HINDI kasali ang Games and Amusements Board (GAB) sa derektiba ni President Rodrigo Duterte na ipatigil ang operasyon ng lotto sa buong bansa.
Ito ang paliwanag ni GAB chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra.
Dahil umano sa malawakang korapsyon sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office ay ipinag-utos si Duterte nitong Biernes na itigil agad ang lahat ng anyo ng tayaan (betting formats) sa PCSO kabilang ang sikat na lotto.
Bagaman walang kinalaman ang GAB sa lotto, ay may regulatory function naman ito sa karera (horseracing) at sabong (cockfighting) na may kaakibat ding tayaan o betting.
“GAB just monitors and regulates the conduct of betting in horseracing,” paliwanag ni Mitra.
“The franchises of the clubs are granted by Congress, so nothing really comes from GAB except the regulatory matters. The government share on the betting are collected by GAB (and Philracom) and the checks go straight to the National Treasury.”
Kabilang din sa mandato ng GAB ang mangasiwa sa international cockfighting events na ginaganap sa bansa tatlo o apat na beses kada taon.
“GAB is not involved in the betting aspect of cockfighting but only collects a flat rate for every match,” dagdag pa ni Mitra.
“Although professional sports and cockfighting are within GAB’s mandate, sports betting and online cockfighting are not licensed by GAB at this time.”
Bukod sa karera at sabong, nasa ilalim din ng GAB ang professional sport ng boxing, basketball, mixed martial arts, golf, billiards, motocross, bowling at e-sports.
“GAB fully supports all the directives of the president and his drive to rid the government of corruption,” sabi ni Mitra, na dating kinatawan at gobernador ng Palawan.