Jennifer Ugwueke
Oyo State Government will henceforth penalize telecommunications companies and digital satellite television providers that beam promotional lotteries on television and broadcast on radio.
Jide Boladuro, Director-General of the Oyo State Gaming Board, made this disclosure on Wednesday while discussing the activities of the board with journalists in Ibadan.
Boladuro said, “Any betting outlet where underaged people go to stake for games will henceforth be shut down as officials of the board are working with security personnel to list outlets in the State where such activities used to take place and for possible arrest of operators concerned.”
The DG said Governor Seyi Makinde had mandated the board to begin sensitisation towards making parents and guardians know the social effects of underage gaming on their children and the society in general.
“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 action.
“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 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 mobilisation effort against this act.”
The DG urged radio and television stations that allowed unlicensed betting operators to use their platforms to advertise to stop the action, urging the stations to first enquire from the operators about their licences or certificates.