From the entity, it was stated that the operations are carried out outside the law and that authorities should prioritize the pursuit of venues where illegal gambling is practiced.
Dominican Republic.- The National Federation of Lottery Agencies (Fenabanca) reported this Tuesday that its members are being subjected to raids and irregular operations by the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling Games of the Ministry of Finance and the Deputy Minister of the Treasury.
Fenabanca pointed out that, arbitrarily, its members are being subjected to irregular investigations led by Claudia Álvarez, director of the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling Games of the Ministry of Finance and Derby de los Santos, Deputy Minister of the Treasury of said institution, under accusations that the establishments are offering sales of illegal games.
According to Fenabanca, the operations headed by this institution are illegal and in blatant violation of constitutional rights, as they are carried out without any judicial order and no competent authority, such as the Public Ministry.
Moreover, as reported from the entity, participants of the operations arrive at the regulated lottery agencies, take equipment and money available in the establishments, without even leaving a record of what was taken.
For this reason, Fenabanca claims that instead of pursuing regulated agencies, progress should be made in eliminating illegal venues. The federation called on the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling Games to implement a plan to audit and close more than 30,000 illegal agencies throughout the Dominican territory.
According to Fenabanca, these illegal businesses do not meet the necessary requirements to operate and, therefore, should not be granted licenses. In addition, the federation requests the removal of "hundreds of gambling machines installed in unauthorized premises and the collection of thousands of verifone devices" distributed throughout the country.
See also: Dominican Republic: Fenabanca set a position on the interconnection of lottery agencies
The institution asserts that the proliferation of illegal lottery agencies destroys the economy of the sector and directly affects those who offer legal gaming alternatives, who must comply with all the requirements and corresponding tax payments.
