ONE phenomenon that is gaining currency in our communities is the mushrooming of gaming centres. Almost every corner of the country one passes there is a gaming centre which patronage by the youth keeps soaring.
MANY of the youth have resorted to betting at these gaming centres to make quick money. In fact, some of them have turned this activity into a full-time occupation which they do, especially on days that matches of European leagues are going to be played.
SADLY, the practice is fast catching up with children. The practice of child betting is growing at an alarming rate and needs to be addressed. No doubt this practice is having a toll on the education of some of these school-going children.
IT is in the light of the above that Weekend Today is happy about the news that the Gaming Commission will soon embark on an exercise to clamp down on illegal gaming centres and equally end child betting. We have learnt that the Gaming Commission intends to carry out this exercise by setting up a task force comprising security agencies and other stakeholders to make sure that operators abide by regulations in the gaming industry.
THE intended move to crack down and sanitise the gaming industry in the country follows a directive from the Interior Ministry. It is obvious that this is coming at the backdrop of the fact that the laws governing gaming have been relaxed, a situation which has given field day to illegal gaming operators to explore and engage in all manner of illicit activities.
WHILE Weekend Today sees this planned move by the Gaming Commission as refreshing, we are particularly concerned about the rate at which minors patronise betting centres dotted across the country. Though, gaming contributes some revenue to the state, there is the need to enforce laws governing it to ensure that our young ones are protected and not exposed to unproductive habits including staying away from the classroom.
THIS also means that Gaming Centres should be no-go areas for children under the age of 18 and the law should deal sternly with operators who open their doors to such children. It is, therefore, the candid opinion of Weekend Today that the soon-to-be set-up task force will spare no illegal gaming operator.
SANITY must be restored in the gaming centre and Weekend Today is all for this planned action by the Gaming Commission.
