K40mil loss recorded

By DALE LUMA
THE gaming industry has lost between K30 million and K40 million in revenue because of the imposed restrictions on gaming venues, says National Gaming and Control Board (NGCB) chairman Clemence Kanau.
He told The National yesterday that figures also showed that more than 2,000 employees in the industry had to be laid off because of the slump in business.
He called on the Government to lift restrictions because the economy and businesses were being hit hard.
“The economy has been hit hard and the industry is concerned,” Kanau told The National.
He said more than 50 per cent of revenue from the gaming industry was paid as tax to the Government and the rest distributed to stakeholders.
Industry representatives had recently discussed the matter with Covid-19 National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning – to reopen the gaming venues.
Prime Minister James Marape said last week the gaming industry which employed around 5,000 people had been hit hard by the closure.
Last year, more than K7.5 million was lost by the gaming industry between March and April due to the state of emergency lockdown.
The industry generates more than K30 million monthly, according to NGCB chief executive officer Imelda Agon.