Gaming Association of Zambia chairperson Nedson Nzowa says Zambia’s integrity has severely been dented following the country’s failure to put in place a proper framework to regulate the lotteries and gaming industry.

Addressing a consultative meeting in Lusaka, Tuesday, Nzowa said effects of poor regulation in the lottery and gaming industry have resulted in numerous people losing money and the country’s integrity being degraded.

He, however, said he is hopeful that Zambia would soon put in place a regulatory framework that would address the challenges currently being faced.

“Zambia has been pushing for a gaming board for some time now. It is the only country in sub-Sahara Africa to have no regulation on gaming and casinos. Government should speed up the process of coming up with a board because the Zambia Revenue Authority will benefit when they start collecting revenues. There are a number of effects that have arisen due to lack of regulation in the gaming and casino industry. A number of people have lost money due to lack of regulation. We support you in this industry and we feel you should go a step further and engage a consultant. The proposals we have made will make ZRA to have more revenue than it needs,” said Nzowa.

And Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Dr Emmanuel Pamu said the government had decided to engage regulators to ascertain whether the establishment of a single lotteries and gaming regulator would have a positive impact and meet the objectives of harmonising the industry.
“The proliferation of the gaming and lotteries industry is changing the landscape and making the industry more accessible than was the case in the past…government also recognises that the gaming and lotteries industry can contribute to social economic transformation. This framework approach does not facilitate a consistent approach to licensing, compliance, monitoring and enforcement nor does it protect consumers, operators and vulnerable persons like the underage,” said Dr Pamu.

“Part of the reason we are carrying out this exercise today is to assess whether the proposals to review legislation and establish a single independent regulator responsible for licensing and regulating the lottery and gaming sector will have a positive impact and meet the main objective of strengthening and harmonizing the lottery and gaming regulatory framework in order to preserve the integrity of the nation.”