The newly unveiled Presidential Taskforce on establishment of a National Lottery has hit the ground running announcing it is soon embarking on a countrywide tour to sensitise the public.
The taskforce says the national gambling control draft bill is ready and set to be gazetted next week before it collects views from relevant stakeholders.
The exercise, according to Steering Committee chair Narendra Raval, will culminate in public participation forums across the 47 counties.
The bill will give birth to the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) that will license all forms of gambling including the National lottery which has been proposed to take over Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).
“The bill is ready, we shall be inviting stakeholders to give us their views before we take it to the counties,” Technical committee chairperson Linda Musumba said.
She was responding to questions from journalists during a roundtable breakfast meeting on Wednesday.
Steering Committee vice chairperson Gideon Thuranira defended creation of the lottery saying it is a vehicle through which good causes can be financed, facilitated and promoted.
“Good causes include such things as supporting children and senior citizens’ homes and facilities, sports, arts, health, economic empowerment programs among others,” he said.
The Lottery board is also proposed to oversee the apportionment and distribution of the proceeds from lotteries, casinos and other gambling activities.
A breakdown of how the revenue proceeds will be shared shows that 50 per cent will go to prizes and tax for prizes, lottery fund (38 per cent), operator’s profit, tax, retailers, marketing and operating costs (10 per cent) while gambling regulator and lottery board operations both taking one per cent.
From the 38 per cent allocation to the lottery fund, it has been proposed that up to 40 per cent will be channeled to charitable causes such as poverty, education, healthcare and vulnerable groups, 30 per cent to economic empowerment, and 20 per cent to sports, arts, culture, recreation and national heritage.
Signature transformation group projects takes eight per cent while two per cent goes to emergency fund.
For any amount to be released towards an initiative, members of the public may apply for it or the board can on its motion decide to channel it.
In the proposal, counties will be responsible for licensing all gambling premises and lotteries while the regulator will have the mandate to license betting activities, public lotteries and national lottery.
