From the federation, they reject the interconnection plan to the monitoring system of the Ministry of Finance.
Dominican Republic.- More than two years have passed since the Dominican government decreed the start of the regularization process for lottery banks in the territory, however, there are still a large number of banks that have not been able to join the process.
Through a public act, the National Federation of Lottery Banks (Fenabanca) demanded that the authorities fully complete the National Regularization Plan for the banks as established by the decree 63-22 and Resolution 061-22 of the Ministry of Finance.
Fenabanca denounces that the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling continue violating the rights of the betting bank owners, and jeopardizing the economic stability and livelihood of thousands of people who depend on this sector.
«We are requesting and demanding from the Ministry of Finance, the Deputy Minister of the Treasury, the director of Casinos and Gambling, the general director of Internal Taxes, and the administrator of the National Lottery and coordinator of the Regularization Plan and any other authority that by law, has the responsibility to supervise and organize the gaming sector«, stated the guild.
According to what is established in Decree 63-22, it is stipulated that the Regularization Plan for the Lottery Banks sector should be satisfactorily concluded, establishing the protocols to determine the banks, sales points or agencies that qualify to grant operating licenses. This respecting the 200 meters of distance that must exist between a legal bank and another.
It is also established that the authorities must implement an aggressive plan for the inspection and closure of illegal banks, which do not meet the stipulated requirements.
See also: ASONABIL denounces obstacles that prevent the regularization of lottery banks
Facing such irregularities by the authorities, the members of Fenabanca «reject the arbitrary and improvised manner by officials, who without the slightest preparation or orientation demand the implementation of an interconnection plan».
«In Fenabanca and the Lottery Associations of different provinces, we do not reject the interconnection, our opposition is focused on the arbitrary, uninformed, disorganized manner and without clear criteria in which they want to impose an interconnection plan when there is not even control of the banks that operate irregularly in the country», argues the guild.
The Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of 12 Porac town officials.
The Philippines.- Ombudsman Samuel Martirez has ordered the preventive suspension of 12 officials of Porac town in Pampanga due to alleged neglect of duty in connection with illegal activities at an unlicensed offshore gaming operator.
The suspension is linked to a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding the raid on Lucky South 99 and rescue of 187 workers in June. The officials were accused of “Gross Neglect of Duty, which, if proven true, constitutes ground for their dismissal from the government service under the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.”
According to the Ombudsman, the case involves “the inaction and willful non-compliance of their duties… taken altogether, paved the way for the continuous operation of Lucky South 99.”
Records indicated that Lucky South 99 was issued business permits for 2021, 2022, and 2023 despite an expired Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) licence.
According to the Philippine News Agency, the Obudsman noted: “Given respondents’ power and authority, there is a strong probability that they may influence witnesses or tamper with any evidence material to the case, and in order to likewise prevent and possible acts of malfeasance and/or misfeasance.”
