NGCB: High/low game illegal

By LAZARUS BIRA
UPNG journalism student
THE lottery game known as “high/low” is illegal, National Gaming Control Board acting chief executive officer Imelda Agon said yesterday.
 “Any person associated with the operation of this illegal gambling is liable for prosecution,” Agon said.
She said the high/low game was banned effective from Feb 14, 2008, in a Gazettal Notice G22, which banned all illegal forms of gambling.
She said under the Gaming Control Act 2007, the board was the only authorised body that regulated and issued gaming licences and permits.
She said the gaming board, with the help of police, carried out successive operations throughout the country to eradicate illegal gambling from 2004 to 2008.
She said the high/low game was illegal because it was unlawful, illegally operated, economically not viable, made people lazy and they resorted to stealing and that it targeted low wage earners.
She said the gaming board urged police to help put a stop to this illegal gambling.
 She said the penalty for such offences included a K5,000 fine or a jail term of not more than 12 months.