Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
Oyo State Government has threatened to shutdown betting companies and outlets that encourage underage staking in any part of the state.
Also, telecommunication companies and digital satellite television providers that beam promotional lotteries on television and broadcast the same on radio would henceforth be penalised by the state government.
This was disclosed by the Director General of Oyo State Gaming Board, Jide Boladuro, in a chat with the media on the successes and challenges of the Board in Ibadan on Thursday.
He stated that the board was instituted to control and regulate sports betting, loto, jackpot, pools and promotional lotteries within the state in accordance with the established laws that created the Board.
Boladuro also hinted that any betting outlet where underage people go to stake for games would henceforth be shut down, as officials of the board were working with security personnel to list outlets in the state where such activities take place and for possible arrest of the operators concerned.
The DG said Governor Seyi Makinde has mandated the board to begin a sensitization effort towards making parents and guardians know the social effects of underage gaming on their children and the society in general.
Boladuro said, “We have on record a number of promotional lotteries sponsored by telecommunication companies and digital satellite TV owners where they ask people to subscribe and get gifts of certain rewards in return, it is illegal and we are in the process of writing them before taking the next actions.
“They know quite well that there are regulations guiding these promotional lotteries and they have to register the content with the State Gaming Board before broadcasting them, it is illegal and has to stop, we will start dealing with those that fail to follow the due process henceforth.
“On underage gaming or staking, the enabling law that established gaming activities in Oyo State does not allow for people under 18 years of age and we have seen that this illegal thing is happening but Governor Seyi Makinde has directed that we begin a mobilization effort against this act.
“Any gaming outlet that allows staking from people under 18 years will be shut down and the operator will be prosecuted according to the enabling law.”
The DG also called on radio and television stations that allow unlicensed betting operators to use their platforms to advertise to henceforth stop the action, advising that the radio or TV station should first enquire from the operators about its state license or certificate before allowing such advertisement.
He called on all parents, guardians, teachers and other stakeholders in the state to reach the Oyo State Gaming Board to complain about activities of illegal betting operators or for operators that want to report their operations for due licensing process to contact 08188880903 or 09060006974.
Recall that Boladuro was appointed the Director General, Oyo State Gaming Board on the 19th of February, 2020, by Governor Seyi Makinde and after his appointment, the board has won a case of legitimacy of the state to regulate activities of gaming operators in the state at the Federal High Court.