Botswana: Bill to provide for establishment of National Lottery Distribution Fund

Members of Parliament have welcomed the Gambling Bill, presented by Minister of Trade and Industry Dorcas Makgato-Malesu for the second reading yesterday. The bill seeks to consolidate the laws regulating gambling in Botswana and if passed, will repeal the Casino Act and the Lotteries and Betting Act, through which gambling is currently regulated.Gaborone West MP Botsalo Ntuane said the bill is long overdue. He expressed happiness at the provision for the establishment of a National Lottery Fund, as it would relieve government of the burden of funding national activities in the sports and arts fraternity.

The Leader of Opposition, Dumelang Saleshando, said he was concerned that the feedback he received from industry players shows that they have not been consulted in the drafting of the bill. Saleshando said that industry players allege that most of their recommendations for the bill have been disregarded.  He added that he was concerned about the minister having authority to appoint board members for the gambling authority, saying this leaves room for political appointees.

He said he was concerned about the concentration of certain names, of Gaborone-based elites, involved in too many boards.Assistant Minister of Local Government Botlhogile Tshireletso also welcomed the bill, but cautioned against societal ills related to gambling.When presenting the bill, Makgato-Malesu said technological advances and development trends and changes in the regional and global environment have rendered the laws currently governing gambling in Botswana outdated and almost redundant. She said tight gambling laws in neighbouring countries make Botswana vulnerable to the dumping of outdated machines, which may negatively affect the quality of service offered to local consumers.

She said  the government is concerned with the societal ills associated with the gambling industry such as money laundering, unethical business practices, organised crime as well as irresponsible gambling, which exacerbates poverty.The bill provides for the establishment of a National Lottery Distribution Fund and the issuance of a license for the conduct of the national lottery.

The money paid into the distribution fund will be used for national projects, which would include charitable expenditure and culture and youth empowerment, the minister said. The bill would also provide for the establishment of a Gambling Authority, as well as for the issuance, renewal and transfer of Gambling, casino and bingo licenses.

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