Eswatini MPs demand freeze on new gambling licences amid surge in underage betting

Members of Parliament in Eswatini have called for an immediate suspension of new gambling operating licences, warning that minors are gaining access to both betting shops and online platforms before clear regulations under the 2022 Gaming Control Act are in place.

During a House of Assembly sitting on 17 December, MPs from across the political spectrum urged the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to halt the issuing of new casino and betting licences. Lawmakers cited growing reports of children frequenting betting outlets and using online platforms, often via mobile wallets registered in adults’ names, and argued that the regulatory framework has not kept pace with rapid market growth.

MPs stressed that the continued expansion of gambling without fully enacted regulations under the Gaming Control Act 2022 is “putting the cart before the horse”. They highlighted gaps in enforcement around age verification and marketing, warning that early exposure to betting is fuelling problem gambling, school absenteeism and family conflict. Several legislators questioned why new licences were still being granted when draft Gaming Control Regulations are yet to be finalised and gazetted.

The debate comes just days after Tourism and Environmental Affairs Minister Jane Mkhonta-Simelane announced new government plans to block secondary mobile wallet numbers held by people under 18, in cooperation with gaming operators and telecom companies. These measures are designed to close loopholes that allow minors to place bets online using accounts opened for them by guardians or older friends, and to align the sector with the responsible-gambling emphasis contained in the 2022 Act.

Lawmakers broadly welcomed the underage-access crackdown but insisted that piecemeal enforcement is not enough. They are pushing for a clear timetable to complete and implement the Gaming Control Regulations, including strict age-verification rules, advertising standards, and penalties for operators that knowingly accept underage customers. Several MPs also called for expanded funding for addiction treatment and public-awareness campaigns on gambling harms, arguing that consumer protection must be treated as a core pillar of any future licensing strategy.

For licensed operators and investors, the call for a licensing freeze underscores mounting political pressure around gambling in Eswatini. Until the new regulations are finalised, the industry faces a period of uncertainty in which parliamentary scrutiny is likely to intensify, especially on issues of underage access, mobile payments and the pace of market expansion.