Lagos is one of the states willing to improve its gaming field and boost its performance in general which is why the Lagos State Lotteries Board overseeing it stated efforts towards this should continue. According to the most recent statement coming from the watchdog, the crackdown on illegal gambling is set to progress by eliminating the operation of all operators conducting illegal gaming within the borders of the state.
Illegal gambling is a worldwide issue and almost every country which has a gaming sector in operation leads an ongoing battle against criminals conducting it. Gaming operators which operate without the mandatory license issued by the authorities are equally as guilty as individuals managing gambling dens. In order for the field to witness an upwards direction of development and for it to prosper, any unlawful operation has to be shut down in a timely manner.
Lagos Strives to Improve Gaming Field
Lagos State Lotteries Board’s General Manager, Seun Anibaba, recently made a statement that the crackdown which has been in progress for quite some time now would continue with full throttle until all operators working without the mandatory license have their operation shut down. In addition to that, throughout its inspection of the field, the Board has also unearthed partially illegal operation conducted by some providers.
As it has been confirmed, a common practice throughout the state of Lagos has been the offering of games from both licensed and unlicensed operators. This move aims to amp up the ultimate profit of the company by utilizing all means available. During his statement in Ikeja, Mr. Anibaba also pointed out that the only way in which the region could be considered reliable for future operation would be for all entities in the field to obey the rules and operate in a legal manner.
The field features a wide array of gaming offerings which are legal and overseen by the authority to the liking of the public online lottery, online sports betting, casinos, pools betting, gaming machines, and widely spread scratch cards. There are about 80 developers operating under a license, which comes to show how fast the field progresses and expands, but in the meantime, illegal operation also appears to thrive.
Measures Introduced Prove Efficient
In an interview back in 2017, Mr. Anibaba pointed out that the revenue generated through legal gambling activity is later utilized for further improving the region and reinvesting for the community’s benefit. Among them are the ongoing support of the Neighbourhood Watch as well as a fair boost to the state education sector. Moreover, many grants for both charitable organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations have also benefited by the gaming operation in Lagos.
The licensing process applied throughout the field aims to guarantee a deeper insight into the way each operator prefers to work and what technology it brings to players. In the past, there have been instances when operators possessing a national license issued by the National Lotteries Regulatory Commission, have expressed interest in the requirements for acquiring a license by the Lagos State Lotteries Board.
This has been the apple of discord between the two agencies. The gap resulting from this has brought more questions than answers to the field. In an attempt to inform people and provide them with a constant feedback, the Board has established several ways in which every individual could easily check whether an operator has such licensing or not.
At the official web page of the authority, there is a full list of all legally operating providers. The other fast way includes sending of an SMS with the name of the operator in question, also facilitating the entire process. With the help of such tip-offs, the crackdown is propelled ahead, bringing new illegal operation shutdowns on a daily basis.
