Mr. Kweku Oppong Nkrumah, Country Manager, Marketing for Betway has appealed to the betting public to consider the game as a form of entertainment and not as a major source of income.

He said the company sought the lead in sanitizing the sports betting arena and was advancing its Responsible Betting Campaign launched in 2017, to secure the support of community stakeholders in fighting addiction, abuse, and underage access.

Mr. was speaking at a stakeholder meeting on the campaign with Assembly Members and the media in the Ho Municipality.

He said the company would champion community sensitization efforts, and called for collaboration.

“Sports betting is only for entertainment. It is not sustainable as a primary source of income and we are discouraging that,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah noting that Betway’s platforms not only offered sports betting, but also had an entertainment suit.

He said the company remained a trailblazer in the industry, having “revolutionized” sports betting in the country with digitized systems that addressed the numerous security needs.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said its responsible for betting the campaign as part of its corporate social responsibilities maintained checkout systems to help players prevent addiction and abuse, and would endeavor to the needs and offer the necessary support functions.

He said the company provided a potent verification apparatus, which sifted out minors, and would continue to lay the tracks for a safe industry in the country.

Ms. Beatrice Baiden, Public Affairs Manager for the Gaming Commission, also said sports betting was leisure or recreational activity and therefore players must place limits so as not to be tethered by its negative effects.

She said the commission had more focus on minors, as the law barring their involvement was clear and cautioned parents against drawing their illegible children into betting activities.

Ms. Baiden said the commission employed detailed diligence in licensing gaming outlets, noting that most perpetrators were entities that lacked requisite certification.

“Without due diligence on licensing the nation would be at a disadvantage,” she stated and appealed to Assembly Members and community leaders to help keep the localities free of unlicensed operators.

Ms. Baiden said the Commission would continue to, with the support of the law enforcement agencies, clamp down on unpermitted operators, and appealed to the media to help promote safe gaming practices.