October 22, (THEWILL) – The Anambra State Government has called on operators of Lottery and Betting Centres to run their businesses as allowed by the extant law.
Commissioner For Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Don Onyenji, who made this known in a statement on Saturday, urged the operators to disregard media reports that the Anambra State Government placed a ban on their activities in the state.
The statement read: “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the various misinterpretations of its directives to operators of Casino Games domiciled in hotels and restaurants in the state to suspend their operations.
“This was a result of written and video petitions on suspected fraudulent practices, lack of transparency, and non-payment of Game winnings to players.
“Part of the directives reads ‘The Anambra State Ministry of Culture, Entertainment, And Tourism in collaboration with the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, AIRS and the Ministry of Homeland Affairs hereby direct all operators of Casino Games within Hotels, Restaurants and Bars to suspend all operations with immediate effect.
“The suspension will last until the conclusion of investigations.”
Onyenji said all Hotel Owners and Bars in the State have been invited to a meeting to discuss security, other services and policy issues.
The Commissioner said, “it is grossly unfortunate that some mischief makers added lottery and Betting activities and organisations to the ban.”
“The Government hereby states categorically that the suspension was only directed at Casino Games operators in the hotels and hospitality outfits, excluding all other betting centres in the state”, Onyenji said, adding that the government has identified the owners of the particular casino machine and has advanced investigations on the complaint.
He disclosed that the sites involved in the complaint have temporarily shut down their machines.
Onyenji assured that the Government would conclude investigations in a record time when the reported case is fairly handled and discharged.
He said the organisation will be allowed to go back to its business quickly when all assurances to protect the interest of all players are made.
The commissioner assured that the government is on ground to protect all such operators, and guarantee the safety of their business in the State.
He appealed to all business operators in the state to go about their operations undisturbed and discountenance the false reports of ‘fifth columnists.’
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