be exposed to such content.
“Children represent the future workforce and leadership of Malawi. It is essential that regulators and businesses ensure they are protected from harmful exposure to gambling-related content,” Mijiga said, while adding that businesses must prioritize social responsibility and ethical standards over profits to achieve long-term success.
The directive was issued to gaming operators rather than broadcasters directly and follows calls for stricter controls from Members of Parliament, church organisations, and parents. MAGLA opted for a balanced approach rather than a total ban.
“As a society, we must balance economic activity with social responsibility. Adults can still access gambling advertisements after 21:00 hours, but our priority is protecting the future leaders and most vulnerable members of our society,” Mijiga said.
The stakeholder meeting brought together media representatives, gaming operators, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), and other key players. Golden Matonga, President of the Media Institute of Southern Africa Malawi (MISA Malawi), welcomed the dialogue.
“We believe in media freedom, but we also believe in responsible media practice. We cannot ignore the potential harmful effects of our work,” he said, praising MAGLA for engaging the media in finding practical solutions.
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