The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, is set to establish a Gaming Fund in line with the law to assist individuals struggling with excessive gambling.
The fund, which is mandated by legislation, is designed to provide support and resources to people with gambling addiction.
This was revealed by Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, while responding to Members of Parliament following the ministry’s 2025/26 annual performance report to the portfolio committee last week.
The minister was addressing concerns raised by MPs regarding the welfare of citizens affected by gambling addiction.
The issue was raised by Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, who questioned how government utilised revenue collected from gaming levies. He specifically asked how the funds were being used to support individuals negatively impacted by gambling addiction.
In response, Mkhonta-Simelane explained that all gaming levies were currently deposited into the Government Consolidated Fund, but noted that this was set to change.
“Consultations with the ministry of finance will be undertaken, including the establishment of the Gaming Fund in terms of the law to assist all excessive gamblers,” the minister said.
She said the move signalled a shift towards a more responsible gaming environment, where part of the revenue generated by the industry is reinvested into social support systems.
MP Dlamini also sought clarity on the progress of industry regulations, including licensing and renewals while new regulations are still being developed.
Mkhonta-Simelane said government was taking a cautious approach to ensure public safety.
“The Gaming Control Regulations are currently at the stakeholder consultation stage and will be finalised in the 2026/27 financial year. The ministry has conducted six stakeholder consultation workshops,” she said.
She added that, as a result, the ministry and the Gaming Board had decided to pause the processing of new licence applications.
“To date, only four existing licences have been renewed under the current strict oversight,” she said.
On measures to curb addiction, the minister highlighted the self-exclusion programme, which allows individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from gambling establishments or platforms.
“Self-exclusion has proved effective in casinos due to the onboarding mechanisms implemented when players register,” she said.
However, she acknowledged challenges in regulating online gambling.
“For online licence holders, the ministry is engaging the Board to identify a suitable service provider to offer similar self-exclusion tools. To date, 27 people have requested to be self-excluded from gaming activities,” she added.
On prevention, the minister said government was using media platforms to educate the public about responsible gambling.
“The ministry has advised the public to treat gambling as a leisure activity, not as a source of income,” she said.
She urged citizens to view gambling as entertainment rather than a livelihood, warning that misuse often leads to debt and addiction.
Looking ahead to the 2026/27 financial year, Mkhonta-Simelane said the focus remains on finalising the legal framework governing the industry, while also working on interim measures to provide immediate relief.
Last year, the House of Assembly passed a motion to legalise and regulate online gambling, addressing gaps in the Gaming Act of 2022, which previously only covered land-based casinos and bookmakers.
Additional Context
The proposed Gaming Fund represents a policy shift toward balancing revenue generation with social responsibility, particularly as online gambling expands and accessibility increases.
