Gaming Board sets GDP contribution target

Malawi Gaming Board and the National Lotteries Board says through its five-year strategic plan, it seeks to increase the sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.5 percent.

The company’s chief executive officer Rachel Mijiga said this in an interview in Lilongwe last week after appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure to explain progress of corporate social responsibility infrastructure development.

She said: “The expectation for us is that we grow in the next five years to contribute to the GDP of this country just like our counterparts in Africa and beyond are doing.

“We have our five-year strategic plan that has projects such as digitisation and strategic partnerships with investors.”

Mijiga said through digitisation, they will roll out the Electronic Monitoring System to monitor activities of operators to optimise revenues, eliminate child gambling and addiction gambling as well as enhancing compliance on anti-money laundering in the gambling industry.

The committee’s chairperson Uchizi Mkandawire said the institution needs to be supported to achieve its growth plans to benefit the economy.

In an earlier interview, Pirates Casino acting general manager Blessings Chataure faulted the country’s legal and regulatory framework, saying it is a deterrent to entry into the business.

He said this is affecting the growth of the business that would contribute to tourism sector’s growth.