In Bolivia a presidential decree made by ex-president Sanchez de Lozada in 1996 once again authorised licences for slot machines in local shops and arcades, offering gambling from early in the day to late at night. In some cases the licences have been sub-leased, a fact that explains the large number of slots businesses in the country. There is now a government project to regulate gambling activity in this Andean nation.

Bingo, video poker and all sorts of slot machines are functioning in various districts of the capital La Paz, in venues with or without licences. They attract players of all ages and betting is unrestricted. According to the Bolivian Lottery, the industry regulator, when machines are installed in one location at least 40 others start operating even though only around twenty companies hold licences. This is without counting the operations running on the subleasing of licences.

In Avenida Michel an Internet café with one slot machine operates between two educational establishments. For its owner it is just ‘like having a telephone kiosk.’ Not even in the inner city area, where the locations are more visible, are there any restrictions on access. The businesses open from first thing until the early hours of the next day.

Vice Minister for Health Albert Nogales said, “It is this activity that the present government is trying to regulate with the approval of a law to redirect the functioning and mission of the Lottery.” The objective is to use the taxes to finance health programmes for kidney and cancer patients. At present the system of control involves neither the Police, nor the Municipality of La Paz. (E-03.19.07)

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