Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government says it is repositioning Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission for effective regulation and responsible gaming and lottery eco-system within the state.
It would be recalled that gaming has been a fast growing business springing up in most neighbourhoods in communities in the state.
There have been more gaming companies coming into the state, supported by financial technology (fin-tech) as well as having hundreds of retail agents with branded-umbrellas, branded-kiosks and branded-shops scattered in neighbourhoods and communities in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prince Arinze Arum, told newsmen on Sunday in Enugu that the repositioning was to ensure that the residents were not shortchanged as they participate in gaming and lottery activities.
Arum said that the commission was out to see that both gaming and lottery (lotto) companies abide by laid down procedures and agreement with the members of the public that participate in playing the games and being part of a lottery.
He said that all functions of the commission would be fully digitalised as part of the vision of the government to reposition the commission to meet anticipated state economic growth from $4 billion to $30 billion before eight years.
The executive secretary said that the commission had been embarking on advocacies for attitudinal change among residents on some negative perception against positive gaming culture.
Arum noted that the commission was also taking a wide-reach sensitisation to check “gaming addiction” on the part of some youths.
According to him, the commission is implementing a clear cut confidence renewal strategy on getting more people on board as it concerns a positive attitude towards gaming and lottery meant to uplift the livelihood of the residents positively.
“Our amiable governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has planned that there will be positive growth and repositioning across all sectors of the socio-economic status of the state, of which gaming and lottery is one of them.
“The commission is being repositioned via digitalisation to create a robust gaming and lottery eco-system and market within the state with clear cut regulation and confidence building in the entire value-chain.
“Gaming and lottery is a huge market; contributing about $2.5 billion in Africa, as bulk of these monies lies in Nigeria with a vibrant youths population that engages in gaming and lottery both online or at the neighbourhood retail gaming umbrella-tent, kiosk or shop.
“The commission, on behalf of the state government, wants to tap into the huge market of gaming and lottery as well as use them to also promote tourism and entertainment advancement in the state,” he said.
The executive secretary also said that gaming and lottery had huge potential for youths’ employment, adding that there are potentials to create thousands of gaming retail outlets (umbrella-tents, kiosks and shop outlets) within neighbourhoods and communities.
On the forthcoming international conference on gaming and lottery; he said that gaming companies from the United States and South Africa had indicated interest to fully participate in the one-day conference, which is the first of its kind in the South-East.
Arum said that the conference would focus on deepening the gains of gaming and lottery as well as on policy dialogue, round table discussions on gain, challenges and what technology can offer in the gaming and lottery eco-system.
“The take away will be local and international networking, business partnerships, idea sharing and exposure to best practices and state-of-the-art technology that are gaining ground in the gaming and lottery eco-system.
“The conference, which will be declared open by our dynamic governor, Dr Peter Mbah, would involve participants from all over the country, apart from the anticipated special delegations from gaming companies in the United States and South Africa.
“The conference, whose arrangements are in top gear, will further showcase the unique business opportunities and potentials of Enugu State,” he said.
Arum noted that part of the commission’s regulation and mandate was for it to settle disagreements and complaints between company-and-agent; agent-and-agent, agent-and-customer and any other discrepancy; and ensure that the gaming and lottery eco-system remained conducive for everyone.
