Facilities need fair ‘cut’

I’M an licensed operator of a Pokies facility operated under the National Gaming Control Board under the Gaming Act.
The Gaming Act is gazette under the Prime Minister James Marape who has political responsibility over gaming in PNG.
I write this as a special petition, on behalf of all pokies operators in PNG, to the prime minister.
The Gaming Board must take note and consider it.
Presently all pokies revenue is split 75 per cent in favour of the Gaming Board and 25 per cent to the operators.
Out of the 25 per cent, we are expected to pay for operating costs including rental, loans, staff, security, electricity, water, administration, maintenance etc. This 25 per cent is not enough.
We try to make money out of small bars or food kiosks operated in conjunction with pokies to supplement but this is not working.
Costs have gone way-up. The operators should be given 65 per cent and the Gaming Control Board 35 per cent. The 35 per cent is the highest tax rate for all other taxation sectors.
A good number of Pokies facilities in PNG are operated by ordinary citizens in the SME space – struggling to create a niche in business.
Yet they are taxed at 75 per cent monthly. Over to you, prime minister.

Nimai Wou