Online Gambling File Central to IT Committee Meeting

The Information Technology Committee held a session chaired by MP Tony Frangieh, attended by MPs Nicolas Sehnaoui, Said Al-Assmar, Razi Al-Hajj, Adib Abdel Massih and Sejiq Atiya.

Also present were Charles Gostine, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Casino Liban; Firas Abi Younes, the Casino's lawyer; Jad Gharios, General Manager of "Bet Arabia"; legal expert Antoine Fenianos; Colonel Bilal Mahfouz, Head of the Anti-Gambling Office in the Internal Security Forces; and Colonel Adi Kahwaji, Head of the Informatics Office in the Internal Security Forces.

The committee listened to both the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Casino Liban and the opinion of "Bet Arabia" regarding the regulation of the online gambling market, particularly the black market.

The committee also heard from security agencies about violators in online gambling and how to pursue them.

A recommendation was issued to the Ministry of Finance to acquire "DPI" equipment to monitor and control participants in online gambling games, in addition to supporting the Anti-Online Gambling Office.

A second recommendation was issued to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants aimed at corresponding with global companies to stop working with online gambling operators in the black market.