Regulation of video games not under our jurisdiction – Commission

Ghana’s Gaming Commission said on Thursday that the regulation of video games, which by its nature is meant to be played for fun and not for cash, is not under its jurisdiction.

A statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, said facilities operating video games on commercial scale are not in violation of any law so far as it conforms to the dictates of the district assembly bye-laws.

“However, the operation and the use of the facility become illegal when bets are placed on players,” it said.

It quoted sections of the Gaming Act, which prevents owners of houses, rooms or places which has not been approved by the Commission to be opened, kept or used as the business of a betting house.

He said offenders are liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than five hundred penalty units or imprisonment for a term of not more than two years or both,” it said.

It has therefore warned that, anyone caught in violation of this section shall be prosecuted according to the law and this law pertains to any facility including video game houses that are unregulated by the Gaming Commission.

According to the statement, the Gaming Commission is mandated by the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721) to regulate, control, monitor and supervise the operation of games of chance in the country, which includes Casinos, Sports betting, Route Operation (slot machine and scratch card) but not restricted to “Raffle, a draw to determine a winner for a prize, TV reality show, entertainment, quiz competition or brain teaser, dance competition and beauty contest as well as marathon race,” it said.

Source: GNA