Government plugs revenue leakages from lottery sector
GOVERNMENT has moved in to plug leakages from the lotteries and gambling sector, which has the State losing substantial amounts of potential revenue due to legal inadequacies.
Lately, there has been a growing appetite for gaming and gambling countrywide.
Sports betting shops, casinos and lottery gaming are cropping up rapidly in the country’s major urban centres and the activity usually peaks when the football leagues around the world start.
The Lotteries and Gambling Board is the country’s regulatory body responsible for controlling and monitoring operations of the gambling industry through the Lotteries and Gaming Act, which came into force in 1998.
Although the Act was amended twice in 2001 and 2002, the Government says it has become inadequate in addressing evolving trends within the gambling space, consistent with the global growth of online gambling.
In a post Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet received and approved the amendment of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, which falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and is intended to improve revenue collection from the gaming industry.
She said the Government could not ascertain the actual levies due if it relies on statements provided by the operators, hence the need to tighten regulations.
“Essential amendments to the Act include provisions allowing online gaming and compelling operators to incorporate technology compatible with LGB systems for monitoring and control purposes,” said the minister.
“Government is losing substantial amounts of revenue through numerous leakages and legislative inadequacies that need to be plugged,” said minister Mutsvangwa.
The proposed amendments are expected to regularise online betting when measures to deal with rampant money laundering within the lotteries and gaming industry.
“The envisaged amendment of the Act will undoubtedly promote easy supervision and monitoring of gaming activities, and mitigate money laundering as well as enhance revenue streams,” she said.
“There is need to adapt to the ever-changing environment through deploying appropriate technologies. Government cannot ascertain the actual levies due to it if it relies on statements provided by the operators.”
Players in the sector have been engaging the Lotteries and Gaming Board on technologies that will enhance Government revenue collection within the gaming industry.
“The LGB will continue engaging these companies in order to ensure that appropriate technologies are adopted for use in the country,” added the minister.-chronice.coz.w
