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  • 2 days ago
A major crackdown on illegal gambling operations is coming in the form of a new offence. The government is hopeful the measures will act as strong deterrents to perpetrators, but failing that, it will put some extra cash in the State's coffers.
Transcript
00:00A major crackdown on illegal gambling operations is coming in the form of a new offence.
00:07The government is hopeful the measures will act as strong deterrents to perpetrators,
00:12but failing that, it will put some extra cash in the state's coffers.
00:16In keeping with the advice of the protective services, the police service in particular,
00:21Clause 6 will introduce a new offence under Section 33 of the National Lotteries Act
00:29relating to persons who conduct gambling activities that rely on the draw results of the NLCB's online play.
00:40I am advised by the police, Mr. Speaker, that this is the most popular form of illegal gambling in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:49This new section, Mr. Speaker, makes it an offence for any person who is not an authorized agent of the NLCB
00:59to print, sell, distribute, receive, or possess tickets,
01:05or to engage in any related actions associated with online lottery draws.
01:11In addition, Mr. Speaker, this new section penalizes authorized agents
01:16who receive a play, issues a ticket, or pays out any money pursuant to the results of an online draw
01:25and fails to remit the proceeds to the board.
01:30This is also necessary, Mr. Speaker,
01:32because the information that the Ministry of Finance has received
01:35is that this illegal gambling is also being facilitated by licensed agents.
01:42Mr. Speaker, these offences carry strong penalties.
01:49For both offences, $250,000 and three years' imprisonment on summary conviction.
01:56And for both offences, $3 million and seven years' imprisonment on indictment.
02:03And months have also been made to allow the government
02:05to better avail itself of lottery proceeds.
02:10Clause 6 also amends Section 23 of the Act
02:14to require the NLCB to make deposits into the consolidated fund
02:18on a quarterly basis as opposed to an annual basis which currently exists.
02:23of the parties'
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