Allexer Namundjembo
An Aviator player has accused BetZilla, a betting company based in Okahandja, of failing to pay out his winnings of N$1 040.
Kudumo Sikongo said he played the game Aviator and, after winning, tried to request his payout but was sent from one contact number to another before his calls were blocked.
“I won at BetZilla, and after calling them, they blocked my number,” he told the Windhoek Observer on Monday.
He said he reported the matter to the Okahandja Police Station.
“I was told they knew where the office was and would go there, but I haven’t heard back until now,” he said.
Sikongo, who said he has been betting with BetZilla for years, expressed disappointment with the company.
“I only won this time, and I got blocked. What upsets me is how they continue to sell their products and market their betting, yet they can’t make even these small payments,” he said.
He said he also contacted the Gambling Board of Namibia to confirm whether BetZilla is a licensed operator.
“I was only told to write a letter, and I received no response from them,” he said.
Windhoek Observer tried to reach BetZilla for comment.
The cellphone number listed on the company’s website was off, and another number previously used to communicate with Sikongo went unanswered.
The Gambling Board did not respond to an attempt to verify the company’s registration; the board requested an email, but received no reply.
Two years ago, The Namibian reported that seven Windhoek gamblers were left frustrated after betting companies Classic Sports Betting and Supreme Betting failed to pay out a combined N$51 200, citing technical errors.
The bettors reported that the companies later cancelled their winning tickets, citing a “system error”.
At the time, the chairperson of the Gambling Board of Namibia, Ben Shikongo, said the board had not been informed about the matter but encouraged those affected to submit formal complaints accompanied by sworn statements.
In 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism instructed all individuals and businesses involved in the lottery and gaming sectors to register their operations by 31 August to ensure compliance with the Lotteries Act and the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act.
Then minister Pohamba Shifeta cautioned the public against participating in unlicensed gambling, emphasising that such activities are prohibited under Namibian law.
The Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, aimed at regulating the entertainment and gambling industry, officially came into effect in 2021. Gazetted on 13 December 2018, the law and its regulations became operational on 1 December 2021. It replaced the outdated Casinos and Gambling Houses Act to establish a modern regulatory framework for the evolving gaming and entertainment sector.
