Thursday, February 13, 2025

Gambling Authority to decide on Magang’s casino license application

BY MPHO KELEBOGE

The Gambling Authority is yet to decide on an application made by property magnate ÔÇô Lesang Magang – to operate a casino business at the capital city’s Central Business District (CBD).

According to a notice of application issued by the authority, junior Magang’s company – Scenic Adventure t/a Masa Casino want to operate its business at Plot 54354 Masa Square at the new CBD in Gaborone.

“Notice is hereby given that Scenic Adventures (Pty) Ltd t/a Masa casino intend to apply for a casino license to operate at Plot 54354 Masa Square New Central Business District(CBD) on the corner of Khama crescent and Western Bypass. Any person who wished to object to the same application shall notify the Authority in writing ,of such objection and the grounds of that objection within 30 days of the last day of publication of the notification, ”read part of the notice from Gambling Authority.

Apart from Junior Magang, other directors of Scenic Adventures (Pty) Ltd are Guido Renato Giachetti, Jacopo Pari and Mmonesi Aryl Ralebala.

Available records show that initially the directors of the company were junior Magang, Duido Renato Giachetti and Aparna Vijay.

It has also emerged that the licenses that Scenic Adventures (Pty) Ltd is seeking is similar to the one which was applied by Moonlite casino a company which did not impress the Board of the Gambling Authority.

Official documents from CIPA shows that, Moonlite was denied a license in 2013, and during that time Masa Casino was not into existence but only surfaced in 2015 when Moonlite was in a court battling with the Gambling Authority.

According to court records, it was on the 2nd April 2013 when Moonlite Casino wrote a letter to the Board expressing an intention to seek relocation of its casino business from Gaborone Hotel to a more up market Gaborone Central business District.

It is not clear if the Gambling Authority had a sinister motive to deny Moonlite license because it was aware of the emergence of the new Casino called Masa Casino.

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