The Enugu state government has expressed its desire to regulate the gaming and lottery industry with a view to curbing fraudulent and sharp practices and enhancing public trust.
The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission, Arinze Arum, stated during a one-day stakeholder engagement forum titled “Building a Sustainable Gaming Environment in Enugu State,” held in Enugu, that the government was serious about revamping the sector to enhance value.
During the forum, Arum stressed the commission’s commitment to creating a sustainable ecosystem for legitimate gaming operations.
He stated that the commission has a “zero tolerance” policy for illegal operators and is employing advanced technologies and processes to enhance oversight and bring value to the sector.
“The state government is putting in place cutting-edge technology in its management, enforcement, and monitoring of all activities within the gaming and lottery space in the state; thus, promoting transparency, quickening processes, and ensuring recognisable uniformity.
“We will decentralized operations to serve gaming stakeholders locally, with offices to provide support for license registration, complaints, and compliance, enhancing accessibility to Enugu State Gaming Commission services across Enugu State.
“There will be a permanent structure for gaming and lottery outlets. We will introduce a zero-tolerance policy for makeshift or umbrella gaming stands. All gaming activities must now operate from physical booths or shops to encourage professionalism and enhance public trust,” he said.
A guest speaker and Chief Executive of a Gaming Technology Company, Mr Udukheli Izebuno, said that continued engagement of the commission with stakeholders would bring about inclusive and faster growth of the industry.
Izebuno said that the embracing of technological innovation by the commission as well as gaming and lottery companies would aid industry development and meet best international practices.
“What we are doing is to ensure that there is a balance between the commission, gaming/lottery companies, and the individual players by using technology as a connecting factor to make things seamless, fast, and unified for all,” he said.
Earlier, stakeholders in the industry unanimously urged the Enugu State Government to facilitate regulation of the industry to boost confidence and check the activities of quacks.
They insisted that all stakeholders must enshrine best international practices to allow the multi-billion-naira industry to flourish, boost the overall economy of the state, and provide employment for the teeming youths.
Mr Arinze Okeani, representative of BetKing Lotto, commended the state government for reinvigorating the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission, adding that more should be done to regulate and ensure that shylocks do not take advantage of the industry.
Okeani called on the commission to fashion out unbeatable modalities to harmonize operations, identify procedures of gaming, and ensure that quacks are fished out and prosecuted to act as a deterrent to others.
