The National Gaming Commission has closed down two betting centres in Tamale in the Northern Region in a clampdown exercises to rid the system of unlincenced entities operating gamin businesses.
The exercise, which was carried out with the Northern Regional Police Command, saw closure of 18 unclicenced slot machine centres.
It was a part of a comprehensive quarterly exercise by the Commission to streamline the activities of gaming center operators.
“This year the Commission is embarking on a simultaneous nationwide operation in view of the enormity of illegal gaming, especially within the route and sports betting operations” Deputy Commissioner of the Commission, Mr. Kobby Annan, said.
He said the timing of the operation was strategic in the sense because it has come at a time the year is ending.
The Commission, he said, anticipates a lot of illegal operators “will use the festive occasion to cash in on unsuspecting punters and minors”.
He said they have intensified monitoring and investigations to check these illegal operators.
Mr. Annan again said the nationwide exercise will afford the Commission the opportunity to visit gaming facilities that are distant and are usually outside its routine weekly operations.
He said they would identify illegal shops that are operating on the blind side of the Commission as well as ensure compliance of the Gaming Act 2006 (ACT 721).
Meanwhile, the Commission has urged the Northern Regional Police Command to assist in monitoring the activities of these illegal outlets during the festive season and beyond.
Zubaida Ismail|3news.com|Ghana