THE Games and Amusements Board, led by Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra, recently issued a Cease and Desist Order addressed to all Off-track betting stations and Off-cockpit betting stations with no local business permit from their cities and municipalities.
The business permit issued by the LGUs is one of the mandatory requirements for the issuance of a new GAB permit and also the renewal thereof. This business permit must be submitted not later than the last day of March of every year, otherwise, the OTBs cannot operate.
“We discovered that many OTBs and OCBs operate without local business permit and GAB issued permit. So, we issued a cease and desist order which took effect on April 3, 2017. We need to stop these illegal OTB and OCB operations. Undeniably, they have become rampant nowadays,” said Mitra.
When the order took effect, there were around 55 OTBs and OCBs which failed to secure permits from their respective LGUs and the GAB.
“We have closed 21 since the April 3. The remaining OTBs and OCBs are currently being closely monitored by GAB personnel to ensure strict compliance with the order,” Mitra said.
The GAB is mandated to combat and prevent the existence and proliferation of illegal bookie joints and other forms of organized illegal gambling connected with all play-for-pay sports and amusement games.
In order to stay true to its mandate, the GAB ensures that all OTBs and OCBs follow the rules of the government on permits and licenses, Mitra explained.