Africa-Press – Namibia. Government, through the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), plans to rake in over N$100 million in revenue from the country’s gaming industry.
This will be done by implementing a raft of technologically advanced systems that will evolve and unlock growth opportunities within the sector.
Last year, the gaming industry generated revenues of about N$32 million, compared to N$9.3 million recorded during the 2022/2023 period.
Through the NDP6, which will guide and fast-track Namibia’s economic and social development agenda between now and 2030, the country is set to grow the gaming industry by 8.1% in 2030.
As of 2021, the gaming industry employed more than 4 140 people.
Under the NDP6, the sector is expected to continue evolving, providing enormous opportunities for growth.
In basic terms, a State lottery has to do with the lotteries organised, conducted or promoted by the State.
“Namibia is well-positioned and geared to tap into the market for the economic and social development of the people. The establishment of the State lottery alone is projected to generate over N$100 million in revenue by 2030 and to contribute significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.
The ramifications of market, mobile gaming and advancements in AR/VR technologies are key drivers of growth,” President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah indicated during the launch of the NDP6.
The President assured Namibians that the Lotteries Act No.13 of 2017, as well as the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act No.13 of 2018, are operational to regulate and develop the gaming industry in a manner that would contribute to GDP and generate revenue for national socio-economic development.
Tourism boost
Government equally plans to double tourism figures under NDP6, targeting an increased arrival of tourists from the current 863 872 to 1.8 million visitors by 2030 through an integrated and inclusive tourism industry approach.
“The tourism sector is an important contributor to foreign exchange earnings, employment creation, rural development, poverty reduction and economic growth.
The sector is known for its eco-tourism and unique landscapes, amongst others, the Namib desert and the Etosha National Park,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Under NDP6, the government’s priority area will be to foster sustainable tourism and infrastructure development to enhance visitors’ experiences and support long-term growth in collaboration with key private players. The sector contributed about 1.6% to the GDP in 2024, which was about N$4 billion in monetary terms.
It employs about 300 000 individuals in the accommodation and food services, which translates into 5.4% contribution to total employment.
During the country’s just-ended NDP5 period, the sector recorded 461 027 tourist arrivals by 2022.
In 2023, a total of 863 872 international tourist arrivals were recorded, indicating a 54.1% growth to reach the pre-Covid-19 figure of 1 595 973 observed in 2019.
Government will push for the digitalisation of the tourism industry and gaming sector through the information management system, online management systems and a central monitoring system for the gaming industry.
Additionally, it wants to adopt online management systems and appoint an operator/licensee to conduct a State lotto for the lotteries to unlock economic values.
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