Oyo gaming agency warns residents of gambling addiction

Oyo State Gaming Board has warned residents of becoming addicted to gambling, saying they should be wary of implications of playing gambling.

The Director General of Oyo State Gaming Board, Olajide Gboladuro stated this at a press conference on Sunday in Ibadan, noting that school children, students and parents should refrain from using their school fees to stake bets.

Mr Gboladuro explained that gambling in Oyo, though legal, should be cautiously played even as the State wouldn’t encourage irresponsibility on the part of players.

According to him, betting shouldn’t be taken as a full time business, but a leisure, hence, betters must be responsible enough to control themselves.

“That is the reason the board comes in as a regulator; if gambling is not legal, it will not be in public domain,’’ he said.

“You shouldn’t be addicted to it; don’t do it in such a way that it will create an addiction.

He said, the board will continue to sensitize the public on responsible betting, adding that they have been monitoring and carrying out surveillance of an underage persons in betting shops and kiosks in the State.

He disclosed that betting agents and operators who allowed underage persons to bet have faced consequences of their actions as their licences have been seized.

“All gaming and gambling operators in the state are aware of the law; they signed terms and conditions document that underage people would not be allowed in their betting outlets,’’ he said.

He further warned against promotional lotteries

“We are warning them again that there will be strict enforcement soon,’’ he said.