No fewer than six betting centres were closed down by the Oyo State Gaming Board in Ibadan on Friday for involving, encouraging and allowing underage betting especially among Children with school Uniforms.
The Director General, Oyo State Gaming Board, Mr. Olajide Boladuro described, in a statement released after the exercise, the operators’ insensitive acts as gross insubordination and lack of respect for Constituted authority, having been warned severally with letters and through media awareness.
Mr. Boladuro added that the State government is bothered seeing some children at the centers on their school Uniforms when they ought to be in school, thereby turning the centers to hideout to avoid academic activities.
Mr. Boladuro said ‘’Most of the operators are aware that the state government under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi makinde frowned at underage gaming but most of them despite having being warned severally with letters and through media sensitizations still persisted.
“Some of these children even go to the centers with their school uniforms when they should be in school learning while some have turned those places to a hideout instead of going to school or be at home to help their parents.
‘’Also, we have many illegal Gaming center operators that are yet to register with the Board and thereby operating without license, there are some that refused to pay up their levies and dues despite several letters of reminder served on them.
‘’For government to fulfill all its financial obligations, all gaming centers as business owners need to remit their levies and to the rightful place as their civic duties, therefore, we implored the concerned gaming centers to cooperate with the government by fulfilling their statutory obligation as at when due.”
The Director General used the opportunity to appreciate those that have complied and encouraged them not to relent in continuing to support the State government to achieve a desirable society and an economically viable environment
