By Jane Chanda
Nkana member of parliament Binwell Mpundu says betting is a business and should not be over-regulated.
But Kanchibiya member of parliament Sunday Chanda said online gambling was silently devastating families and futures across Zambia, and regulation was necessary to protect citizens from its devastating effects.
Contributing to the debate on the motion: To Enhance Regulation of Online Gambling which was moved by Chanda, Mpundu said gambling was simply a business and anyone could go and gamble to earn money.
He argued that if there were concerns about age, it was a separate issue, and he would have loved the motion to focus on regulating underage gambling.
Mpundu said he believed that over-regulation would stifle the industry and pointed out that the motion’s proposal to limit how much individuals could bet or earn was equivalent to regulating how much people could make from any business.
He said the current economic challenges facing Zambia were dire and young people were roaming the streets without job opportunities as the animal called ‘unemployment’ was haunting the government, leading many to resort to betting, which enhanced their income in tough times.
He attributed the rise in gambling to the government’s failure to create employment opportunities, saying even some parliamentarians were betting online to supplement their income.
“The proposition here is to take away the little fallback that many Zambians, including adults, have come to rely on,” Mpundu said. “I refuse to be part of a grouping that will take away this little fallback for young people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
Mpundu argued that the existing law was sufficient to regulate online gambling, and that over-regulation would only serve to push the industry underground.
He said the focus should be on creating employment opportunities rather than taking away the few options available to young people.
The Nkana member of parliament also expressed concern that the motion’s proposals would disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable, who relied on gambling as a means of survival.
He further urged his fellow parliamentarians to consider the potential consequences of their decisions on the most vulnerable members of society.
Mpundu questioned the motives behind the motion, suggesting that it may be driven by interests other than the welfare of Zambians.
He called for a more nuanced approach to regulating online gambling, one that took into account the complexities of the issue and the potential impact on the lives of ordinary Zambians.
Chanda urged the government to enhance regulation of online gambling.
He proposed strict licensing requirements, age verification, and caps on how much individuals could bet or lose in a given period.
He emphasised that regulation was not about banning gambling but about protecting citizens.
Contributing to the debate, Kamfinsa member of parliament Christopher Kang’ombe said gambling was a business that should be regulated and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) needed to collect taxes from gambling operators as the law permitted it.
He said there was need for regulations to protect young people from the risks of online gambling, questioning why young ones at the age of 10 or 12 accessed these platforms.
Kang’ombe pointed out that the existing law, the 1957 Betting Control Act amended in 1989, which required individuals to be 18 years old to participate in betting, should be enforced to prevent underage gambling.
Supporting the motion, Mwandi member of parliament Sibeso Sefulo highlighted the devastating impact of online gambling on children, noting that a worrying 40 percent of children in Zambia were involved in online gambling.
Sefulo said betting should not be a fallback for children.
She argued that the country needed to find alternative ways to support young people, rather than relying on betting as a means of survival.
Kabwe Central member of parliment Chrizoster Halwindi supported the motion, stating that regulation of online gambling was long overdue, as betting came in many forms, including commercial and lottery betting, and the government needed to collect revenue from these activities.
“We need to come up with regulations that will ensure that there’s accountability and responsibility in the gaming industry,” she said.
She emphasised the need for regulations to protect young people and to ensure that the gaming industry operated in a responsible and safe manner.
After hearing submission from members, Parliament passed a motion to enhance regulation of online gambling.
The motion was aimed at protecting vulnerable groups, particularly young people, from the adverse effects of unregulated online gambling, a move motivated by the devastating consequences of online gambling.
Chanda who moved the motion cited cases where families had lost livelihoods and property due to gambling.
