MBABANE – The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs has revealed that it is embarking on an initiative requiring gaming companies to register all their clients using national identity (ID) documents.
This is to avert the prevalence of underage gambling.
According to the ministry, consultations have already begun with operators that possess competent systems. The ministry will also instruct the Gaming Board to monitor all activities related to gaming, including underage gambling, levies, addiction and money laundering.
The ministry further reported that there are limited technologies currently available for widespread deployment, particularly in cases where mobile numbers are registered under elderly persons, but used by schoolgoing children. As such, the ministry has urged parents not to neglect their parental duties, including monitoring what their children are doing with their mobile devices.
“The ministry takes this opportunity to urge all emaSwati to take precautions to protect their children from harm, starting within the home. It is not everything that can or should be monitored by government, hence the need for all citizens to bear their responsibilities – it is the right thing to do,” the statement read.
This followed a query by Gilgal Member of Parliament (MP) Sifiso Gadlela during the debate on the ministry’s second-quarter performance report. The MP raised concerns over the safety of schoolgoing children who might be drawn into gambling instead of studying, particularly as they now use mobile phones for academic work and research.
The ministry’s response to this concern was contained in its debate submissions.
In neighbouring South Africa, the National Gambling Board has expressed concern over the rise in gambling advertisements, many of which feature younger-looking models and, therefore, place the youth at risk. The Board recently briefed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition in its 2024–2025 Annual Report, painting a grim picture of South Africa’s growing gambling problem.
According to The Citizen, statistics from the Board recorded E1.5 trillion in gambling turnover during the 2024–2025 financial year — an increase from E1.1 trillion in the previous year. This translated into E75 billion in gross gambling revenue (after payouts and winnings), with online betting contributing more than half of this amount.
Betting generated E52.3 billion, accounting for 70 per cent of the total, while creating 13 983 jobs.
The report noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had fuelled an increase in betting activities, while casino revenues had declined since then. Casinos generated E16.6 billion, representing 22 per cent of total gambling revenue.
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