Speaking at the opening of the 12th Gaming Regional Africa Forum Conference in Accra, Minister for the Interior Prosper Bani challenged those in the gaming and betting industry to develop cutting edge technology to “expose money launders and terrorists because your world literally places you on the front lines of maintaining national as well as global security and peace.”
The conference, launched on Monday July 11 in Accra, brings together key stakeholders in Africa's gaming industry. It is aimed at working towards the effective regulation of gaming and the promotion of legal and responsible gaming.
The conference will focus on talks on anti-money laundering, the relationship between gambling operations and regulators and if sports betting in Africa is regulated.
“We are counting on your skills to systematically put a break on gaming operators who in their desire to make money will look the other way when punters scoop into their facilities to launder money, which may eventually land on the doorstep of terrorists,” Minister Bani said.
He said they needed to also crackdown on allowing the recruitment in the gaming facilities of "young impressionable minds desperate for cash to join the ranks of terrorists.”
A look at the daily news will show no community is immune to the threat of terrorism, he said, and everyone was affected either directly or indirectly.
He said this showed the importance of the gaming industry to work with governments across the world to “fight against money laundering" and financing terrorism.
The event is organised by Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) which says it protects communities and citizens through the adherence of gaming regulatory laws applicable to each member state.
It said one of its mandates is to ensure “Africa and the sub Sahara does not become dumping grounds for old and degenerating gaming technologies. It implements initiatives that are aimed at curbing problem gambling and ensures counseling and education for the affected.”
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