By Giovanni Emephia
All registered pools promoters, agents and ‘stakers’ operating in Delta State have been warned to keep to the rules and regulations guiding pools betting in the state to avoid sanctions from government.
In a statement released to newsmen in Warri, the Director of Other Revenue, Delta State Internal Revenue Service Mr. Commander Utoware said the warning became necessary as a result of the persistent violation of the Pools Betting (Control and Taxation Law 1996) by pools promoters and agents in the state.
According to the statement, “all unregistered and unlicensed pools promoters and agents are forbidden by law from operating in Delta State.”
While stressing that the odds approved by the state government for payment of winnings remain 1 to 12 equals 40-1; 13 to 14 equals 20 to 1; 15 to 16 equals 10 to 1; and 17 and above equals 5 to 1, the statement directed that the commission to licensed agents shall be 40kobo, while there would be no commission for the staking public.
Mr. Utoware added that the Saturday coupon would close by 12noon, and that the ban on bonanza coupon in the state was still in force. He warned that any pools promoter or agent found operating bonanza coupon would be arrested and prosecuted.
While giving the pools promoters and agents a grace of two months to pay up their outstanding tax liabilities to the state government, the Director emphasized that those who violate the regulations commencing from week forty-six of the 2021/2022 English football season would be apprehended to face the full weight of the law.
He further enjoined stakeholders to cooperate with government in order to have a seamless operation in the state.
