WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s countrywide consultations on the revised Lotteries’ Act, Act No 15 of 2002 ends in the capital on Tuesday, and members of the public have been urged to attend.

The last in a series of consultations on gambling, lotteries and the sale of tickets for sports and other activities under the Lotteries’ Act takes place at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference Centre on Tuesday.

The Director of Tourism and Gaming in that Ministry, Sem Shikongo told Nampa on Monday that it is essential that the public, churches, charities, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and schools attend these consultations and make contributions.

“This law covers all types of lotteries, scratch cards, short messaging services (SMSes), lottos, private lotteries and national lotteries. Many people may not be aware of the importance of this Bill and its relevance to society, as the profits to be generated by this law are to go for social welfare in the interests of society,” he explained.

The Bill makes provision for the establishment of a Lotteries’ Board to monitor, regulate and control lotteries that are incidental to exempt entertainment, private lotteries, benevolent lotteries as well as any sports pools and promotional competitions as contemplated in the draft Bill.

Exempt entertainment lotteries, according to the draft Bill, are bazaars, sales, fetes, dinners, dances, sporting events or any other entertainment of a similar character in so far as all the proceeds of entertainment, including the proceeds of the lottery after deducting certain expenses as prescribed in the draft Bill, are utilised for the benefit of any deserving section of the public.

Private lotteries, as per the draft, are to be conducted for members of a benevolent society established and conducted for purposes not connected with lotteries.

Promotional competitions are defined as any participation of a person who enters, competes in or is otherwise eligible to win a promotional competition to stand a chance to win a prize, including rewards, gifts, free goods or services, price reductions or concessions, the enhancement of the quantity or quality of goods or services, or other discounted or free items.