Crime

Enugu Launches Major Crackdown on Illegal Lottery Operators to Revitalize the Industry

Published by Tope Fakinlede on November 30th, 2024.

Enugu Launches Major Crackdown on Illegal Lottery Operators to Revitalize the Industry

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The Enugu State Gaming Commission has launched a comprehensive license revalidation process to address the growing issue of illegal lottery operators and restore credibility to the gaming and lottery industries.

This move follows growing calls from industry stakeholders for stronger regulatory measures to boost public trust and eliminate fraudulent practices. At a one-day Gaming Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Enugu, Prince Arinze Arum, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, underscored that the revalidation process would close existing regulatory gaps and enhance the integrity of the sector. He further announced that the commission would temporarily halt the issuance of new licenses to ensure that existing operators comply with regulatory standards.

“We are temporarily suspending both the revalidation of licenses and the granting of new ones. This decision is in line with our commitment to uphold fairness, transparency, and to eliminate illegal operators from Enugu State,” Arum stated.

The Commission is also introducing advanced technological solutions to improve the management, enforcement, and monitoring of gaming and lottery activities, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in the sector. Arum emphasized that these technologies would help streamline operations and ensure consistent regulation across the board.

“We are deploying state-of-the-art technology to monitor all gaming activities in the state, ensuring uniformity and accountability,” he explained.

Stakeholders at the forum voiced unanimous support for these regulatory changes, stressing the importance of adopting international best practices to foster the growth of the industry. They pointed out the vast potential of the gaming sector to generate significant revenue and create employment opportunities for young people in Enugu State.

Mr. Arinze Okeani, a representative from BetKing Lotto, applauded the state government for revitalizing the Gaming and Lottery Commission but urged for even stronger measures to prevent exploitation by illegal operators. “The commission should implement more robust strategies to regulate operators and identify fraudulent actors. These individuals must face legal consequences to set an example,” Okeani said.

Darlington Umezurike from Premier Lotto also highlighted the need for timely payout of winnings to maintain public confidence in the industry. “The success of the gaming sector is built on trust. All parties, including operators and the commission, must ensure that winning claims are processed quickly and fairly,” Umezurike added.

With these regulatory initiatives, the Enugu State Government aims to transform the gaming and lottery sector into a model of integrity, fairness, and economic prosperity.