NLRC warns against opening betting shops close to schools

THE Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila has warned betting operators in Nigeria to stop opening their shops very close to schools, saying appropriate sanctions would be meted out on erring operators.

Mr Gbajabiamila, who, therefore, urged them to encourage the use of bank cards by players as a strategy to restrain youngsters from participating in gaming, said the commission would embark on the massive public awareness campaign on both electronic and print media as soon as 2018 budget was passed.

He gave this warning during a meeting between the management of the NLRC and various state regulatory agencies at the commission’s head office in Abuja.

The DG stressed that in as much as regulators aimed at generating revenue, the issue of underage gaming would not be tolerated, urging retail shops to have signage prohibiting persons under 18years.

While applauding states that were in attendance for their resolve to join hands with the commission in fostering a virile lottery industry, the NLRC boss noted that the need to collaborate with state regulatory bodies has become so imperative now that government at all levels were looking for other ways to shore up their revenue.

Mr Gbajabiamila stated that a working synergy with states would not only ensure stability in the industry but would also bring credibility to the entire industry.

Among the states that participated in the meeting were Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Enugu, Abia, Edo, Plateau, as well as Cross-River and Bayelsa States.

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Another issue deliberated upon was the state of the Lottery industry which bordered mainly on responsible gaming, control of electronic advertisement and policy to discourage underage gaming and participation.

A committee was therefore set up for harmonization of the gaming regulations; standardization of licensing procedure and operational pattern; definition of the role of federal and state agencies; standardization of technology and software deployed in the industry; standardization of operational patterns in the state (for uniformity); as well as capacity building for State regulators and employees and protection of interest of players and other stakeholders.

The committee which is chaired by Lagos State Lotteries Board (representing State regulators) has the NLRC as the Secretary and two representatives from each of the attending state agencies as members.

The seeming rivalry between the Federal and various State Regulatory agencies on issues of regulatory jurisdiction within the Lottery industry appears to be coming to an end, with the efforts of the NLRC to close ranks with its state counterparts to ensure a sustainable development of the Nigerian Lottery/Gaming industry.