Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi yesterday said the gaming and lotteries industry has a potential to create employment and a balance should be struck in technological innovation to preserve the sector.
By Ruth Ngwenya
Speaking at the just-ended Gaming Regulators African Forum (GRAF) conference in Victoria Falls, Mohadi said the industry was a potential platform for employment creation and contribution to gross domestic product.
“Considerations for trading need not overlook sovereign strategic imperatives like employment creation,” Mohadi said.
“This is particularly critical when looking at mass employment channels upstream and downstream, like thoroughbred horse-racing from breeding, feed production, training, racing and betting. A balance should be struck in technological innovation and preservation of critical gaming sector.”
He commended the contribution that lotteries and gaming operators had made in the country, including building of classroom blocks, clinics and helping with medical bills for less privileged patients.
However, Mohadi said the industry should be careful of counterfeit devices that were becoming popular.
He urged delegates to prohibit money laundering, financing terrorism and help in protecting minors from exposure to lotteries and gaming activities.
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“People with pathological or compulsive lotteries and gaming challenges should be excluded from lotteries and gaming activities for the sake of preserving their livelihood,” he said.
“Punters need not treat lotteries and gaming as gainful occupation, it is not.”
Mohadi commended the collective involvement of operators and regulators in the gaming fraternity and said the move promoted transparency and accountability.
