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.
