27 Feb 2019

Gambling Authority chief executive officer, Mr Thuli Johnson says the organisation will help transform the country’s economy.

Addressing Selebi Phikwe Town Council full council meeting recently, Mr Johnson said the authority would transform the economy through safe gaming, adding that its mission was to effectively regulate and promote responsible gaming and contribute to socio-economic development.

The authority which began operations in 2016 is the regulatory authority for all gaming and betting in the country.

Mr Johnson said the authority took over nine licenses from the Casino Control Board and began regulation in April 2016, adding that the authority aimed at wealth creation and providing a safe and fair gambling space.

The authority, he said, had been granted approval by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry to issue licences of different kinds such as national lottery, casino licences, sports betting and bingo.

The national lottery will give the nation an opportunity to create wealth and provide entertainment.

Mr Johnson said the national lottery was the official state-franchised lottery operated by a private company for the benefit of the people.

The Gambling Authority oversees licensing and operation of the lottery on behalf of government as well as distribution of funds to various causes.

He said the good causes to benefit in terms of the Gambling Authority Act were charitable expenditure, development of sport and recreation, expenditure connected with the arts, culture and youth empowerment.

To avoid excessive gambling, Mr Johnson said the authority has formed an excessive gambling prevention and rehabilitation committee with the aim to guide and monitor the development and implementation of programmes and strategies aimed at preventing addictive or compulsive gambling and rehabilitating compulsive gamblers.

Mr Johnson said the committee would also ensure that underage and vulnerable persons were protected from gambling activities, and that advertising was not targeted at children.

The committee is also expected to encourage the gambling industry to put in place proactive excessive gambling prevention measures and build capacity for treatment of problem gamblers. ENDS