After the completion of the National Gaming Control Board’s (NGCB) nationwide illegal gambling educational awareness, the NGCB has made a call out to all parents to take full responsibility of their children and ensure they do not engage in illegal activities that will have detrimental impact on their path.
The purpose of the awareness is to educate the public on the legalities of games and gaming activities, and the penalties set out in the Gaming Control Act 2007.
The NGCB, in collaboration with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) have stressed on the importance of ‘responsibility, accountability and making rational decisions’ which are tools to combat illegal gambling, rising law and order issues, social issues amongst others.
The awareness program emphasized that the public must be educated on the impacts of engaging in illegal gambling activities and most importantly, parents must ensure their children are not exposed to illegal gambling, which will have negative impact on their decision-making.
The awareness program also highlighting the variety of games that are authorized by the NGCB while informing the public on games such as card games, bingo, ludo king, online games, dart, hi-lo, cockfighting, or any other game that is played in exchange for money that are deemed illegal.
People who are caught engaging in illegal games will be apprehended and prosecuted by the police with a K5, 000 fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.
The NGCB maintains its commitment to ensure regulatory and best practice within the gaming industry and promote responsible gaming to minimize adverse impact on the society and is realized through the rolling out of this educational awareness program.
The awareness will continue to the Highlands region, Momase region and conclude in the Southern region.