TLDR
- Licensed operators in Eswatini want the government to define how long self-exclusion periods should last
- A validation workshop was held to review draft regulations under the Gaming Control Act of 2021
- The Gaming Board will manage a central self-exclusion register and notify operators of requests
- Excluded players who gamble anyway face a fine of up to E2,000 or up to two years in prison
- The draft also introduces a fee schedule to speed up licensing and renewals
Eswatini Gambling Operators Push for Clearer Self-Exclusion Rules
Licensed gambling operators in Eswatini are calling on the government to set clear rules around self-exclusion, including how long a ban should last and how strictly it must be enforced.
The issue came up during a validation workshop held at Sibane Sami Hotel in Ezulwini. The session was organized to review draft regulations that will bring the Gaming Control Act of 2021 into full effect.
Operators and officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs attended to go through the draft and flag areas that still need work.
One operator raised a specific concern: some players request self-exclusion but return to gamble within hours. Without a set timeframe, operators say they don’t know how long a ban should apply or when it can be lifted.
Ministry officials confirmed the draft does not fix a specific exclusion period. They said operators may use their own judgment, particularly when a player wants to be barred from one venue rather than the whole market.
Gaming Board to Run Central Exclusion Register
Under the proposed framework, the Gaming Board will take responsibility for managing self-exclusion requests. Operators will not need to track applications themselves but must act as soon as they receive formal notice from the Board.
Either a player or a third party acting on their behalf can submit a request to the Board to block someone from gambling activities.
Once approved, the person’s name goes onto a central register. Operators must then stop that person from entering licensed premises or taking part in any gaming activity.
The rules also allow excluded players to apply for removal from the register. Until that application is approved, the restrictions stay in place.
The draft is firm on penalties. Anyone on the exclusion list who continues to gamble faces a fine of up to E2,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.
Broader Gambling Reform Underway
These regulations come after Parliament pushed for tighter oversight of the sector. Online casino-style games remain illegal in Eswatini, even as digital betting platforms have grown.
Ministry officials confirmed that licensed operators are restricted to bookmaker activities only. The four registered companies hold bookmaker-only licences that do not cover online slots or virtual table games.
Legal Advisor Nonophile Mavuso told the workshop that the current system has slowed down applications because some fees are not set in law. This has caused delays in processing and renewals that operators often struggle to understand.
The new regulations include a full fee schedule designed to help the Ministry and Gaming Board work more efficiently.
Mavuso stressed that the framework does not create new licence types. It is focused on streamlining existing processes and improving compliance across the sector.
