In Papua New Guinea a new gaming bill has been passed and it allows casinos and internet gambling in the Pacific area. Michael Somare is the architect of the new bill. The law was a big success and it passed 61-0. The general elections are to be held in June, and this was the last session before the elections take place.

It would seem like the new law was passed without any problems. Even though 61 MPs voted in favor of the law, there were 8 MP who left the chamber before the voting started. Among them there was Treasurer Rabbie Namaliu, and Community Development Minister Carol Kidu. Churches and women’s groups are expected to react negatively to the new law.

The main purpose of this gambling law is to keep out criminal exploitation and impose strict entry requirements to land based and online casinos in Papua New Guinea.

The recent law also allows all the provinces of Papua New Guinea to maintain one casino license for 10 years.

A Korean consortium got the right to build a $35 million five-star hotel and casino in Port Moresby after the law passed. The project has been approved by the authorities and work is on the way.

Papua New Guinea is planning to profit from taxing Papua New Guinea based internet gaming companies and use the money to discourage Papua New Guineans from gambling.