A report in El Nacional reveals that more than 5,000 betting shops operate in the southwestern province of San Juan de la Maguana. In addition to taking bets from people that drop in, these can deliver tickets using the more than 1,000 Veriphones they have installed. As reported, RD$10 million is gambled in these businesses every hour. The report says these shops handled bets for more than RD$416 million last year. It makes the point that an estimated RD$120 million was gambled by the most poor in the province.
There are betting shops on every corner, on the sidewalks, in grocery shops, mechanics workshops, pharmacies, vehicle repairs shops, cell phone shops, wherever there is movement of people. Most of the gambling shops are illegal.
As reported, the betting shops have the backing of lawyers who will act legally against anyone who opposes their operation be these municipal authorities, environmental authorities or radio and TV journalists.
The betting shops follow six lotteries – La Real at noon, Nacional at 2:50pm, Loteca at 6:50pm, Leisa at 8:45pm, La Nacional at 8:50pm and New York at 12 midnight.
In Villa Liberación alone, considered the poorest slum in the capital city of the province, there are 80 betting shops, confirming the poorer the person, the more the person will gamble.
RD$416, 666,667 son invertidos cada hora en juegos de azar en San Juan de la Maguana
