BUDGET: Games Commissioner to regulate lotteries and betting business

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, said on Friday that government would appoint a Games Commissioner to regulate the business of lotteries and betting.

The Commissioner will operate from the Ministry of Finance by the end of May 2001. He said the commissioner would be expected to enforce the existing legislation relating to the lottery industry and also be responsible for registering and licensing all lottery operators, including the Department of National Lotteries (DNL).

All agreements with the DNL relating to the lottery business, which are not yet operational should be suspended until further notice to enable the Ministry of Finance to study their revenue implications.