4 SHOP OWNERS HELD FOR ‘KIDS GAMBLING’

MBABANE - Police have confiscated lottery machines and further arrested suspected owners in an ongoing operation across the country.
Information gathered was to the effect that four businesspeople, including foreigners, were arrested in Mbabane and Matsapha.

 It is said that the businesspeople placed their machines at the entrance of the shops with intent to lure people, especially the youth, into gambling.
Information gathered was that an undisclosed amount of money was found in the machines during the operation.
One of the suspected businessmen is alleged to have been found in possession of money amounting to E250 000, which is believed to have been obtained from the gambling.

It was gathered that the businesspeople have not yet appeared in court as investigations are ongoing.
It should be noted that gambling is in breach of Lottery Act of 1963.
However, in some of the places which were visited by the officers of the law, children below the age of 21 were found to be avid clients. 

Gambling

Surprisingly, the youth seemed to be enjoying the unlawful gambling as nobody bothered reporting the act to the police until the discovery was made during the operation. 
It was reliably gathered that illegal gambling was prevalent countrywide, especially in the rural areas. In one community, the lottery machine was found placed at the entrance of a shop.

They youth was playing while others watched in admiration. It was observed that the youth inserted coins and won a lot of money if successful.
In random interviews with the youth, they stated that they were not at all aware that gambling was unlawful since they were not exposed to the Lottery Act of 1963.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the report of four businesspeople who were arrested in Mbabane in connection with the illegal gambling.

She said police were investigating the matter. Vilakati stated that the operation was ongoing countrywide with the aim of curbing illegal gambling.

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