Graft cited for revenue loss in gaming, betting sector.

THE gaming and betting industry in Zambia must be marred by corruption for the country to be losing colossal sums of money in taxes, Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) president Robert Mwanza has said.

Mr Mwanza advised authorities to seriously implement regulations for the gaming and betting industry in the country to ensure that they seal all loopholes in the collection of taxes for Zambians to benefit.

This follows revelations that the country was losing over £37 million (K888 million) annually in revenue due to some casinos and game betting outlets operating illegally.

Mr Mwanza however said there was something fishy happening between regulators and industry players for the country to lose such a lot of money while authorities were giving the situation a blind eye.

He said in an interview that from the time Government abolished the 20 percent casino levy and introduced a new tax regime on casino, lottery, betting and gaming which was aimed at boosting revenue collection from the gambling industry, tax collection had been poor.

Mr Mwanza said the regulation and taxation system needs to be strengthened so that Zambia benefitted from the industry as other countries were doing.

He called on the Zambia Revenue Authority to up its game with regard to tax collection especially now that the country was in dire need of funds.

“Laws are there that guide tax collection from the gaming and betting industry but I think what is poor is the implementation of those laws,” Mr Mwanza said.

Attorney General Association (AGA) board member, Markus Green recently urged Zambia to strengthen its laws to stop money laundering in the casino and game betting sectors.

Mr Green noted that while the Zambia Tourism and Hospitality (Casino) Regulations No. 93 of 2016 mandated casino operators to obtain a licence, some operators were not adhering to regulations resulting in the country losing colossal sums of money in revenue.

Mr Green was speaking when he addressed a workshop organised by the Financial Intelligence Centre and AGA.

He is a board member in- charge of training of prosecutors, judges, and investigators of transnational crimes.