The Lagos State Lotteries Board has commenced training of operators in the lotteries, betting, casino and gaming industry on anti-money laundering and combating finance for terrorism.
Speaking at the training programme, the General Manager, Mr. Bashir Abiola-Are, urged operators across the State to comply with the ethics of the industry as the Lotteries Board will leave no stone unturned to sanction any erring operator, employee or agent found wanting.
The General Manager noted that some individuals launder proceeds of their criminal activities through the gaming industry, saying controls and compliance have become part of the effective tools to prevent, combat and checkmate crime.
While appealing to all operators in the Lottery, Betting, Gaming, and Casino industry to join in fighting all forms of criminal activities and money laundering, Abiola-Are restated the commitment of the present administration to sanitise the gaming sector.
Also speaking, the Director, Bold Gold Consultancy, Mr. Bamidele Adedeji, said the aim of the training programme was to support the State government in ensuring that the industry is protected from the activities of criminals.
He said, “Money laundering is a crime to cover up another crime which involves making money illegally and illegitimately. No industry is immune to the activities of dubious minded individuals. Money launderers are constantly looking for ways and means of making their unclean and bad monies look clean and legitimate”.
Adedeji maintained that in order to protect and prevent the industry from activities of launderers, all lotteries, casino, pool and betting operators in Lagos have a vital role to play and need to know what to do and how to do it effectively.
