Oyo State Gaming Board Seeks Collaboration With Stakeholders On Consumer Safety
Written by News Desk on November 20, 2024
Stakeholders in the gaming industry in Oyo State have been urged to collaborate more with the state government, regulators and consumer rights groups to bring about more innovations and consumer safety within the sector.
The Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board made this call at the 6th edition of the Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum tagged “Boom or Burst,” which was organised by the Board.
At the event, which had in attendance critical stakeholders in the gaming industry, the government advocated for a need to create a balanced approach that would foster growth without compromising the safety and well-being of players.
Chief of Staff to the governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mr. H.T. Salami, called for a robust framework that would guarantee innovations while also safeguarding the consumers in the gaming sector.
He charged all stakeholders to work effectively with the state government to provide this framework, adding that the administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, remains open to ideas that will culminate into the expansion of the state’s economy in line with the vision under Omituntun 2.0: Roadmap for Sustainable Development of Oyo State, 2023-2027.
The state government pledged to work with all relevant bodies to implement frameworks that would address concerns in the gaming sector, while it also promised to continue to support the growth of the local gaming sector.
Earlier, the Director-General, Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, Mr. Olajide Boladuro, explained the need for collaboration among stakeholders involved in the gaming ecosystem.
Mr Boladuro, who appreciated the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde for providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state, lauded the administration’s commitment towards ensuring fairness and strict compliance to gaming regulations as well as the creation of a level-playing field for investors and players.
He equally noted that innovation in the gaming industry remained crucial to driving the state’s economy forward, adding, however, that such innovation could not come at the expense of consumer protection.
The meeting was attended by industry leaders, game developers, consumer rights advocates and regulatory bodies, with discussions held on several key initiatives to strike a balance between progress and safety, which include stronger age verification system, transparency, data privacy and security, and addiction prevention mechanisms, among others.
In their separate remarks during a panel session, stakeholders cautioned that regulatory measures should not stifle creativity or innovation, adding that it was essential that regulations should not be so restrictive as to hamper the creativity of developers.
They also encouraged a partnership approach, where government, industry and consumers would collaborate so as to ensure that the industry protects both players and the integrity of the gaming ecosystem.
