By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo state government has reiterated the need for responsible gaming and warned citizens about the risks involved in irresponsible gambling.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Olanike Adeyemo, gave the warning at the 5th Annual Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum of the Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, themed: “Tax and Task, Building a Sustainable Gaming Environment”, held in Ibadan, the state capital.
In her keynote address, Professor Adeyemo cautioned people against irresponsible gambling signified by playing in an addictive manner, and committing resources meant for living life to gaming, noting that players are expected to use their spare funds for games and should be responsible enough to stop when it is affecting them negatively.
The SSG stressed that the state government was preaching responsible gaming and that residents could explore the opportunity without being financially strained.
She stated: “We have a Gaming and Lottery Board in Oyo State headed by Hon. Olajide Boladuro, who is doing a fantastic job in that domain. We look forward to exploring all the opportunities that this industry has to offer Oyo State while at the same time we have a responsible gaming framework in Oyo State to ensure citizens are also protected.”
In protecting citizens against irresponsible gambling, Adeyemo disclosed that the state had in place gaming framework and lottery regulations, stressing that responsible gaming is not just the duty of government, but that of all and sundry.
In the same vein, while speaking on the theme of the interactive forum, Tax and Task, the Director-General, Oyo State Gaming Board, Mr Olajide Boladuro, revealed that as a government agency, regulators and licensees of the various operators of the gaming industry, the board had a responsibility to license and tax the operators and also to make sure that things were going the way they should.
He noted: “It’s not only taxing them for revenue, we are also doing our task as far as making sure they are doing things responsibly. We are ensuring that our stakers, our citizens, who are participating in this various gaming aspects are being treated fairly and the operators are being treated fairly as well, so as to ensure a conducive environment for the generality of the gaming populace.”
The DG further said the state government was worried that people gambled with their life fortunes, children’s tuition fees, and money meant for capital projects.
Boladuro, who stated that the standard practice worldwide should be that people use spare funds to gamble, warned that gambling was addictive, disclosing that the state was keen on reducing the risk of players spending more on gambling activities than they could afford or engaging in high-risk transactions.
He said: “We will not relent as the government agency that we are. The revenue is not the goal for us, we have to regulate the industry. There’s a w ay to create a balance. Its a win-win situation for both the government and the operators as long as they’re doing the right thing and we’re sensitizing the public with clear information of the addictive nature of gambling.”
Notwithstanding the Gaming and Lottery Board having a duty to license and tax gamers for revenue, the DG said the state would still continue to tell gamers of the negative consequences of underage gaming, and unsafe and irresponsible gaming.
The forum featured presentations on Building Sustainability through Responsible Gaming, Harnessing Industry Opportunities in Technology for the Gaming Industry, and Transitioning to iGaming.
