The parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Tuesday passed legislation legalizing casinos and Internet gambling in the South Pacific nation.
The Gaming Control Bill 2007, introduced on Tuesday by Prime Minister Michael Somare, passed 61-0, in spite of the early departure of eight MPs from the session, including the country's treasurer and community development minister.
Under the new law, each of PNG's 20 provinces are entitled to one casino license for a period of 10 years. Casino operators will be required to pay a duty of 20 percent of gross profit and a community benefit gaming levy of 5 percent of gross profit.
PNG's capital, Port Moresby, has already been approved for a $35 million five-star hotel and casino to be built by a Korean consortium.
As for Internet gambling, companies will be permitted to set up shop in the region, but will not be able to target citizens of PNG.
Somare said PNG could earn income from taxing locally-based Internet gaming companies of overseas clients without being affected by the social ills gambling brings to the local population.
The new law also provides for the creation of the National Gaming Control Board, a body to control all forms of gaming activities and promote community awareness of problem gambling.