By Paul Joseph
The Enugu State Government has halted the operations of KC Gaming Networks, the company behind the Bet9ja brand, due to repeated breaches of the state’s gaming regulations.
This closure was executed on Tuesday by the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission, following a court order from the High Court of Enugu State.
The commission sealed the company’s headquarters in Enugu, effectively stopping all its activities in the state.
During the enforcement, Prince Arinze Arum, the Executive Secretary of the commission, stated that the decision was made after the company failed to adhere to the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Law despite numerous warnings.
He noted that the commission had sent several letters and issued administrative notices to KC Gaming Networks regarding issues like license revalidation, unpaid fees, and other legal obligations, but the company did not respond.
“We are here to ensure compliance with the law. We have made numerous attempts to get this operator to comply, but all warnings and notices were disregarded,” Arum said.
He clarified that this enforcement marked a complete shutdown of Bet9ja’s operations in Enugu State and mentioned that the commission would also visit the state to close all Bet9ja outlets.
Arum emphasized that the government would not tolerate any regulatory violations, regardless of the size or influence of the operator.
“No company is above the law. If you violate the law, you must face the repercussions,” he stated.
He also rejected allegations of excessive billing by the state, asserting that all fees and taxes were calculated according to existing laws and regulations.
The shutdown was initiated following an ex-parte order from Justice H.O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court in a case involving the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission and KC Gaming Networks.
The court granted the commission permission to seal and restrict access to the company’s gaming facilities in the state due to its failure to remit the necessary gaming revenues.
The Enugu State Government affirmed its commitment to enforcing strict compliance throughout the gaming sector, warning that ignoring violations would promote lawlessness among other operators.
After the suspension, many young people in the state expressed their worries, as some noted that it was their sole source of income.
This situation arises at a time when Nigeria is grappling with high unemployment rates and a growing number of jobless youth, which could exacerbate the country’s security issues.
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