John Erastus on Building a Compliant and Regulated Gaming Market in Namibia
At the Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA) 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, iGaming AFRIKA sat down with John Erastus, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Gambling Board of Namibia, to discuss the current state of Namibia’s gaming landscape. John shared insights into regulatory reforms, compliance priorities, and the country’s readiness to become a significant player in Africa’s gaming space.
John Erastus received the “Rising Star Regulator” award in recognition of his leadership in regulatory transformation. He was also recently named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Men in the Gaming Industry, highlighting his growing impact across the continent. While Erastus describes these accolades as humbling and encouraging, he sees them less as personal milestones and more as validation of Namibia’s direction. “It’s beautiful for people to see the type of energy and steam you give off and what you want to see in your own jurisdiction,” he said. “This recognition comes as a result of my input and my efforts as a Namibian—just trying to do what we can for our country and our people. I’m honored and privileged.”
Namibia, often referred to as a “virgin market” in the gaming space, is now taking deliberate steps to build a regulated and inclusive industry from the ground up. While the sector is still largely undeveloped, significant efforts are being made to modernize it. “Namibia is a virgin gaming space, but we are busy with our reforms to accommodate new developments, technologies, and all that,” explained John. A key part of this process involves creating a clear legal framework to support proper regulation. “To regulate the industry properly, we must first legalize it—in black and white. We don’t have that structure in place yet, but we are working on it,” he continued.
To support these reforms, the Gambling Board of Namibia has engaged an experienced international consultant who has successfully helped establish regulatory systems in other jurisdictions, an approach the country hopes will fast-track its own progress. According to John, the government’s top priority is to build a compliant and cooperative gaming industry that serves both public and private interests. “We want compliance. We want people that are willing to cooperate and engage with us, as emphasized throughout this conference,” he said. Erastus also highlighted the importance of balance within the sector, noting that while the industry must be attractive and profitable for investors, it must also operate within a well-regulated and sustainable framework. “The industry must be sustainable and profitable for investors, but above all, we want compliance,” he added.
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Namibia’s regulatory team recently undertook a benchmarking visit to Uganda, where they were welcomed by the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) for a comprehensive study tour focused on the establishment and management of a national lottery. During the visit, Namibian officials were exposed to Uganda’s operational systems for lottery governance, compliance practices, revenue generation frameworks, and legal infrastructure. Reflecting on the experience, John noted that such visits are valuable opportunities to learn from the efforts of other countries. He emphasized that the Namibian delegation felt proud and privileged to be part of the process, as it provided critical insights to help strengthen and advance their own industry.
The conversation also touched on a Namibian court ruling requiring all gambling operators to pay levies, a decision Erastus strongly supports. “Whether you’re in Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, or Lagos, every operator pays taxes to the state in some form,” he stated. “For far too long, Namibia has been exploited. We cannot develop our country without collecting the necessary revenue and taxes.” John further explained that aligning national laws with international norms is essential to effectively regulate and eliminate unauthorized operators. “We’re aligning our laws with industry best practices to flush out the fly-by-night operators who take advantage of our people and leave the government with challenges we can’t solve overnight.”
