By JACK MWEWA –
THREE out of the 123 Bonanza gambling machines confiscated by Ndola City Council (NCC) from Chinese traders have not been collected.
NCC public relations manager Roy Kuseka said the gambling machines were confiscated after the owners abrogated three of the other requirements to operate the business.
Mr Kuseka said for one to operate such a business, they need to have state lotteries board permit, a council business permit and operate from an enclosed premises.
“We found all the 123 bonanza gambling machines operating from the corridors, so we confiscated them in order for us to scrutinise them,” Mr Kuseka said.
He said the gambling machines could only be released upon production of necessary documents and payment of a fine.
In bonanza gambling, gamblers have higher chances of winning if they inserted more coins in the machine at once.
The Casino Act under Section 3(1) states that any person who, not being the holder of a casino licence under the Casino Act, other than the actuation or manipulation of the machine on any, or keeps on premises a gaming machine for the purpose of gaming shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or to both.
When any person is convicted of an offence under the provisions of sub-section (1), the court by which he is convicted shall, in addition to any fine or imprisonment imposed under subsection (1), order the
forfeiture to the Government of the gaming machine which was the subject-matter of the offence.