Online Gaming Association calls for forensic audit into NLCB
The Online Gaming Agents Association of T&T (OGAATT) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Finance Minister Colm Imbert calling for a forensic audit into the operations at Naltional Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) with particular reference to the accounting system and department.
“For many years, since 2019, and moreso within recent times, numerous agents have been having and complaining about discrepancies/differences in their weekly settlement reports. The reports show figures that are greater than what agents actually have in hand to deposit,” the letter signed by OGAATT’s president Dean Persad stated.
OGAATT stated that in order to try and determine if the problem was as a result of their actions, some agents have made adjustments on their end.
“Some of these adjustments are:
1) working the machines (terminals) themselves,
2) temporarily stopped taking Instant Money Games (scratch),
3) pay for scratch in advance and
4) change their machines,” the letter stated.
Despite these adjustments the problem still persisted, Persad stated.
“On the other hand, to find out if the problem lies on NLCBs end agents, including myself, have been calling on NLCB to provide us with print out of transactions for particular periods.
“This has fallen on deaf ears and NLCB adamantly refuses, even after numerous requests, to provide these reports to agents. NLCB needs to allay the fears and suspicions of agents by providing these reports if there is nothing wrong on their end,” the letter stated.
The letter claimed that there are “odd and questionable entries” that need to be clinically audited to see if there is an accounting “glitch.”
“Agents are already facing difficulties in meeting rents, wages, utilities, insurance, fuel prices and the general increase in costs of living.
“To be saddled with paying extra money to NLCB, which may not be actually owing to NLCB, is unfair, harsh and may be illegal,” the letter stated.
The OGAATT stated that are gaps in the organisational structure of NLCB at the moment which has exacerbated the problem.
“These are positions that have the responsibility of running the affairs at NLCB at a managerial level. Presently things are at a standstill with important decisions and issues in limbo.
“The Board is also limited and stymied in making decisions and there is a disconnect between the board, which is political, and management, which is public servants coming through the Statutory Authority Service Commission,” the OGAATT stated.
The OGAATT is calling on the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance or any relevant authority to implement the following measures on behalf of agents:
1) Conduct a clinical and forensic audit into the Accounts Department at NLCB.
2) This audit must pay particular attention to discrepancies in weekly settlement figures and duplications of transactions.
3) Let agents deposit their cash in hand until the situation is resolved.
4) Removal of the $100 weekly fee.
5) Removal of the $500 reactivation fee.
6) Removal of interest on late deposits as this is the fault of the banks and not the agents.
7) Increase in commissions to 12 per cent.
https://www.guardian.co.tt/business/online-gaming-association-calls-for-forensic-audit-into-nlcb-6.2.1562338.4e6ec49fa2