Casinos and Games of Chance Director, in favor of a law that regulates slots

With regards to the damage made by these machines, Abud Antún expressed that “in poor neighbourhoods they hurt more than drugs to children and teenagers and are the cause of
misfortune and inter-familiar conflicts as a consequence of the gambling addiction”.

Illegal slots are spread in betting centers, markets, pools, pubs and restaurants, without counting the ones in casinos.

Abud Antún explained that the problem caused by the gambling addiction to slots is that the Ministry of Economy receives many reports from family men who ask for the intervention of the government to prevent their children from betting, which exceeds their surveillance. So far, authorities are limited to pursue the owners of business with illegal machines and ban their activities as long as they detect underaged people gambling.

He also cited that two cases of underaged people who committed suicide have been registrated, one in Higüey and the other in Santiago, because they had gambled money that their parents had given them to pay commitments.

“If we enter any of these sites and see children gambling, the place is closed. That’s why many organizations come to us to demand the prohibition of the operation of slots in
betting centers, due to our impossibility to control underaged people from betting”, pointed Abud Antún.

The director of the Commission of Casinos said that he believes legislators will approve the project submitted by the government to change the Law 29-06, with the aim to ban the operation of slots in gambling venues that are not casinos, because this way there is more chance to gain control on this game.

He explained that the Commission of Casinos lacks of the mechanisms and the necessary equipment to control the 1,300 betting centers operating in the country. The officer suggested the citizens to pay attention to the legislators that do not approve the project when choosing the congressmen.

“We believe that legislators must approve that law, because they would do a great favor to the youngsters and, if it does not pass, I would ask the neighborhood residents' committee that legislators that do not approve it should be taken into account for the following elections,” he commented.

Abud Antún said that, from the moment the amendment to Law 29-06 is approved, it will be easier for the Ministry of Economy to control, through its inspectors, that underaged people do not gamble in those places. He affirmed that, in case the project is not approved, efforts will be made in order to comply with the law.

“We have a resolution that establishes that those gambling venues that do not adjust to the law could be punished,” he reminded.