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Licensed operators in Eswatini’s gambling sector are asking the government to spell out how self‑exclusion should work under the country’s new draft regulations.
Their concerns came up during a validation workshop for the rules that will bring the Gaming Control Act of 2021 into full effect. The session, held at Sibane Sami Hotel in Ezulwini last week, brought together operators and officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to review the draft and highlight areas that still need clarity.
One operator raised a practical problem: some players ask to be excluded, only to return a few hours later wanting to gamble again. Without a defined timeframe, operators said they are unsure how long a self‑exclusion request should last or how strictly it should be enforced.
Ministry officials confirmed that the draft regulations do not set a fixed period. Instead, they said operators may use their own discretion, especially when a player wants to be excluded from only one venue rather than the entire market.
Gaming Board to manage self-exclusion register and requests
Officials also explained that the Gaming Board will be responsible for notifying operators whenever a player submits a self‑exclusion request. This means operators will not be expected to track applications on their own but must act once they receive formal notice.
The rules allow a person, or even a third party acting on their behalf, to ask the Board to block a player from taking part in gambling activities.
Once approved, that person’s name will be added to a central register, and operators must prevent them from entering licensed premises or participating in any gaming activity.
The framework also gives excluded players a path back. Anyone on the register can apply to have their name removed, but until that happens, the restrictions remain in force.
The draft makes the consequences clear: “An excluded person who enters or partakes in a gaming activity may be liable to a fine not exceeding E2 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.”
Eswatini continues push for gambling reform
These rules are being shaped in response to pressure from Parliament for tighter oversight of the gambling sector, especially as online casino‑style games remain illegal despite the rise of digital betting platforms.
Ministry officials reminded stakeholders that licensed operators in Eswatini are limited to bookmaker activities only, and the four registered companies hold bookmaker‑only licences that do not cover online slots or virtual table games.
During the workshop, Legal Advisor Nonophile Mavuso explained that the current system struggles because some fees are not prescribed in law, slowing down application processing and renewals.
She said this gap has caused frustration among operators who often do not understand why approvals take so long.
The proposed regulations introduce a full schedule of fees to help the Ministry and the Gaming Board work more efficiently. Mavuso added that the framework does not create new licence categories but instead aims to streamline existing processes and strengthen compliance across the sector.
Source: Eswatini Observer
