The government last week raised licensing fees for all lotteries, casinos and betting shops which are now pegged at $250 000.
The changes were carried in an extraordinary government gazette by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, with the new rates coming into effect immediately. The notice read:
It is hereby notified that the minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has, in terms of section 65 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act [Chapter 10:26] as read with sections 16 and 23 of the betting and totalizator Control Act [Chapter 10:02], made the (reviewed the fees) regulations.
The verifying and processing of a permanent casino licence or lottery licence applications were also fixed at $250 000.
The renewal of a totalisator licence, verifying and processing a totalisator licence application is up to $50 000.
The issue or renewal of a gaming house licence or verifying and processing a gaming house licence application is now fixed at $50 000 as well.
The issue or renewal of a bookmaker’s licence or the verifying and processing of a bookmaker’s licence is also set at $50 000.