‘High-low’ game is okay: Woman leader
By SENT TIMBI
A WOMAN leader in the Western Highlands province has said that high-low lottery is not bad compared to other forms of gambling and must be allowed in the country.
Western Highlands Women in Politics president Maggie Numdie yesterday said that if the National Gambling Control Board (NGCB) wants to stop high-low lottery gambling, then it must also stop all forms of gambling in the country.
Ms Numdi said if the Government and its agents like the NGCB are really serious about the consequences of heavy gambling, they should do away with poker machines because it rips off substantial amounts of money from ordinary people within a short period of time.
She said high-low lottery is as not bad as poker machines and horse races and should be allow in the country.
She said it cost K1 for anyone to play a high-low game and if they pick a right number, they walk away with K30.
Ms Numdie said for a poker machine, it is K50 per bet which is too much.
She said big casinos in other countries are well managed and the NGCB should do the same with other forms of gambling in the country.
“If the NGCB wants to ban high-low gambling in Papua New Guinea, then it must also put a blanket ban on all forms of gambling activities,” she said.
Ms Numdie said many gamblers have switched from poker to high-low after its introduction.
She said high-low lottery game provided more employment opportunitis for people, unlike poker machines, where only one operator sits at the back and controls the machines.
NGCB acting chief executive officer Simon Sanangke said high-low lottery was prohibited under the National Gaming Board Act of 2007.
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