Papua New Guinea Legalizes Online Gambling

A new online gambling bill has been passed by the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea, which legalizes casinos and Internet gambling.

The bill titled 'The Gaming Control Bill 2007' passed with 61-0 votes in the parliament in its last session, similar to the US case, but with an opposite effect.

Prime Minister Michael Somare was the brainchild behind this new bill, and believes that the people have the right to choose, and should not be punished for choosing to gamble.

Under the new Gambling Control Bill, there would be fees to enter into land-based casinos, which would be refunded at exiting. This tactic is aimed to stop gambling addicts and people in financial trouble from gambling.

Only one casino per province is allowed, holding a license issued for 10 years, and the tax is 20 percent of the gross profit plus five percent for community improvements.

Internet gambling companies will be able to operate from the country's territory, but will only be allowed to focus on customers abroad.

The new law also created a National Gaming Control Board which will oversee all gambling related activities, as well as working to help gambling addictions.

http://www.onlinecasino.org/news/papua-new-guinea-legalizes-online-gambling-1722.php

Gonna be an intenet paradise. I heard the internet was gambling is Banned in the US, so most online operators work from India. Wonder if PNG is next.

Wow!, the news PNG has online Gambling is Hot world wide!, is there anyway vortex, scape and tokpisin can tag and tap into the market!!

Somebody explain to me whats the race fo?

?

What race? from the initial posting, it says work together or sumfin like that.

ahahaha

x2

copy& paste from the National.
http://www.thenational.com.pg/050907/nation3.htm



THE Catholic Bishops of PNG have condemned the action of MPs in passing the recent legislation allowing for casinos to be opened in the country.
Bishop Francesco Sarego of the Catholic Bishops of PNG said the bishops were appalled and disgusted by the recent legislation because it would have adverse impact on families.
He urged PNG citizens to urge the new government after the elections to repeal the legislation.
Bishop Sarego said the current Government had finished its mandate on such a low and shady level, offering more burdens to the people and families, who were already suffering and finding it difficult to look after themselves.
“How is it possible that a group of parliamentarians can decide on this particular issue without debate, when a large number of them were absent? Why was there no strong voice in Parliament denouncing the negative effects of such a decision? We noticed that some preferred to abstain and this was already a sign of disagreement. But what about the rest?” he asked.
Bishop Sarego further queried whether the gaming board was up to date with its financial reports.
“Have all the funds been accounted for? Have all the cases of misappropriation of gaming board funds been resolved?” Bishop Sarego asked.
Further, he asked how a decision could be taken at the national level by men and no women.
“The result of such a decision would be that the income of many workers, instead of being used for families’ needs, would be spent on poker machines and other similar gambling machines,” Bishop Sarego said.
The National contacted the office of the chairman of the Gaming Board to comment on the casinos but he was not available.

This law is just a bombshell!!

Not even a public debate, and on the last day of parliment sitting, higly sus thing.

I wonder if PNG is fostering money laundrying