K25mil given to churches: Board

By DALE LUMA
THE National Gaming and Control Board (NGCB) has contributed K25 million to churches nationwide since 2013, chairman Clemence Kanau says. “The gaming industry has been a large contributor to the various sectors of the economy and it will go ahead with its proposed projects, apart from the casino, which includes legalising other games of chance. “It is a milestone achievement and the gaming money has contributed immensely to church-run hospitals, schools and even building churches in this country,” he said. “And the money has been channeled through various requests by various denominations in the country and from the breakup, mainline churches have received K12.3 million, evangelical churches K4.6 million, Pentecostal churches K5.4 million and all other churches have collectively received about K3 million.
“The K25 million were directly provided to various projects requested by church groups.” Kanau said this yesterday in response to concerns raised by churches on the announcement of the country’s first casino development. He said the gaming industry’s support to churches would increase with the anticipated high returns. Kanau also clarified that in the development of the casino, the National Gaming Board would not be funding the project. “The funding will come from the Paga Hill Development Company and project partners,” he said. Kanau said all participants in the casino project in Downtown Port Moresby would be vetted to ensure that they met all the necessary requirements.  “Once that is completed, there will also be strict measures in place for those who wish to participate in casino gambling which will also exclude minors from entering,” he said.