By Prak Chan Thul
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Ministry of Finance is accepting bids from anyone interested in purchasing exclusive rights to operate football betting shops in Cambodia for the next four years, an official said Friday.
Mey Vann, director of the Finance Ministry's Financial Industrial Department, said public notices went out Thursday, advertising the government's interest in opening the exclusive betting contract to the highest bidder.
Hong Kong-owned CamboSix will relinquish rights to run its string of popular betting shops in 2007, when a five-year exclusive contract with the government expires, Mey Vann said. He said CamboSix was awarded the rights without a bidding process in return for a yearly tax bill of $300,000.
Those interested in tendering for the contract have one month to prepare bids and send them to the ministry, he said, adding that the winner will be announced Sept 20.
Though the winner is assured of exclusive rights, Mey Vann admitted the industry was less than exclusive, with illegal football betting places ubiquitous. "Now there is too much anarchy in betting," he said. "It is a gap in law enforcement"
Heng Say, CamboSix administration chief, said Sunday that his company's contract would expire in the next four to five months and that he was unaware of whether the firm would reapply for the rights.
Chea Vannath, former director of the Center for Social Development, questioned why CamboSix's official tax bill was so small and wondered if other unofficial taxes were being paid. "They collect tax but it does not go to the state. It is done in a private way," she said.
Gambling should be anathema to a Buddhist nation such as Cambodia, Chea Vannath said, adding that of particular offense is the towering, Malaysia-owned NagaCorp casino, which was built directly beside the Buddhist Institute and holds a commanding view over the neighboring Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "It's a shame," she said.
(Additional reporting by Van Roeun)
Mey Vann, director of the Finance Ministry's Financial Industrial Department, said public notices went out Thursday, advertising the government's interest in opening the exclusive betting contract to the highest bidder.
Hong Kong-owned CamboSix will relinquish rights to run its string of popular betting shops in 2007, when a five-year exclusive contract with the government expires, Mey Vann said. He said CamboSix was awarded the rights without a bidding process in return for a yearly tax bill of $300,000.
Those interested in tendering for the contract have one month to prepare bids and send them to the ministry, he said, adding that the winner will be announced Sept 20.
Though the winner is assured of exclusive rights, Mey Vann admitted the industry was less than exclusive, with illegal football betting places ubiquitous. "Now there is too much anarchy in betting," he said. "It is a gap in law enforcement"
Heng Say, CamboSix administration chief, said Sunday that his company's contract would expire in the next four to five months and that he was unaware of whether the firm would reapply for the rights.
Chea Vannath, former director of the Center for Social Development, questioned why CamboSix's official tax bill was so small and wondered if other unofficial taxes were being paid. "They collect tax but it does not go to the state. It is done in a private way," she said.
Gambling should be anathema to a Buddhist nation such as Cambodia, Chea Vannath said, adding that of particular offense is the towering, Malaysia-owned NagaCorp casino, which was built directly beside the Buddhist Institute and holds a commanding view over the neighboring Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "It's a shame," she said.
(Additional reporting by Van Roeun)
2 comments:
I have never heard that the government's income increased when they allow gambling to operate in Cambodia. However, I heard alot about thief, robbery, and crime.
This govt. can publicly announce betting rights to the public; but fail to inform voters about voter registration.
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